.

slipped his hand around Alyssa’s elbow to help her down from the car. Though she didn’t need his help, she didn’t argue. He kept her close to his side and when they passed Dani, he shared a quick fist bump with her. They seemed so comfortable and in tune with one another.

      Alyssa had always wanted a sibling to share this kind of camaraderie, but her parents didn’t want a second child. She’d hoped for a large family with Todd—lots of noise, laughter and love shared between many children—but the dream of having more children died when Todd hit her.

      It felt odd to settle in the passenger seat of her own car and even stranger when Cole climbed behind the wheel. She supposed he was used to adapting to an ever-changing environment in his job. She wished she could adjust so quickly, but her nerves were fried.

      Too tired to give directions, she pressed Go Home on her GPS and the woman’s voice spouted the first set of directions.

      “You really shouldn’t have your home address programmed in your GPS.” Cole adjusted the mirrors. “If someone stole your car, they’d know where you live.”

      With Dani’s heads-up about his thorough nature, she wasn’t surprised at his comment. “I’ll change it tomorrow.”

      He turned and gave Dani a thumbs-up. Alyssa heard Dani back the car out of their way.

      Cole turned to the front, smiling at her. “You ready to go?”

      She peered into his eyes. Blue. Like the ocean on a summer day. He seemed so self-assured, yet there was something lingering in the depths that belied the confidence. Nothing that made her doubt his abilities, but something she knew he was questioning, maybe searching for.

      Their gazes met and held. His smile disappeared and his eyes turned dark and unreadable. He suddenly seemed too close for comfort and the car too small.

      “I really should be getting home,” she said and hated the way his expression became guarded, a feeling she knew all too well from her failed relationship with Todd. But that was a good thing, right? If he looked at her like this more often, reminding her to keep her distance, she wouldn’t have to fight this crazy attraction.

      He pulled out of the lot, and once on the road, she listened to the rhythmic thump, thump of the intermittent wipers, hoping the soothing sound would calm her nerves. The dashboard cast a red glow, and she could see Cole check the mirrors on a regular basis—maybe making sure Dani, and no one else, followed them. Neither of them spoke. The quiet, save the wipers and hissing sound of tires spinning over wet pavement, felt uncomfortable as could be expected between two strangers.

      And they were strangers. They’d only met a few hours ago. But there was a connection between them, too. Even if she didn’t like it, she couldn’t deny it.

      He followed the GPS instructions, making all the directed turns. They pulled onto her street, and she was thankful not to see Nolan’s car in front of their nondescript box of a duplex. Each of them had a one-car garage, but Nolan had filled his with sporting equipment and had no room for his car so he parked on the street.

      A single light brightened the front porch of her home. It was usually a beacon welcoming her home. But tonight the thick fog cloaked the shadows around the property, creating dark and murky places to hide.

      “It would be best if we could park in the garage,” Cole said, obviously on the same wavelength.

      Thankfully, Paula’s husband had dropped her off, so her car didn’t block the driveway. Alyssa pressed the remote mounted on the visor. The garage door groaned and protested its age, then rumbled up. Cole expertly slid her large car into the tight space and turned off the motor.

      Expecting Dani to join them, Alyssa glanced back, but Dani’s car wasn’t in the driveway or on the road. “Where’s Dani?”

      “We didn’t want to risk Saunders seeing her if he was home. She’ll be waiting for me a few blocks away.”

      “He isn’t home. He parks on the street and his car isn’t here.” Just the thought of him nearby sent a shiver over her body. She couldn’t imagine how she would’ve handled it if he had been here. She wrapped her arms around her waist.

      “Hey.” Cole laid a warm hand on her shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to you. In fact, I need to check your home to make sure everything’s okay before leaving you alone.”

      Did he really think something had happened to Paula and the twins? Not likely. Nolan would never hurt the kids, would he? “If anything’s wrong, Paula would call me.”

      He studied her for a moment, then drew in a deep breath. “There’s something we need to get straight, Alyssa. If I’m to do my job and do it right, there will be things I have to do that aren’t optional. This is one of them.” His tone was sharp, his eyes dark. She suddenly felt sorry for Nolan if he ever crossed this man’s path.

      “And what am I supposed to tell Paula about you looking through my house?”

      “Does she have any connection to the police force or Nolan?”

      “Her husband’s a police officer.”

      “Then for your own safety, we’ll have to use a cover story. Tell her I’m a client and you wanted me to see the layout of your place.”

      She didn’t want to lie to Paula, but she’d do so for her children’s safety. Without another word, she climbed out.

      Cole went to the door leading into her house. As he pushed it open, he settled a hand on the weapon he’d holstered at his waist before leaving his rental house. Her concern rose not only for her own safety, but for her children, as well.

      He seemed to shake it off, though, and held out his hand. Needing to check on her babies, she rushed inside without a backward glance to see if he followed. On the way to the stairs, she spotted Paula sound asleep on the sofa.

      Breathing a sigh of relief for her friend’s safety, Alyssa charged up the steps as sore muscles from her frantic escape from Nolan screamed at her to slow down. But nothing would stop her from making sure the twins were okay.

      Cole caught up with her. “The point of me being here is to check things out before you run headfirst into danger.”

      “I just need to make sure the twins are fine.”

      His eyes softened a bit. “Which room is theirs?”

      “Second door on the left,” she answered. “Please be careful not to wake them.”

      “They won’t even know I was here.” He moved stealthily down the hallway, his footfalls silent and quick, almost as if he were one of the dark shadows outside. He slipped into the twins’ room and she followed.

      “Thank You, Father,” she whispered at the sight of her babies safely in their twin beds.

      Cole went straight to the window and closet, then knelt down to check under their beds. Alyssa was thankful she’d recently discovered Riley had been hiding kid’s-meal boxes under his bed. Riley had wanted to use them as blocks to build a fort. Unfortunately, he hadn’t removed all the food, and she’d found petrified French fries.

      Cole came to his feet and paused between the twin beds to look down on Riley and Brianna. In the soft light coming from the hallway, Alyssa saw his face soften. He was such an enigma. Tough, strong, unyielding—and here he was smiling softly at her twins.

      He suddenly shook off whatever he was feeling and turned. “Let me check the other rooms and then we can go back downstairs.” He left the room as silently as he’d entered.

      She went to Brianna’s bed and tucked the blanket up to her chin. After running a hand over her soft curls, Alyssa kissed her daughter’s forehead. She moved to Riley’s bed and found his comforter decorated with colorful footballs dangling at the end. She tugged it up and pressed a kiss on his cheek. He stirred, then turned over and settled deep into the covers.

      Thank You, Lord, for giving me these