The Military K-9 Unit Collection. Valerie Hansen

      Westley’s gut clenched. She was still in danger. Not only from the maniac serial killer known as the Red Rose Killer, but also from Westley’s feelings for her. He didn’t know how he could continue to be detailed to her protection while keeping his love for her a secret. He wasn’t that good at subterfuge.

      He was going to have to trust that God would watch over her and arrange for someone else to be assigned to her protection detail. For both their sakes.

      * * *

      “You’re what?” Felicity stared at Westley. Sunlight filtering through the blinds of the photo lab gleamed in his dark hair. His beret was tucked into the pocket of his battle-ready uniform as he stood with his hands stiff at his sides, and his strong jaw was set in a determined line. Beside him Dakota tilted his head, his dark-eyed gaze bouncing between them.

      “You can’t asked to be rotated off my detail,” she stated flatly.

      Why would he do that? Her pulse pounded with adrenaline as if she’d run a marathon. Every vital system in her went on alert at hearing such disturbing news.

      “It’s a good idea if we don’t spend as much time together,” he said in a rush.

      Disbelief washed over her. “You don’t want to spend time with me?”

      He grimaced. “No. That’s not it.”

      “I’m pretty certain that is what you just said.”

      “I’m botching this.”

      She planted her fists on her hips. “You think?” A ribbon of frustration wound around her heart.

      Rolling his shoulders, he said, “The training center needs me.”

      “I thought Caleb was handling things there.”

      “He is.”

      “But you’re not happy with his work?”

      “No. I mean, that’s not what I’m saying.”

      Her head was spinning. She wished he’d be clearer. “Then...?”

      “Caleb is doing a great job, but there are just some things that need to be taken care of, that need my attention. And still so many dogs are missing. I need to focus on finding the dogs.”

      She wasn’t quite sure she believed that excuse. Yes, the dogs were a priority. One she could help him with. She really didn’t want to take offense at him basically standing here telling her he didn’t want to be with her, but she couldn’t help the sense of betrayal. Hurt. Disappointment flooded her veins. The training center had been running fine for the past week, and would continue to. But that really wasn’t the issue, was it?

      She’d thought she and Westley had come so far. She’d thought he felt the same way toward her. She’d hoped he’d fallen in love with her the way she’d fallen in love with him. Apparently, she was wrong.

      “You don’t want to protect me anymore.” The words tasted bitter on the tongue. “Okay, I get it. You didn’t want the detail in the first place. I don’t even know why you agreed to it.”

      She walked away from him, stopping at the desk to picked up her camera. She fiddled with the lenses, trying hard not to let the tears burning the back of her eyes fall. Her heart crumbled, the pain sharp.

      He came up behind her, awareness seared her clean through. His hands rested lightly on her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.

      “Felicity, it’s not that I don’t want to protect you. I do, but I can’t.”

      She didn’t understand. He wasn’t making sense. He’d done a wonderful job so far. He and Dakota.

      She turned around and stared into Westley’s handsome face. There was distress in his eyes.

      Was this because of her uncle? Her heart hurt to think that Westley still believed he’d somehow failed by letting her uncle get so close. “This mess with my uncle was not your fault.” She implored him to understand. “You have to accept that. There was no way for you or anyone to suspect Uncle Patrick killed my father and was the one trying to kill me.”

      A tender smile played at the corner of his mouth. “I do know that. I just wish I’d caught him sooner so you wouldn’t have had to go through all of this.”

      “I’m okay and he’s in custody. He won’t hurt me again, not from prison.”

      A pang of sadness for her mom thrummed through Felicity. The conversations Felicity and her mother had had over the past few hours had been tense and tearful, but better than any conversations they’d had before. Felicity felt they’d turned a corner in their relationship. Her mom had asked if Felicity would come to San Francisco for Christmas this year. She’d agreed.

      “Boyd Sullivan is still out there.” Westley stepped back, putting distance between them. “You’re still a target. You need protection 24/7. I can’t provide that for you anymore.”

      She stepped toward him. “Why? Why can’t you?”

      He spread his hands wide, as if encompassing the obviousness of it all. “We will have to work together again one day. I’m not going to risk your career because I can’t control my feelings for you.”

      Her heart skipped a little bit. He did care for her. A smile spread through her, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. “You do have feelings for me,” she nearly whispered.

      He ran a hand through his hair. “Of course I do, Felicity,” he huffed. “But if I stay close to you...”

      Her mouth went dry. “Westley.”

      He took another step back. “I will not act on my feelings. There’s too much at stake. Your career. My career.”

      Her heart beat hard in her throat. She moved a step closer. “What if I told you I have feelings for you, too?”

      He held up a hand as if to ward her off. “No, no. We can’t go down that road.”

      “But what if I want to?” She made up the distance with two steps. He stepped back again. This dance was taking them across the room toward the door. She frowned. “What are you afraid of, Westley?”

      “I can never be the man you need.” The words were harsh, as if torn from him.

      Absorbing his statement, she shook her head, denying his claim. “Of course you are. Don’t you understand? I’m in love with you, Westley.”

      The color drained from his face. “You can’t be.”

      “But I am and you’re going have to face the fact that you love me, too.” She prayed her words were true as she stepped closer and grasped the sleeve of his jacket. The cotton fabric was soft and crumbled easily beneath her fingers. The man wearing it was the polar opposite. “Do you deny loving me?”

      His gaze fixated on her hand then rose to meet hers. There was so much torment in his eyes that she hurt for him. And she hurt for herself, because she knew he would never own up to his feelings for her. She just didn’t understand why.

      He gently pried her fingers loose and held her hands in his. “Felicity, I care for you more than I’ve ever cared for anyone else.”

      That gave her a spurt of hope.

      “But the United States Air Force is our lives. Our careers. I will not allow anything to derail your career.”

      “That’s not your choice to make.”

      He let go of her hand and took two steps back this time. His hand grasped onto the doorknob. “I’ll talk to Lieutenant General Hall. I’ll have Caleb and maybe Ethan and Linc, or whoever else I can get from Security Forces to rotate in.”

      Her fingers curled into her palms. He wasn’t giving her a chance to choose for herself.

      “I’m not