Oh yeah. Heath had forgotten his brother was even there. “Sorry. I saw the live version, Ry.”
“I know, but now we’re in a shit-storm. She gave your name and the name of the agency. We’ve been exposed.”
Heath took a deep breath and let his mind clear. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry—just be safe.” Ryker sighed. “Do you really want to open an agency in Snowville?”
“Yes.” The plan was already in place. “Listen, Ryker. I know we have to lie low, so how about you and Denver just stay in the cabins? I’ll handle the Snowville office on my own until we catch this killer.” Heath ignored the intense curiosity filtering across Anya’s pretty face.
“Not a chance, brother. If you’re in the line of fire, we’re right beside you,” Ryker said, his voice low.
Heath’s chest warmed. “You have too much to lose, and you know it.” His brother had recently fallen in love and needed to keep his woman safe. “Let me do this.”
“Nope. We’re all in. That’s the whole point of family, and you know it. I guess we’re moving to Snowville.” Ryker rustling papers came across the line. “Denver is giving me his bestThis is fucking crazyexpression, just so you know.”
“So long as Denver doesn’t say the words, he’s not really concerned,” Heath countered. “Our entire purpose for opening that physical office in Cisco was to draw the killer out. Setting up an office in Snowville is just a continuation of our own plan.”
“I agree, but we don’t need Jackson’s wounded sister as bait,” Ryker said.
Heath winced. “She’s no more wounded than the rest of us.”
Anya paled but didn’t speak and then started gathering her notes into a big file folder.
“Fine. But are you seriously thinking of putting that untrained woman into the line of fire?” More curiosity than censure filled Ryker’s voice.
“No,” Heath said shortly. “I don’t want her anywhere near danger. We’ll meet in Snowville and come up with a plan that finds this guy without really putting her in front of a killer.” He wasn’t quite sure what the plan would be, and he was positive Anya would argue, but there had to be a decent way to make this work and let her take part. “Loretta was her sister, and she deserves to be involved.”
The gratitude that shot into her stunning eyes shouldn’t warm him so intensely. He’d have to watch his emotions around this woman. Without question.
“Are you sure you’ve got this?” Ryker asked quietly.
Damn mind reader. “I’m fine, Ry. Stop worrying and get back to your own life. Gone ring shopping yet?” Heath couldn’t help but grin. His brother had recently fallen hard for an amazing woman named Zara, and he was sweating bullets trying to find the right ring for her.
“Yes, but I haven’t found the one. I mean, I proposed already. Kind of.”
“It doesn’t count until you ask with a ring in your hand,” Heath said, biting back a laugh. Like he knew one thing about proposals.
“That’s what Denver said.”
Denver didn’t know shit about them either, but this was fun. “Yep. You need a ring and the whole down-on-one-knee moment,” Heath said.
“Fine, but she already said yes, so I’m holding her to it. There has to be the perfect ring out there, right?” Ryker asked in a low growl.
“Hell if I know.” He’d never even considered buying an engagement ring for a woman. At the thought, he frowned at Anya.
Ryker chuckled. “I guess we can go shopping together now.”
“Funny,” Heath said, not finding the idea totally unpleasant. Whoa. He was not getting engaged for real. Probably ever. “I think the hit to the head last week is still giving me issues.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Ryker hung up before he could answer.
“Good plan,” Heath muttered, sliding the phone into his back pocket. “Got everything?” He glanced around to see her bag already packed and the bed made. The little redhead was a neat freak. He liked that.
The bed was small for a hotel room. Yet she’d look stunning draped across it. He cleared his throat.
“Yes.” She finished shoving all the paperwork into a worn blue laptop bag. “Why do you and your brothers need to lie low?” She straightened, her gaze serious. “Does it have something to do with the fake marshals who shot at us?”
“Yes.” He met her gaze in a silent battle of wills.
