Maybe forever.
And that meant she needed to get on with her explanation. Besides, it was possible Clayton could actually help. Shed been hesitant to trust anyone, and maybe she was a fool for trusting him, but without this explanation, he clearly wasnt leaving.
After your shooting, I wasnt sure whom I could trust. She slid her hand over her stomach.
Clayton huffed. Any of my five foster brothers would have been a good start. Theyre all marshals and all capable of protecting you.
But I didnt know them, and I wasnt sure I could trust anyone in law enforcement.
That eased Claytons glare, and he cocked his eyebrow. Why?
Because after you were shot, I tried to call my handler. My task-force leader, Lenora corrected. Shed always hated the term handler. It made her feel like a circus animal that needed to be controlled. His name is James Britt, and he didnt return my call for two days.
Clayton stayed quiet a moment. Thats unusual?
Very, especially considering I left him a frantic message to call me immediately. She pushed her hair from her face. But the truth is, I was concerned about James prior to that. Hed started to question me about what I really saw the night Jill was murdered. He seemed to try to make me doubt that Riggs was the one to pull the trigger.
It was Riggs, Clayton verified. I saw him, too.
Lenora nodded. James knows that, but he kept pushing, as if he was looking for some kind of discrepancies in my report. I dismissed it, thinking he was just trying to prepare me for
my testimony at the trial.
Thats possible, Clayton admitted.
Possible, yes, but Lenora hadnt been able to shake the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
When James finally called me back after your shooting, he asked me if Id gone back to my old ways. If I was running laundered money again. He wanted to know if Id done something to get you shot. I didnt, she quickly added.
Clayton made a sound to indicate he was giving that some thought. A few days before I was shot, someone broke into your place and vandalized it. Ive been looking into any connection between that and the shooting, but I cant find it. Did you?
She had to shake her head. And I looked. The Eagle Pass police werent able to get any prints or trace from the break-ins, so there was no arrest.
He continued to stare at her. So your solution was to go into hiding.
I had the baby to think about. And Lenora wasnt going to apologize for that. I didnt want to take any more risks than Id already taken.
And I wasnt around to help you. He blew out a long breath, stood and stared down at her. Well, Im around now, and I want you to go back to Maverick Springs with me, to my familys ranch.
Lenora got to her feet, too. Didnt you hear what I said? Its too dangerous for me to come out of hiding and go with you. Obviously this person is after me, not you, because youve been out of the hospital for weeks now and no one has tried to kill you.
Not yet. But I think we should get to the bottom of whats going on before we jump to conclusions. Maybe Riggs hasnt sent anyone else after me because he knows it wouldnt be a smart thing to do. After all, the last person who tried to kill me is dead. Thanks to you, he added.
Yeah. Thanks to her.
Too little, too late.
By the time shed put a bullet in their attacker, Clayton had already been shot.
I shouldnt have come there that day to tell you about the baby. Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat. But youre not the only one dealing with old baggage here. It played into my decision to tell you.
Old baggage or not, you should have told me, he confirmed.
But you dont even remember me, do you? You dont remember sleeping with me.
His gaze slid down her face to her body. Something different went through his eyes this time. Something she had no trouble recognizing.
Attraction.
Yes, shed felt it, too, the first time shed ever looked at him. And every time since.
She huffed, stood and would have gone to the window if it wouldnt have put them so close. It hardly seemed fair to go waltzing into your hospital room to tell you that your one-night stand had led to an unexpected pregnancy. I wanted you to focus on your recovery.
Maybe it wouldnt have been fair, but it would have been the right thing to do for the baby. The sunglasses went back on so he could have another look outside.
The right thing. In other words, turn over her safetyand the babysto him. Under normal circumstances she might have considered it, but it was crystal clear that Clayton was in no shape to be offering her protection.
Not yet anyway.
Her best bet was to regroup, go back into hiding under a different name. And a different job. One that couldnt be traced to anything in her past. Then, once things had settled down and his shooter was in custody, she could go to him and have him be part of their babys life.
It seemed like a logical plan. But one look at Claytons firm expression and she knew this would be a hard sell, if she could convince him at all. However, before she got a chance to sell anything, she saw Clayton shift his position. He leaned in closer to the glass.