Chapter Three

They were both quiet on the ride back to the hospital.

Leah sat with her hands folded neatly in her lap and a neutral expression on her face as she gazed out the window. She was trying her best not to think about how attracted she was to the extremely handsome man to her left.

And bossy. Don’t forget amazingly, infuriatingly bossy, her psyche threw in.

***

Meanwhile, Larry was deep in thought about his two biggest problems, the first being how he was going to keep them safe in a very dangerous situation.

But his brain refused to stay on task and was trying to gauge just how badly he’d damaged any chance of getting to know the fascinating woman beside him.

It chafed his pride as a federal agent to have to admit he was struggling with keeping those problems in that order of priority at the moment. He was in completely new territory. Leah was the first woman he’d looked twice at in years – and it was happening at the worst possible time.

Pull it together, dude, he thought to himself. Focus and do your job. You’re responsible for their safety. If you make a single wrong decision, it could get them both killed. Remember that. Save the high school antics for later.

With an effort, Fuller shoved his concerns about Leah Culverton’s opinion of him into a box in the corner of his mind – and padlocked it.

He pulled into the hospital lot, parked, and said, “Okay, let’s get back in there,” in his best professional manner.

But he couldn’t help but notice that this time, Leah waited and let him open the door for her.

***

After Shannon was discharged from the hospital, the three traveled to Fuller’s office. He gave her and Leah his take on what had happened to Robert, answering the shocked questions they each had the best he could as he went.

More importantly, he impressed upon them the very real danger Shannon Rivers was in.

He maintained his professional demeanor throughout, but inside, his emotions were churning.

Being ripped away from everything you know, through no fault of your own… it’s got to be really hard on them, he thought to himself, and vowed to get them back to their normal lives as quickly as he possibly could.

Once he’d told them all he knew, and answered the questions they had, the trio left his office to head to a small regional airport in the suburbs for their flight to Fort Worth, Texas.

On the drive to the airport, Leah asked abruptly, “Are you staying in Texas with us?”

“I will see you safely to your destination, but no, I can’t stay,” he answered, and gazed at her in the rearview mirror as he thought, even though I’d really like to spend more time with you.

He stared so intently at Leah that she finally blushed and looked away.

***

After they landed, the ladies were introduced to Pete Jenkins, U.S. Marshal, the man who’d be their primary guardian. Leah blocked his approach and demanded to see his identification. Only when she was satisfied did she move out of his way so that he could get close to Shannon.

And Leah immediately noticed the heat radiating between the newcomer and her best friend, and barely stifled a grin.

Pretty big fireworks going off there, she observed.

She felt Fuller, who was standing to her left and just behind her, staring at her, so she slowly turned to face him. He was focused completely on her, and Leah was shocked to her core to see tenderness in his expression.

Pete saying “Likewise” in response to Shannon’s greeting pulled both Leah and Fuller back to reality, and the men grabbed the suitcases and led the way out of the plane and over to Pete’s truck.

They left the airport, Pete behind the wheel, Fuller in the front passenger seat, and the roommates in the spacious back seat of the crew-cab truck. Which was fine with Leah and Shannon, because they used the notebook to gossip back and forth about the men in their company during the first part of the drive.

Don’t look now, but I think mister FBI dude has a thing for you, Shannon wrote first, her face twisting into a smile.

Whatever. He’s bossy. You know I don’t do well with that! Leah had responded.

Whatever, yourself. He’s given you some really, really steamy glances a couple of times. I’m deaf, not blind, you know. And you two are cute together.

He is SO not my type!

Shannon had to stifle a giggle at that one.

Let me see. He’s tall, he’s built, he’s handsome, with a steady job, and he seems to have an actual personality. What did I overlook that’s NOT your type?

I’m not doing this right now, Leah shot back. My focus is you, that’s why I’m here. The fact that there’s a pretty boy around doesn’t hurt, but that’s not what this is all about.

Famous last words, Shannon wrote, and then their conversation was interrupted so Fuller and Leah could go into the pharmacy Pete had stopped at to get the medical supplies.

***

Later, when they arrived at the farmhouse and a tall, dark and handsome Pete scooped an exhausted Shannon up into his arms to carry her, Leah almost squealed with delight for her friend.

That’s what she deserves. Someone who looks at her that way. Like she hung the moon, Leah thought, and it made her a bit wistful as she started to try to reach over the side of the truck bed and grab luggage.

“Let me get those for you,” came a voice from her right.

She swiveled her head to find Larry standing beside her, his head cocked slightly to one side and a warm smile on his lips.

I wonder what he kisses like was her next thought, and her eyes went wide as she imagined it.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Um. Yeah, fine,” she stammered. “Just, you know… the suitcases.”

“Again, let me get those for you,” he offered. “Or would you rather climb up the side of the truck and try to reach them yourself?”