Star Witness - By Mallory Kane Page 0,67
shook her head. “You almost died. You needed your family. Besides, I was in good hands with Natalie. She’s a good prosecutor. Not as good as you, I didn’t mean that. I mean, you’re both good.”
Harte grimaced at Dani’s words and her tone.
She continued, talking too rapidly. “So the judge didn’t talk about sentencing. When do you think it will be?” Her hands twisted in her lap.
He put his hand over hers to still them. “Dani, stop.”
She looked up, a faint panic showing in her eyes. He had no idea if she was afraid he was going to say something intimate, or afraid he wasn’t.
“Tell me what’s the matter?” he asked warily.
Her hand squeezed his. She closed her eyes. “I—I’m not sure. I know Yeoman’s going to prison. I know you’re going to be okay. I should be happy to get back to my normal life.”
She straightened and looked at him, uttering a short laugh. “I thought I was afraid of storms. But that was a childish phobia. When I saw you lying on the floor bleeding, when I thought we were going to be killed and I couldn’t do anything—I realized that is real fear. Fear of how easily all this—” She waved a hand. “Our lives can be cut short. That’s a fear I’m not sure will ever go away.”
Harte’s throat tightened. The pain of his wound didn’t hurt nearly as much as seeing her like this. She had learned a horrible lesson, and it had destroyed her last childish belief—that fear was all about oneself, and there was always a stronger person who could wipe it away.
“I know,” he said. “When I felt the bullet hit me, I was sure that was it. I was dead.”
She made a strangled sound.
“But that didn’t scare me nearly as much as the thought that I’d be leaving you alone.” He closed his eyes. “I’ve never been that afraid before.”
“You thought of me?” she said. Her tone was reverent.
“Of course I did. If I could, I’d make sure you never had to feel afraid again.” He squeezed her hand.
“There’s nothing I’d like better,” she murmured.
“Do you mean that?” His voice was subdued. He pulled her hand toward him and pressed her fingers against his lips.
She swallowed, her gaze on his lips against her knuckles. Then she looked at him. “Except maybe to make sure you’re always safe.”
He smiled at her. To his surprise, her eyes immediately welled up with tears. She swiped at them as if they were flies.
“I swear to you I never cry,” she said, sniffling.
“Yeah, right,” he said as he leaned toward her, pulling on her hand. She sat forward and kissed him gently on the lips.
He wanted more, wanted to pull her to him and kiss her hard and long. He wanted to do more than kiss her, but every time he moved, his bound shoulder seized in pain, reminding him of how close that bullet had been to his heart.
Dani pulled her head back and looked at him. “So, what now?” she asked.
“What now?” He smiled at her. “I’d like to pick you up and carry you off to my bed. But I don’t think that’s going to happen for a while.” He shifted in the chair and winced. “The best I can offer you right now is the opportunity to lie beside me and watch me sleep, occasionally fetch me a glass of water and help me get to my feet when I need to.”
“That sounds wonderful, as long as you promise to slay dragons for me.”
“That, my lady, is what I live for.”
* * * * *
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Chapter One
“This special news report just in—an amber alert has been issued for six-year-old Hank Forte. Hank was last seen at the county fair in Amarillo.”
Brody Bloodworth’s heart clenched as a photo of the boy appeared on screen. The little boy had blond hair, was wearing a black T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.