Free Red Hot BOX SET: Complete Series 1-4: A Patrick & Steeves Suspense by Kate Fargo

was sure he felt as responsible for her as she did for him.
    Dal leaned back in the easy chair and shrugged. “Not much more to tell. I was waiting for Kris” - he reached toward his pocket, an unconscious gesture to check his phone - “then the guy yelled, the truck roared down the hill, and burst into flames. You know the rest.”
    “You’re worried about Kris?”
    “Damn straight. I wish there was some way to warn him.” He took a long swallow of beer and shook his head. “Ach, piss warm.” He set the can aside and spooned beans onto an empty tortilla.
    “I’m sure they’re more focused on finding us,” she lied. She understood Dal’s desire to turn on the phones. Fear clutched her stomach. All she had was her father. Jack had probably already briefed him so he’d take the necessary precautions, but she knew he’d be sick with worry. She was desperate to talk to him, and to Jack, but she’d have to be patient. “Your family is in San Diego?”
    “They died a few years ago.” He glanced out the window, turning his face from her. “Car accident.”
    “I’m sorry. Do you have brothers and sisters?”
    “Only child. My guys at the firehouse are my family now.”
    “No aunts, uncles, cousins?” She hated pushing but the questions needed to be asked.
    “A few distant relatives out east.” His eyes drilled into hers. “Look, is this important right now?”
    She held his gaze. “I’m afraid it is. I’m trying to assess …”
    A shadow rippled across his face. “Who they might go after.” He rose and stalked to the window, his large frame blocking out the night. “There’s nobody. Except for Kris, who will be a sitting duck if he brings his boat into that pier.”
    She crossed the room and put her hand on his shoulder. “The minute Jack gets here, I’ll ask him to send someone to check on Kris.”
    He turned to her, eyes stormy with emotion. Placing his hand under her chin, he tilted her face upward. She held her breath, heart pounding, and let her tongue slide over her lower lip. He lowered his head, her mind screamed at her to step away, but her body stayed rooted in place. He pressed his lips to hers and she kissed him back, the warmth of his mouth on hers life-affirming. Exciting, yet reassuring at the same time. Pulling her closer to him, he deepened the kiss and she melted into his embrace. She hadn’t been kissed like this since … She pulled back.
    “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.” She trembled and fought the darkness threatening to overcome her. The therapist had said that her memories would come up at the most inconvenient of times. He couldn’t have been more right.
    “Hey,” he tried to hug her, comfort her, eyes radiating concern.
    “No, Dal.” She pulled away, he dropped his arms to his sides. She walked to the other window and looked out into the night. “Let’s be ready when he gets here.” Her eyes focused on the inky blackness. Soon the moon would rise and provide some light, for now, she could barely make out the hills behind the barn and old store. Stars blanketed the sky above, the Milky Way brilliant so far from city lights.
    The last time she’d seen stars so bright had been on tour in Afghanistan. They’d been holed up in an abandoned hut in the barren country side, a landscape much like the one she was in now. Night had fallen while she and Trev waited for communication to continue forward. On a night like this, she’d let down her guard and fallen into the arms of the man she loved, expecting to have several hours of quiet before they needed to move on. She sucked air in between her teeth, held it and slowly exhaled.

Chapter 4
    D al grabbed her arm . “Get away from the window.” He pulled her back into the center of the room, blew out the candle, and the room fell pitch black. He knelt and pulled her down beside him. Her stomach surged. She prayed the vehicle struggling over the rocks in the arroyo would be Jack.
    And if it wasn’t Jack? She