Sunday morning came early for Zoe. Even Freya seemed inclined to sleep in—until Angel nosed open the door and came barreling into the room, caromed off the edge of the bed and sped back out. If her barking had not been so high-pitched and playful, Zoe would have worried.
Instead of reaching for her sidearm, she stretched and yawned. Freya did the same. This was a special day. A morning filled with promise and possibilities.
A silly notion made her smile and mutter, “Yes, as long as nobody tries to shoot us.” That attitude made her shake her head at herself. How could she hope to convince Sean to trust God if she went around making jokes about divine intervention? Then again, humor was good medicine. The Bible said so.
By the time she’d dressed, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon had drifted down the hall. There was a lot to be said for a guy who pitched in and cooked.
She breezed into the kitchen, smiling. “Wow. Something smells great!”
Judging by the way Sean stopped moving and stared, she’d either made a good impression or a very bad one. She whirled, arms out. “What do you think? I love this red sweater.”
“It’s—it’s pretty.”
A slight blush accentuated his approval and appreciation of her efforts. She seldom wore more than lipstick, but this morning had splurged using eyebrow pencil and a touch of eye shadow. Gold hoop earrings replaced the plain gold studs she wore while training and working.
“Thanks. I didn’t bring a skirt from home, but at least I’m not wearing jeans.”
“I don’t have fancy clothes,” Sean said, looking down at his jeans and boots. “Maybe I should just stay here.”
“Not on your life.” Zoe grinned. “I figure, if a church doesn’t accept people for who they are instead of what they wear or how much money is in their wallets, then they shouldn’t bother opening their doors.”
“I have to warn you, I’m not comfortable in crowds.”
“We can sit all the way to the rear, with our backs against the wall. Will that help?”
“Hopefully. Just don’t be surprised if I have to take a break during the service.”
That’s fine. We’ll include Freya for moral support.”
“Not Angel?”
She wanted to jump for joy. “If you want her with us, that’s fine. The Community Church is used to handlers bringing their dogs. Nobody will think it’s odd.”
“That’s a relief. I was afraid I’d stand out.”
Zoe wanted to comment that he’d stand out simply because he was so attractive, despite his often somber mood, but she refrained. The less attention they called to themselves, the better. Plus, there would be plenty of police officers at the morning service, both in the sanctuary and posted in the hallways, just in case of trouble from outsiders. Therefore, she saw no need to strap on her duty weapon or tuck a spare gun at her waist and spoil the way her red pullover fit.
“Okay.” Zoe took a place at the table next to Patrick. “Let’s eat so we can get this show on the road. Right, kiddo?”
The child paused and inclined his head for a moment before he said, “At-rick.”
Sean whipped around. His jaw gaped. “Patrick?”
Pressing her lips together and leaning closer, Zoe made the sound for P, then followed it with the rest of his name. She thought she and Sean were both going to cry when the little boy echoed, “P-atrick.”
Because of the broken windows in Zoe’s car, they took Sean’s pickup to church. The parking lot was far more crowded than Sean had expected. He chose a spot on the fringes.
Sean recognized Dalton West because he was with Maisy. Patrick spotted her and led the way to the pair by tugging on his daddy’s hand and leaning.
“Your daughter has made quite an impression on my son in day care,” Sean said, trying to keep Angel from jumping all over the children and licking their faces.
“New dog?” Dalton eyed the border collie.
“Very new. So am I. She’s supposed to help me with PTSD.”
“I can tell that from her vest.” Dalton shot a concerned look toward Zoe, then said, “May I?” and reached for Angel’s leash.
“Sure,” Sean said. “She’s settled down a lot at home but still gets really excited in new situations.”
Instead of answering, Dalton faced the dog, pointed a finger at her, then quickly brought it to his own face. “Look at me. Look. Sit.”
She not only obeyed the calm, firm instructions, she sat still at West’s feet and kept staring into his eyes. He didn’t babble or keep repeating her name, nor did he make unnecessary motions. He merely exuded authority.
Sean was flabbergasted. “Wow. What did you do to my crazy dog?”
“Took command,” the other man said as he passed the end of the leash back to Sean. “You can learn to do it, too. It just takes time.”
“Thanks for the lesson.” Eyeing the children, Sean asked about Sunday school.
“Maisy usually sits in church with me,” Dalton said.
The dark-haired ten-year-old tugged at her father’s hand. “I can take Patrick to the kindergarten class and stay with him today, can’t I? Please?”
