enough of death. My mom, my brother, my father. I want a man who’s going to live till he’s ninety. Someone who’ll be there for me, our kids, and our grandkids.”
Hallie squeezed her hand and rose from the sofa. “I’m making us some jasmine tea. Then we’ll talk.”
Setting out Jessie’s antique porcelain teapot and gold-rimmed cups and saucers, she filled the kettle and set it on the stove. When the tea was ready, she carried the tray into the living room, rested it on the coffee table, and poured them each a cup.
“Thanks.” Jessie added a lump of sugar and took a sip.
Hallie sipped her tea, then set the cup back in its saucer. “You said you loved Brandon. Does he love you?”
“He didn’t say, but...”
“Yes or no.”
“I think he loves me. For a guy like him, it was huge to ask me to move to Dallas with him.”
“You said before he was too honorable to cheat on you.”
She toyed with the delicate handle on the cup. “Danny said he wasn’t a one-man woman, but Bran’s older now. I don’t believe he’d cheat.”
“You need to think this through, Jess. You’re afraid Brandon’s line of work will get him killed. But your mom died of a stroke. True, your brother was killed in the army, but your dad was murdered. It shouldn’t have happened but it did.”
Hallie set her cup and saucer down on the coffee table. “What I’m trying to say is there’s no way to know who’s going to live, who’s going to die, or when it’s going to happen. If you love someone, you have to hold on to them with everything you’ve got. Hiding yourself away, hoping nothing bad will happen, isn’t going to work. You might as well be happy with someone you love for as long as you can.”
Jessie just sat there. It made sense. How could it possibly make sense?
“Danny was killed in the same battle as Brandon,” Hallie went on. “Danny died. Brandon lived. Your father had been out of the fighting for years. But he still died too soon. Don’t you see?”
She looked at Hallie, her heart beginning to thrum with a feeling of hope. “Oh, God. What if you’re right?”
“About living and dying? I am right. I can’t tell you what you should do, but you need to think about it. Think really hard, Jess. If Brandon is anything like Ty, he guards his feelings. He isn’t the kind of man who would fall in love easily, and if I’m right, he won’t fall out easily, either.”
Jessie’s teacup rattled in her lap. “I rejected him, Hallie. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who forgives easily, either.”
“If he loves you, he’ll forgive you.” Hallie rose and so did Jessie. “I’ve got to go. We’re on an eleven-thirty American flight to LAX day after tomorrow. I’ve got a couple of things to pick up for the kids, then I need to pack, get back to Evergreen, and get everyone organized.” She grinned. “I’m so excited.”
Jessie smiled. “I’m really glad it’s working out for you and Ty.”
“Me, too. We’re already practically living together and Ty wants more. We just seem to click. I’ve got the greatest guy and two super-great kids—and I owe it all to you.”
Jessie walked Hallie to the door, leaned over and hugged her. “Thanks for the advice.”
Hallie smiled. “What are friends for?” Turning, she headed into the hall, waving as she hurried for the elevator.
Jessie closed the door and turned the lock, her mind spinning with what her friend had said. She was in love with Brandon. Was she brave enough to risk losing him in order to share a life with him? She couldn’t stand the thought of him being killed, but losing him now was nearly as painful. And as Hallie had said, there was no way to know the future.
She was picking up the cups and saucers, carrying the tray into the kitchen, when she heard the sound of shattering glass in the bedroom. Dear God!
She knew exactly who it was, and fear shot through her. Setting down the tray, she ran for the side table and grabbed the revolver, whirled and pointed it two-handed toward the open bedroom door.
Her heart was racing, her legs trembling. Jessie steeled herself. Bracing her feet slightly apart, she took careful aim as the man of her nightmares strolled into the living room.
* * *
His jaw clenched in resignation, Bran climbed the stairs back to Jessie’s third-floor apartment. He