Chapter Four #2
“Good,” Blakely said, clearing her throat. It was then he realized she’d been watching him while he’d been lost in thought. “He’s been through a lot tonight. I hope the whole thing doesn’t leave too many scars.”
Dalton knew about those. Too well?
* * *
Blakely could feel her cheeks turn crimson as she looked at Dalton, so she forced her gaze from the gorgeous lawman standing in her kitchen and refocused on her sister.
“I know whatever happened isn’t your fault,” her sister said, cutting into her thoughts. “So please, start from the beginning and tell me exactly what I’m dealing with here.”
Blakely gave the elevator version of the attack.
“Ohmygod, Blakely.” Her sister cut across the kitchen and wrapped her arms around her. “I’m so sorry. All I thought about was Chase. I didn’t even consider how awful this whole attack must have been for you.”
Bethany’s body was shaking.
“You must have been terrified,” her sister continued. “Especially after all you’ve been through.”
Blakely cleared her throat a little louder this time as she hugged her sister.
“The past is the past. We don’t need to get into any of that now.
” But it was too late. The hunk of a marshal stood halfway across the room, his gaze fixed on her, questions dancing in his eyes.
“Besides, I’m much more worried about the impact this might have on Chase. ”
“Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for sometimes,” Bethany said in a moment of wisdom beyond her years. Her sister could come across as borderline ditzy at times, but then she would say something profound, revealing a deeper side to her.
“That might be true,” Blakely conceded, not ready to let herself off the hook for the whole ordeal. “But I hate the fact I couldn’t protect him.” She couldn’t go there with questions about what might have happened to Chase if she hadn’t fought off her attacker.
“Both of you are safe, and that’s all that matters,” Bethany said before taking a pull of wine. She studied the rim. “Family is the most important thing.” There was a depth to those words too, along with a hint of desperation.
What was that about?
Blakely remembered the fight her sister said she’d had with her husband, Greg. “Is everything okay on the home front?”
Another long pull instead of a verbal response told Blakely everything she needed to know.
“Tell me what happened,” she said to Bethany.
Her sister’s gaze shifted from Blakely to Dalton and back.
Bethany motioned toward the small four-top table in the kitchen next to a window. It was one of Blakely’s favorite spots for drinking coffee on the weekend. She liked to look out at the tall trees and think. “Mind if we sit down first?”
Blakely picked up the still-full wine glass and headed over to the table. A glance out into the darkness of the backyard caused a chill to race down her spine.
“I can turn on the porch light,” Dalton offered, like he could read her mind.
Then again, the man was experienced at reading body language, so she shouldn’t be all that surprised he’d picked up on her apprehension.
Especially considering she was pretty sure she’d involuntarily shivered at the cold front making its way down her spine.
Then there was the tension in her muscles that made her shoulders feel bunched up as a headache formed at her temples.
So, yeah, she wasn’t exactly giving off any relaxed vibes.
“Sounds good,” she said before thanking him.
Dalton popped his chin up in a quick nod before heading to the back door.
He flipped on the light, which helped ease some of Blakely’s nerves.
Despite all the Krav Maga training over the years, being attacked had still thrown her off-balance emotionally.
Frustration nipped that anyone could make her feel helpless or scared or both again.
A small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that the situation would have been so much worse without all the training she had.
Where would Chase be now if she hadn’t been prepared?
She’d responded to the threat quickly and dispatched the enemy.
She’d done her job, which was to defend herself.
And yet, a different nagging voice reminded her that Chase had been in danger.
He might be scarred for the rest of his life despite the reassurance from Bethany.
Kids were resilient. Except she should never have put Chase in the position to be resilient in the first place.
For that, she would never forgive herself.
“Earth to Blakely.” Bethany snapped her fingers roughly two inches in front of Blakely’s face.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, tuning back into the present.
“Where did you go just now?”
“To a bad place where I wasn’t able to fight off the sonofa—”
“But you were,” Bethany soothed. “That’s the important thing. Chase is safe. You’re safe. There’s no use torturing yourself with what might have happened.” As much sense as Bethany made, Blakely still couldn’t let herself off the hook.
“Hey,” her sister continued. “Talk to me.”
“I’d rather hear what happened between you and Greg tonight,” Blakely said, turning the tables.
The look on Bethany’s face said she was about to lie.