Bulletproof Badge. Angi Morgan

to me straight. Bottom-line it.”

      “I like you, Kenderly Tyler. I really do.” He sent another text and then removed the battery from his phone before sliding both back into his pocket. “Our odds aren’t very good. Truth is... I didn’t think we’d make it this far.”

      “Well, that’s reassuring.” If she’d had any choices she might have turned around and run from him. But there weren’t any other choices.

      She stood beside a set of stairs leading to a church. Sitting on the cold concrete she leaned back only to jolt forward. She’d forgotten that her heels were hooked into her skirt at the small of her back. It might have looked normal for a college student, but she felt silly.

      “So, what now?”

      For a split second the confident young smile disappeared, and the thoughtful Texas Ranger who had absentmindedly petted his dogs stood there. Maybe he was as lost as her?

      “Oh my gosh! Clementine and Bear! Are they okay?”

      “They were in the bedroom at the back of the house. I don’t think the bullets penetrated that far.”

      “Those poor puppies. What will happen to them?”

      “They have a regular dog walker. She lives across the street. But I sent a message to my buddy, Jesse, to come get them.”

      Disappointed that they didn’t have a way to find out, she rubbed her bare feet and wasn’t about to complain. Captain Oaks had been shot, and that man was trying to kill Garrison because he’d helped her.

      “Can he come get us, too?” she mumbled.

      But he’d heard and grinned. He casually leaned against the corner of the building. Or he tried to look casual. His body was tense. His eyes darted a different direction with each tilt of his head.

      “Trouble is, no one really knew that I was at Tenoreno’s place. This operation is sort of...” He shrugged.

      “Off the record?”

      “More like last minute and hasn’t gone through all the proper channels.”

      Kenderly jumped up and ran across the street. “Great. This is just absolutely great. And so in character for my life.”

      She spun around midintersection to see her escort picking up her shoes, so she continued jogging across the road.

      “Kenderly,” he said sternly, running after her. “Come on. You know we have to stay together.”

      “So you have any idea when this is going to end?”

      “Look. You’re a smart gal. You know life isn’t going to be the same. You might want to think about relocating.”

      “You aren’t serious?” His lips pressed firmly into a straight line, and she knew that he was very serious. “What am I going to do?”

      Placing both hands on her shoulders, one heel dangling from each, he looked at her for a good thirty seconds. If they’d been at her apartment door... If they’d been on a date or had met at the party Isabella said she could attend...

      If. If. If. If things had been different, the moment might have been full of nervous anticipation instead of emotional dread.

      “One step at a time, Kenderly. Just one small step. Our first is to find someplace out of the way to hang out for a while. We’ve got to give Oaks a chance to straighten this manhunt out.”

      Headlights shone on them as a car turned onto the street where they stood. Garrison ducked his head and curled her into his side. Whoever it was kept going. Loud, happy music poured from the open windows along with the laughter of the young people inside.

      Why did she suddenly feel so old? She was only twenty-three, dammit.

      The music faded as she watched the taillights disappear. Her fingers curled around the folds of Garrison’s T-shirt. The tears came before she could completely bury her face in the soft, dark cotton.

      As hard as she tried, she just couldn’t stop them. Mournful tears for Isabella and Trinity. Frightened tears for herself. Angry tears that everything she’d worked for was gone.

      She didn’t know if he was patient about it, but her Texas Ranger wrapped his arms around her and didn’t crack a joke. He didn’t try to stop her. No attempts to rush things along.

      His arms gave her the illusion of being secure. It was a strange feeling, with her body relaxing while her mind raced because she was so frightened.

      “Sorry. I didn’t mean to cry again.” She tilted her head back to look up at him, expecting to see frustration or at least disappointment. There was neither.

      “Ready to move out?”

      She nodded. He dropped to one knee, sliding his hands down her calf and tapping on her foot.

      “Oh, wow. You don’t have to do that.”

      “Lift your foot. I’m down here all ready.”

      Off balance, she clung to his strong shoulder and let him slip her impractical high heels back into place.

      * * *

      GARRISON HAD SEEN the scrapes on Kenderly’s feet. She couldn’t move fast in the ridiculous heels, but she wouldn’t be able to walk at all if she cut her foot. Putting them on was easier than her trying to accomplish it in the skirt he’d appreciated more on his bike.

      What should he do?

      “I need to check on Oaks.” He stood and guided his witness up the street. He recognized where they were. The capitol wasn’t too far away.

      “Well, we can’t walk into the hospital. Not with our faces splashed all over the TV.”

      “Right.”

      “You don’t even know which one they took him to.”

      “Right again.” He kept watch. Kept expecting the cops around every corner. They didn’t have time for explanations. Should he just take Kenderly to Rangers headquarters and let them straighten the mess out? Or stick with her until the captain was giving orders again?

      “And I hate to be a wimp, but I’m really tired. I don’t know how much longer I can stay awake. Let alone move my legs to walk.”

      “Got it.”

      “You wouldn’t happen to have an emergency credit card, do you? I have one, but it’s at my apartment. I leave it there since, of course, it’s only for emergencies.”

      Garrison halted and checked his back pocket. He was an idiot. All this time he’d been worried about the police tracking any transactions or his phone. He didn’t have to worry about that with his real name. Just his undercover identity.

      “Don’t worry. Your time walking the streets is over.”

      “If I wasn’t so relieved, I’d make you correct that street-walking phrase. But I am very grateful not to walk another step. Are we grabbing a cab?”

      He wouldn’t mention aloud that he’d had his own wallet the entire time. He hadn’t had a chance to switch them after Oaks decided to send him back to Tenoreno’s.

      “Are you going to call or something?” Kenderly asked, giving her skirt a habitual tug.

      Her eyes looked as exhausted as she claimed. Her hair wasn’t nearly as tangled as when she’d first arrived at the house. He really liked how it was so many different colors. Every place they’d been she looked like a different woman.

      There were other things he liked. Of course, being responsible for her, he couldn’t tell her how good she looked in sequins and silk. Or how the unrealistic heels made her legs look four inches longer.

      His hands itched to touch the smooth skin of her thigh again...

      “We should get a cheap motel room until I receive some