With Love From Las Vegas. Cat Schield

      When they returned to Houston, she wouldn’t be his employee or his lover. She wouldn’t be anything.

      It was better to disengage now. Before she became too dependent on a dream.

      His hand covered her forearm, the firm pressure bringing a lump to her throat. She told herself the sympathetic gesture was one anyone would make. She’d seen her mother offer support in a similar manner.

      Her heart squeezed. What did she expect? That he’d fall madly in love with her in the space of a few days? She pressed her lips together and shot a tight smile his way.

      “Your father’s going to be fine.”

      “I hope so.” Worrying about her love life while her father’s life hung in the balance demonstrated what a selfish idiot she was. “Thank you for everything.”

      “You don’t need to thank me.”

      But she did. He’d left Las Vegas in the middle of his leadership summit to be there for her. He’d gone above and beyond the call of duty. And she wanted to make more of his motives than was wise.

      “Sebastian.” She struggled with how best to frame what she needed to say next. “I’d prefer it if my family didn’t know anything about what happened between us in Las Vegas. I haven’t told them that I broke up with Tim yet and …”

      “You’d rather not further complicate an already complicated day.”

      “Yes.” Although she was glad he understood, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was relieved she wouldn’t expect anything more from him.

      An hour later, the plane landed at a small airstrip outside her hometown. She’d called Sam from the air and let him know what time they’d be landing. David was waiting as the sky began to lighten in the east. She hugged the youngest of her big brothers, clinging to him without asking how their father was doing, afraid the news had changed for the worse in the past two hours.

      “Sebastian, this is my brother David.”

      The two men shook hands. David assessed Sebastian through narrowed eyes. Missy had spoken of her boss often, some of it not particularly flattering. She’d never expected him to meet anyone in her family.

      “Thanks for bringing my sister. Dad’s out of surgery, but he’s still listed as critical.”

      They followed David to his truck. He tossed Missy’s suitcase in the back. She sat between the men, staring out the windshield.

      “What happened?” she demanded.

      “We’re not exactly sure. We think he got a call from Angela Ramirez’s son. Her ex-boyfriend showed up drunk and half out of his mind. Dad went over there and tried to calm the guy down. He got stabbed.”

      “Why didn’t he call the police?” she asked, ticking off familiar landmarks as they slid by in pre-dawn light.

      “I think Angela Ramirez is here illegally.”

      “And Dad thought nothing of his own safety,” Missy grumbled. “He was only worried that a member of his congregation was in trouble.”

      Beside her, Sebastian tensed. “Congregation?”

      She’d never told her boss about her family or her upbringing and he’d never inquired about her past. Hopefully that wasn’t about to blow up in her face.

      “Didn’t Missy tell you?” David piped up. “Our dad’s a pastor.”