From the Heart

sitting room before going downstairs. He didn’t find Jessica in the dining room, but Betsy.
    “Where is she?” he demanded.
    Betsy cleared off the place she had set for Jessica, then scowled at him. “So you’re in a chipper mood too.”
    “Where’s Jessica?”
    Betsy sent him a shrewd look. “Looks sick this morning, wonder if she caught David’s flu. Down at the beach,” she continued before he could snap at her.
    “Alone?”
    “Yes, alone. Didn’t even take that overgrown mutt with her.Said she’s not going into work today, and . . .” Betsy placed her hands on her hips and scowled at his retreating back. “Well,” she muttered and clucked her tongue.
    It was cold. Concealing his shoulder holster under his jacket was simple. By the time Slade had reached the beach steps, he’d nearly run out of curses. Hadn’t anything he’d said to her the night before gotten through? He spotted her standing near the breakers and tore down the steps and across the sand.
    Jessica heard his approach and turned. Whatever she might have said slipped back down her throat as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
    “ You idiot! What are you doing down here alone? Don’t you know the position you’re in?”
    Her hand swung out, connecting sharply with his cheek. The slap stunned both of them, causing angry eyes to meet angry eyes in quick surprise. His grip loosened enough for Jessica to step back. “Don’t you shout at me,” she ordered, automatically soothing the flesh his hands had bruised. “I don’t have to take that from anyone.”
    “You’ll take it from me,” he said evenly. “I’ll give you that one, Jess, but remember, I hit back. What are you doing out here?”
    “I’m taking a walk,” she snapped. “I arranged for David to take over the shop today, as per your orders, Sergeant.”
    So we’re back to that, he reflected and dug his hands into his pockets. His hair whipped unheeded around his face. “Fine. My next order is that you’re not to leave the house until I say so.”
    The fire in her eyes was suddenly misted with tears. Hugging herself, she spun away from him. She’d show him anger, she’d show him passion, but she refused to show him weakness. “House arrest?” she said thickly.
    He’d rather have had her slap him again than cry. “Protective custody,” he countered. With a sigh, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Jess . . .”
    Swiftly she shook her head, knowing that kind words would undermine her completely. When she felt his brow drop to the top of her head, she squeezed her eyes tight.
    “Don’t fall apart now,” he murmured. “It won’t be for very long. When it’s over—”
    “When it’s over, what?” she interrupted in swift despair. “Will one of the people closest to me be in jail? Am I supposed to look forward to that?” On a long breath, she opened her eyes and looked out to sea. The water was choppy, white-capped and gray. A storm was coming in, she thought dispassionately. The sky was beginning to boil with it.
    “You’re supposed to get through today,” he told her, tightening his grip. “Then you’re supposed to get through tomorrow.”
    Life, she mused. Is that really how life’s supposed to be? Is that how he felt about his? “Why did you leave me alone this morning?”
    His hands dropped away from her shoulders. Without turning, Jessica knew he’d stepped back. Gathering her courage, she faced him. All the guards were back. If her body had not still ached from the fury of lovemaking, she might have thought she’d imagined all of the night before. The man staring at her showed no hint of emotion.
    “You’re going to tell me it was a mistake,” she managed after a moment. “Something that shouldn’t have happened and won’t happen again.” Her chin came up as love warred with pride. “Please don’t bother.”
    He should have let her go. He intended to let her go. Before he could stop himself, Slade took her arm, carefully wrapping his fingers around it as if measuring its size and strength. “I’m going to tell you it was a mistake,” he said slowly. “Something that shouldn’t have happened. But I can’t tell you it won’t happen again. I can’t be near you and not want you.”
     
    The man shifted his position in the cover of trees. With businesslike movements, he opened the briefcase and began to fit the pieces of the rifle together. For the moment he paid little attention to the two figures