“If it’s okay with Mr. Murphy.”
“I’ll—We’ll walk with you,” Sean said. “Lead the way.” A backward glance at Zoe made Sean wish she were by his side. No. Zoe was too wonderful. She needed a man who was perfect, not an emotionally wounded one like himself. She deserved better. He just wished...
What? What did he wish? That he had been wiser as a younger man? That he had realized how ideal Zoe was when they were college students? That he had waited to marry? His imagination paused before adding, That Patrick was her son. Hers and his. And that she’d be the one to help raise him.
Entering the church with the others, Sean hardly noticed where he was. Someone tried to hand him a bulletin. Angel promptly accepted it for him, gave it a shake, then carried it as she trotted obediently at his side.
Short hair at Sean’s nape began to prickle. He fought off the sensation. It kept building. If he had been sitting down, he knew he would have had to get up and move. To flee his invisible enemies.
Zoe touched his arm. “Are you all right?”
“No. It’s claustrophobic in here.”
“Okay. I’ll finish escorting Patrick to class. You can wait for me outside.”
“He’ll be scared without me.”
“It’ll be worse if you suddenly have a flashback and he has to watch,” she said tenderly. “Go. If anybody asks, tell them the dog needed to go out. That way you won’t be embarrassed. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“If you have any trouble, bring Patrick back to me. Promise?”
“I promise.”
Turning on his heel, Sean headed for the exit. Angel gave him no argument, sticking to his side as if she’d suddenly realized he needed her. Perhaps she had. Whatever the reason, he was relieved to not have to drag her or fight to keep her from jumping on others.
The glass door swung open. Sean was barely able to hesitate long enough to permit a couple with small children to enter before he sidled past them with his dog and burst out into the open. His heart was pounding, his breath shallow and quick. One stride. Two. Then more, until he reached a place where he could be alone enough to regain his composure.
Exhausted, he leaned against the side of his pickup bed and forced himself to inhale deeply, slowly. He’d almost waited too long. Almost embarrassed Zoe in front of her friends. Instincts for self-preservation were supposed to keep a person out of trouble, not cause it, and his were clearly wide of the mark.
Watching for Zoe and Freya, Sean reached down and laid his hand on Angel’s soft fur. Stroking her head seemed to calm him, and when she tried to give him the soggy church bulletin he almost smiled. “Yes, you’re a good girl. It would be nice if both of us weren’t wonky but you’re coming along well. I guess we will work out.”
The glass side door reflected sunshine and vehicles as it swung open again. Sean started to straighten before he realized it wasn’t Zoe passing through. He relaxed and looked away. Then his head snapped around. He’d almost failed to recognize the beefy hit man wearing Sunday clothing. And there was a telltale bulge under the arm of his sports jacket to confirm that he was armed.
Sean eased around the pickup and kept his head down as he watched the would-be assailant. A uniformed officer of the DVPD had followed him outside and was resting his palm on the butt of his sidearm while calling, “Wait!”
If the hit man replied, Sean didn’t hear it. He didn’t have to. He saw enough. The man hailed a dark SUV and climbed inside, leaving the cop standing alone in the lot.
It was impossible to ID the driver due to darkly tinted windows. When the vehicle accelerated out of the parking lot, Sean expelled his breath in a whoosh. They were gone. For now.
As he started to stand, his innate wariness kicked in again and he muttered, “Assuming there are only those two.”
Zoe had trouble spotting Sean so she commanded Freya to find Angel. That was all it took.
She hurried up and greeted him with a smile in spite of his frown. “The kids are all set. Are you ready to go back inside?”
“I’m not sure. Not after what I just saw.”
Waiting, she raised an eyebrow. When he failed to volunteer information, she asked. “What did you see?”
“One of the guys who came to Arizona after me.”
A frisson of fear shot up her spine as she wheeled to face the church. “Where? When?”
“He came out and got into a black SUV with a second man. They drove away in spite of one of the cops calling to him.”
“When?”
“Just now.”
“You’re sure it was the same guy?” She hated to question Sean’s judgment, but his record of being correct was less than perfect. He was, however, apparently ultrasensitive to danger. The key was learning to differentiate between the real thing and figments of his imagination.
“As sure as I can be under these circumstances,” Sean said dryly. “Being paranoid doesn’t mean there’s nobody after me. Your car did get shot up.”
“True.” Continuing to scan their surroundings, Zoe kept Freya at heel. “You’re sure you saw them leave?”
