“Remember that failed mission I told you about?”
“Sure. The one that made you quit being undercover.”
“That’s the one. I didn’t tell you everything.” Technically she shouldn’t tell Damaris about the mission. But the gang had been busted, Noah was dead, and she was out of the business. What harm would it do to tell Damaris?
“I told you my partner died in that operation. But he wasn’t just my partner. He was my fiancé. We went undercover together. We had infiltrated a biker gang who were running drugs, among other things. He died making sure I got out. Making sure I was safe at the expense of his life. The work we did, especially the work Noah did, led to the gang being busted and most were sent to prison. They never got back together. And Noah…he died a hero.”
“So now you’re afraid to fall for a hero? Because your late fiancé was one?”
Jedidiah nodded. “Do you blame me?”
“Well, Trevor doesn’t run across armed criminals every day.”
“He’s a veteran. A military policeman. Which I didn’t know until today.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It is. It just proves that he has that kind of personality. Running into danger, not away from it.”
Damaris studied her for a long moment. “Are you in love with Trevor?”
“Yes, damn it. If I wasn’t none of this would matter. Why did I have to fall for him? I thought he was safe. He’s an app designer, for crying out loud.”
“Yes, and a veteran and apparently, a hero. Has it occurred to you that you’re obviously drawn to that type of man?”
Jedidiah gave her a dirty look. “I don’t want to be. I want to be with someone safe. Someone who doesn’t take chances. I should have known when I learned about Bikers For Kids that Trevor wasn’t that man.”
“You’re talking like this…this shootout is something that happens every day. It’s not, is it?”
“No, but that’s beside the point. The point is Trevor isn’t who I thought he was.”
“Bullshit.”
“It is not.”
“You aren’t stupid. Even if you didn’t know everything about his past you knew Trevor’s basic personality. You wouldn’t have fallen for him otherwise.”
Was Damaris right? Was she doomed to fall for men who put their own lives on the line for others?
“So this is why you came back to Whiskey River. You thought it was dull and boring and you’d never be in danger again. But that’s not life, Jedidiah. Nate’s an airplane pilot. That’s not the safest job but he wasn’t hurt flying. He had a wreck in his car. Nothing to do with flying.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“You do realize you don’t know any men like that? Ones who would leave it to others to take the risk during a crisis? Just look at our brothers. Do you really think any of them wouldn’t lay down his life for others if it was necessary?”
“I haven’t seen any of them taking on an armed gunman.”
“But they would if they had to. At least Trevor has military training.”
“Which he didn’t tell me about.”
Damaris shook her head. “Damn, Jedidiah, you’re just looking for an excuse to break up with him.”
“I don’t need an excuse. I already told him we’re done.”
Damaris stood and said, “I’m going home. If you decide you want to talk logically about things, call me.”
“I want my key back.”
