Hidden Away (KGI #3)(16)

“We’re neighbors,” she blurted.

He smiled again. “I know.”

“He tried to take my bag. I couldn’t let him.”

The words came pouring out and she winced at how defensive and silly she sounded. She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“It’s not worth your life,” he pointed out.

She shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand. Everything is in that bag. I can’t ... I can’t lose it. Especially not to some bullying jackass.”

Garrett chuckled. “I’m not convinced you even needed my help. You had him disarmed before I got to you.”

She made a face. “I was scared out of my mind. I’m so grateful you were there.” Then she frowned. “You were swimming when I left the cottage. How did you get into town so fast?”

He lifted a brow and amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Keeping tabs on me?”

She flushed and looked down. “I saw you exercising. When I left, you were in the water.”

“I came into town after my swim. I’d only just arrived when I heard the commotion in the alley.”

“You have excellent timing,” she said ruefully.

The constable strode into the tiny waiting room and gestured for Sarah and Garrett to follow him back. Sarah rose and nervously ran her palms down her sides. It occurred to her that as angry as she was, and as much as she wanted the ass**le to pay for his crime, it was stupid of her to draw attention to herself. Even dumber to go on record where her name and information would be a matter of public record.

The problem was, she hadn’t thought. She’d reacted. She’d allowed emotion to overshadow common sense.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she blurted. “I don’t want to press charges.”

Ignoring the constable’s open mouth and Garrett’s frown, she bolted from the station, cursing herself with every step. The door banged closed behind her as she hurried onto the street. Garrett caught up to her before she’d even made it a block. Though he didn’t touch her, he stepped in front of her, effectively halting her in her tracks.

A scowl darkened his face. “Hey, what happened back there?”

She tried to step around him but he blocked her escape. “Nothing, okay? I changed my mind.”

“You’re going to just let him get away with that?” Garrett demanded.

She blew out her breath as rage curdled her veins. “Look, my preference would be to let the little bastard rot, but I can’t afford to draw attention to myself.”

She closed her eyes. Damn it, but she was a walking disaster today. Nothing was coming out right. She may as well have told him everything about her situation. She’d already slipped up and told him her first name. But that was okay. Sarah was a common enough name, and her neighbor didn’t strike her as the type to get chatty with the locals.

“Okay, I get that.”

Garrett’s deep voice washed over her, soothing her fraught nerves. To her surprise, there was no reprimand in his voice. Just an intimate gentleness that made her shiver.

“Why don’t I walk you home?” he offered. “Since I’m going the same way and all.”

She hesitated for a moment, lips pursed in concentration. Then she realized how ridiculous she was being. They were going the same way. They’d end up walking together whether he was officially escorting her or not.

She relaxed and offered the most convincing smile she could muster. “I’d like that. Thanks.”

CHAPTER 6

GARRETT kept pace with Sarah as they hit the center of town square. “Want to take the beach path back?”

She nodded and turned toward the coffee shack, leaving him to follow. He kept just a step behind her, taking the opportunity to study her up close. She’d been scared out of her mind when he’d pulled the ass**le off her in the alley. She was still scared. She put on a brave front, but she was pale as death and her fingers shook uncontrollably.

He needed to get on the sat phone and talk to Resnick asap, but his first priority was making sure she was safe. More than that, he wanted to give her a chance to calm down and rid herself of the haunted look.

Something had happened to her beyond the day’s events. He knew that look. He’d seen it in his sister-in-law’s eyes more times than he cared to remember. Sarah had flinched when he’d touched her in the alley and she’d made it a point to keep her distance at every opportunity. Someone had hurt her.

All he knew was that she had barriers around her like most people wore clothes. She had a don’t- touch-me air that enveloped her and reflected in her frightened gaze.

Even though Sarah hadn’t pressed charges, and he understood why, he had no intention of allowing the little bastard to get away with what he’d done. He’d let Resnick deal with the ass**le.

They walked in silence and he didn’t attempt to break it. He wanted to come off as concerned but not intrusive. Gaining her trust was going to be more difficult than he’d thought, and he had to tread lightly or risk scaring her away.

When they reached her cottage, she took a step toward her porch but then stopped and turned around to face him. He sensed that it took a lot of courage to stand there in front of him. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than to run for her cottage and bar the door. But she stood there, bottom lip pinched between her teeth and she leveled her gaze directly at him, her light green eyes catching the light and warming.