“Yes. I don’t know why they were here in the first place. I mean, if they wanted to harm me, why not shoot when I came out here?”
“Maybe they didn’t see you leave.”
“It’s more likely that,” Sean agreed. “I wouldn’t want to cause trouble in a church full of cops.”
“So, you’re ready to come back in with me?”
“I have to. Patrick is in there.”
“Right,” she said. “I’ll alert church security to watch for the SUV, just in case. We can find seats in the rear of the sanctuary and sneak out just before the altar call so we’re waiting when his class dismisses.”
Although Sean agreed by not arguing, she could tell he was far from settled. As before, she would take one moment at a time, ready for intervention if necessary yet hopeful that his troubled mind would allow him to actually benefit from the pastor’s sermon. Beyond that, she had no plans.
“Freya, heel,” she said, stepping out to lead the way. Was Sean following? She wanted to look back to be certain. Instead, she kept walking until they reached side windows on the building where she could see their reflections. Her pulse jumped. Sean’s posture looked good. Straight, tall and in command. Was wishful thinking influencing her, or he had actually made some progress? That didn’t matter as much as the fact that he was functioning well despite his recent scare.
When she’d first spoken with him about coming to Desert Valley, he had not seemed nearly as sure of himself or able to cope. Research had told her that his traumatic past might always color his future, but she also knew that some degree of healing was possible. With God, all things are possible.
If she had ever doubted that biblical truth, she didn’t anymore. Truth to tell, nobody but God was in charge of their future.
All Zoe prayed for at this point was her friend’s happiness and well-being. If Sean’s life was to include her, she would be overjoyed. If not, she would somehow accept that, too. She either trusted her heavenly Father in all things, including the long-ago loss of her ill, helpless baby brother, or she didn’t.
For years she’d assumed that childhood disappointment had cost her the most dearly of any. Now, realizing how much she cared for Sean and his son, she knew better. Losing him, for any reason, was going to hurt so much she might never recover. The mere thought was enough to tie her stomach in knots and make her wish she had skipped breakfast.
He touched her elbow. “Are you all right?”
A shiver zinged up her spine and tickled the back of her neck.
“Of course. Why?” Their eyes met in the mirrorlike window glass. His body language spoke of protection. His height and strength giving her an instant sense of awareness that made her insides quake.
“You seemed different,” he snorted. “Don’t tell me that was all in my head, too.”
“No.” She turned to look directly at him and tried to smile. Their lips were so close, the idea of initiating a kiss so tempting, she swayed, fighting to keep from leaning toward him. Suppose he was resistant? Suppose he wasn’t as enamored of her as she hoped? Suppose she ruined their close friendship by taking it to a new level before he was ready?
Zoe sighed. “I was thinking too much, that’s all.”
“About me?”
What could she say that would be the truth, yet not reveal her burgeoning love for man and boy? Imagining his tender kiss was already bad enough, so she turned his question into a gibe. “If I say yes, will you get all sappy on me?”
Sean gave a wry chuckle. “I think you’re safe. I’m too busy trying to keep this dog in line and make sure nobody is trying to sneak up and shoot me while I’m distracted. I don’t have room in my brain for excess sentimentality.”
Although she said, “That’s a relief,” she was disappointed. Her brain certainly had enough room to entertain romantic notions while still doing her job.
“Well, this threat can’t last forever,” Sean said, adding, “I hope.”
In Zoe’s mind a worst-case scenario began to form. If they didn’t manage to nab the thugs or figure out who had sent them in the first place, the only other way this story was all going to end was if Sean was killed. There had to be a different answer. Anything was better than that.
Witness protection was out because Sean didn’t qualify. And he certainly couldn’t go back into the military. Not with PTSD. Neither could he join her profession. Besides, if he wasn’t around anymore, who would look after his little boy?
That brought her back to their verbal agreement about custody.
Zoe sighed as she started into the main sanctuary and led the way to seats in the rear for Sean’s sake. The more she was with him, the greater her affection grew. Did he suspect how she felt? Was it possible he was falling for her, too?
The shake of her head was barely perceptible. If Sean cared for her, he would be sending out clues, and she wasn’t getting any hints at all. Perhaps it was time to quit hoping their pact about Patrick’s care would be fulfilled by a mutual love and take the legal steps they had discussed in the beginning. The drawback was that that might satisfy Sean and keep him from considering alternatives.
Such as marriage.