warm fire burned in the family room, and Jessie finished getting lunch ready, tuna sandwiches and cream of tomato soup. The three of them ate at the kitchen table while Jessie gave Hallie an update on her investigation. She mentioned Bran but only briefly. She was saving that for when they were alone.
Hallie’s gaze fixed on Ty. “So you’re acting as Jessie’s bodyguard while Brandon is out trying to catch bad guys?”
Ty just shrugged. “I guess you could put it that way.”
Hallie’s dark eyes ran over him. “Well, you look like a man who can handle the job.”
Jessie thought she saw Ty’s chest expand a little. “Bran wouldn’t trust me to keep his woman safe if I couldn’t.”
Jessie’s eyes widened nearly as much as Hallie’s.
By the time they had finished the meal, Jessie had filled her friend in on the last few weeks of her life, and Hallie and Ty were chatting as if they had known each other for months instead of only a few hours.
Ty shoved up from his chair, a little reluctantly, Jessie thought. The warmth in his eyes was unmistakable as he looked at Hallie. “Since it doesn’t appear you’re here to assassinate your best friend, I’ll leave you two alone. If you need me, I won’t be far away.”
Hallie flicked him a last assessing glance as he left the kitchen. “You were right. Ty’s yummy.”
“I think he likes you. Why don’t you give him your number?”
“Maybe I will.” Hallie’s gaze went from Ty’s retreating figure to Jessie. “What about you? From what Ty said, I’m guessing you and Brandon are involved?”
Nerves bloomed in Jessie’s stomach. She hadn’t discussed Bran with anyone. “We’re...um...sleeping together. I never thought I could handle a strictly physical relationship, but that’s what it is.”
Hallie set a hand over hers on the table. “The last time we talked, you were afraid you’d never be able to be intimate with a man again. All you could think about was Ray Cummings and what he’d done to you. Brandon must be pretty special.”
“I’ve never met anyone like him. Bran’s gorgeous and sexy. I wouldn’t have thought he could be sweet and thoughtful, but he is. He wanted to help me get over Ray Cummings. He was patient and understanding and it worked.” She smiled. “Of course he’s a man, so he isn’t perfect, but whatever happens, I know Bran will do his best to protect me. He’d give up his life before he’d let someone hurt me.”
“Wow. You sound like you’re falling in love with him.”
Jessie glanced away. “God, I hope not.”
“Why not?”
“My brother warned me about him. I don’t think Bran could be happy with just one woman. Danny didn’t think so.”
“You think he’d cheat on you?”
She shook her head. “Bran’s far too honorable for that. He’ll just end things when they get too complicated. Or I will. I know it, accept it. I’m sure Bran knows it, too. So we’re good—at least for now.”
“The way you talk about him it sounds like more than just casual sex.”
It was more—a lot more—but it didn’t really matter. “Even if he fell madly in love with me, Bran’s a warrior. He isn’t in the army anymore, but he still thinks that way. I don’t want that kind of life. Never knowing whether or not he’ll be coming home. Always worrying about him. I don’t want to live with the same uncertainty my mother did.”
“You always said your mom and dad were really happy.”
“They were.”
“I guess if you love someone enough, the risk doesn’t matter.”
Jessie stayed silent. She knew better than most how hard it was to lose someone you loved.
Hallie sighed and leaned back in her chair. “It’s kind of sad, you know? I was sort of hoping for a happy ending. For one of us, anyway.”
In a way it was sad. And thinking about it was making her chest ache. “Maybe you’ll have better luck with Ty.”
Hallie’s gaze went to the family room, where Ty perched on an ottoman in front of an overstuffed chair, clearly on alert. “Why don’t we go find out?” she suggested.
Relieved at the change of subject, Jessie smiled. “Good idea.”
TWENTY-TWO
It was late in the afternoon when Bran got a phone call from Ty. “How’s the hunt going?” Ty asked.
“I’ve got the area reconned, got all the intel I need. I’m ready to take the guy down. I just need him to show up tonight.”
“If this guy’s as bad as his rep, you’re gonna need some backup.”
“Not happening, bro. You