Free Secret Agent Father by Laura Scott

yawned, and pried his eyes open. “What if the bad dream comes back?”
    “Think of God and the angels up in heaven,” she suggested. “I promise they’re watching over you and they’ll keep the bad dreams away.”
    When he didn’t look convinced, she added, “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”
    “And I’ll be right downstairs, too, Cody,” Alex added. “If you need anything, just holler.”
    “Okay.” Cody snuggled down against the pillows, his little arm curling around Clyde. The puppy laid his head right next to Cody’s.
    Alex smiled and Shelby was surprised by the flash of tenderness in his gaze. Despite her earlier resentment, she was glad he was so concerned.
    He backed out of the room, his gaze on hers and she waited a few minutes, until Cody’s breathing relaxed, before she gently disentangled herself from the bed and followed Alex into the hallway.
    She was amazed he’d heard them from downstairs. Had he heard her get up? And if so, just how much of their conversation had Alex overheard?
    Alex stood, waiting for her in the hallway. She took a few minutes to compose herself, as she gently closed Cody’s door behind her.
    By silent agreement, they walked down the hall away from Cody’s room, pausing outside the door to her room.
    “Did he have a dream about the bad man?” he asked.
    His question didn’t surprise her. But still she hesitated, wondering how to respond. She knew he wanted a description of the man Cody saw, but what if Cody couldn’t really give them one? The only new information she’d learned was that Cody had watched through the car window as his mother had talked to the bad man. And that bit didn’t exactly provide clues he could use on the investigation.
    “Yes, but he didn’t remember much. Only that hewas afraid.” Shelby tried to keep her gaze trained on Alex’s face so he wouldn’t sense the half truth. Right now, Cody needed his rest, and she was afraid to ask more questions while that night was fresh in Cody’s mind. She tightly gripped the doorknob behind her, anxious to escape into the safety of her room. “I’m sorry he woke you.”
    In the dim light from the fire in the fireplace below, she saw him shrug. “I don’t sleep well anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
    “Why not?” The question slipped out before she could check herself. She bit her lip, knowing his issues were none of her business. “Sorry, that was incredibly rude.”
    “That’s okay.” He lifted his arm and pulled up the sleeve of his soft denim shirt uncovering the angry looking surgical scars. “Pain tends to keep me awake.”
    Even in the dim light from downstairs, the scars looked horribly painful. She resisted the urge to touch them, wishing there was something she could do to help ease the hurt. “Isn’t there something you can take?”
    His lips thinned and he shook his head. “No.”
    A charged silence fell between them. Suddenly she realized he was close. Far too close. And it was dark. Old fears bubbled to the surface. She took a step backward and bumped up against the door. She felt trapped. Panic surged and she struggled to keep her breathing even, though it seemed something had sucked all the oxygen from the air around them.
    “I have to get to bed. Good night, Alex.” Twisting the knob in her hand, she opened her door.
    “Wait.” Alex clasped her hand and held fast, preventing her from leaving. “Don’t leave.”
    The way his fingers clamped around her wrist sent a cascade of dark memories crashing into her mind. “Let me go,” she hissed, yanking her hand from his grasp.
    Instantly, he released her. She stumbled back against the door, trying to get as far away from him as possible, her chest tight with fear.
    “I’m sorry.” He stared at her, his brows pulled together in a dark frown.
    As quickly as they caught her off guard, the horrible memories receded, followed by a wave of shame. What was wrong with her? This was Alex. He’d come up to protect