SB01 - The Guardian's Mission by Shirlee McCoy

Author:Shirlee McCoy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Love Inspired Suspense
ISBN: 9781426820977
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2007-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Dinner was more comfortable than Martha expected. Sure, her father shot looks in Tristan’s direction every few minutes, but Sue kept up a steady patter of conversation, and Tristan seemed happy enough to join in.

All in all, things went a lot better than Martha thought they would. By the time Sue served coffee and homemade sugar cookies, Martha was relaxed enough to enjoy her stepmother’s less than subtle questioning of Tristan. It was nice to have her ATF agent bodyguard on the spot for a change. Not that Tristan seemed to mind. He answered every question, telling stories about his family, his childhood, his faith, his job.

The fact that he didn’t get frustrated or annoyed with Sue would have raised him to the top of Martha’s acceptable-husband-material list if she’d had one. Which she didn’t.

Maybe that had been her problem all along.

Maybe if she had a list of acceptable characteristics, she wouldn’t have spent so much time with Brian, whose brisk, sometimes irritated attitude toward Martha’s family should have been the first clue as to where their relationship was headed.

Nowhere.

“Well, doll, this has been fun, but I’ve got to get Sue home. She turns into a pumpkin if we’re out past ten.”

“Me? You’re the one who can’t keep your eyes open after a good meal.” Sue patted her husband’s arm, her round face as comfortable and kind as an old friend. After all his years of being alone, Jesse seemed to be settling into married life with ease. Martha smiled as the two bantered back and forth, her gaze drifting to Tristan.

He met her eyes, his expression guarded, his gaze intense and searching. As if he could see something in her that others couldn’t. As if he might know more than she wanted him to.

She stood, turning away from his probing gaze. “All right. Enough bickering about which one of you is more decrepit. You’re both perfect. This really was a great evening. Thanks for coming over.”

“You’re right. It was fun, doll.” Her father pulled her into a bear hug and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for letting us come.”

“Letting you? You know you’re always welcome here, Dad.”

“I know I’m an old busybody who can’t stand not knowing what’s going on in his daughter’s life. That’s what I know. And I know you’re a good daughter for putting up with me.”

“I’m not putting up with anything. I love having you and Sue over. Whether I issue an invitation or not.”

“Just as long as we don’t wear out our welcome. Sue, you want to grab your purse and jacket and we’ll get out of Marti’s hair?” He strode down the hall and pulled the door open, draping an arm around Martha’s shoulder and pulling her in for one last hug.

“Get away from the door. You’re backlit.” Tristan’s sharp words were cut off as something slammed into Martha’s shoulder. She spun sideways, blood spraying her face, her father shouting, shoving her hard, then falling beside her. Sue screamed. Tristan shouted again.

Glass shattered. Pain roared through Martha, but she barely felt it over the wild pounding of fear.

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