Free Love Inspired Suspense May 2015 #2 by Debra Cowan, Susan Sleeman, Mary Ellen Porter Page A

that someone had been inside.
    Shaking her head, she locked the door and hurried to the car. She couldn’t believe she had reason to use the trick her father had taught her when she was a teen and they’d been on the run from the police. She’d tried to forget those days. The days back when she’d believed in her father’s innocence. She especially wanted to forget his lies meant to keep her by his side as he evaded capture for murdering his partner. To keep their lives a secret from everyone—including Opa. Maybe things would have been different if her father was Opa’s son instead of his son-in-law. Maybe then her father wouldn’t have run, or maybe Opa wouldn’t have wanted to report her father to the police.
    Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Her life was filled with maybes and thinking about it changed nothing.
    â€œEverything okay?” Cash asked.
    She nodded and looked out the window before she gave away her unease. Thankfully, he didn’t press her. Instead, he focused on checking the mirror, watching for a threat. He didn’t let down his guard the entire drive. Even when they stopped at Erwin’s house, he insisted on evaluating the home’s security and giving the men pointers on how to stay safe.
    Krista hugged her grandfather. “We’ll pick you up after work. I’ll call if anything changes.”
    He stepped back and his lips tipped in his usual, comforting smile. “Do not worry about me, Liebchen. Just enjoy your day.”
    Cash took her elbow and directed her down the pathway. He held her close to his side, his touch making her unreasonably happy. Not the warmth of it, but the care he was exhibiting for her, too. He was dedicated, committed, kind and considerate. All the things her father had never been.
    All the things she’d thought Toby had been.
    The reminder of how wrong she’d been about Toby was like a bucket of cold water on her warm feelings for Cash. She put distance between them, and as she climbed into the car, she cautioned herself yet again to keep up her guard.
    Grinning, Cash climbed behind the wheel. “Your grandfather has met his match in Erwin.”
    She swiveled to face him. “You seem so at ease with Opa. Like maybe you have a great relationship with your own grandfather.”
    Cash’s smile fell. “My family is kind of complicated.”
    His sudden change in tone sent her suspicions flaring. She should take heed. Back off. But the need to ask about his complicated family—to know more about him as a man—had her rushing ahead. “Complicated how?”
    He stared at the road, either ignoring her or searching for the right words.
    â€œIt’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. Trust me, I understand complicated families.”
    â€œIt’s not that. I just don’t know where to start.”
    â€œHow about with the parts that weren’t complicated?”
    â€œCan’t remember back that far.” A sarcastic laugh slipped out.
    â€œI understand,” she said again, but truth be told she was hurt that he wouldn’t tell her. She had no right to know anything about him. After all, she didn’t plan to talk about her past.
    He gripped the wheel, his mouth opening, closing, then opening again before he said, “Things changed when my parents were killed in a car accident. I was eight and was shipped off to my grandparents. They were older when they had Mom and weren’t prepared to raise another child. And I...”
    He shook his head as if the memories were painful. “Man, I was a pain. A huge, royal one. Took out all my grief over losing my parents on Gram and Granddad.” He took a long breath and blew it out. “Granddad’s a good ole boy from way back. He believes in harsh discipline. It was the wrong way to keep me in line, and I pushed him to the limit. When they reached the end of their rope, I went to live with my other grandparents.