The Marriage Protection Program by Margaret Watson

Author:Margaret Watson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“You need more information to know what is going on, Sheriff. I need to tell you who I really am.”

Ben took her hand as Devlin sat forward on the couch and narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?” His voice was low and quiet, but Ben wasn’t fooled. He’d heard Devlin use that voice before.

“It doesn’t mean she’s a criminal,” Ben shot back at his boss.

Devlin gave him a startled glance, then leaned back in his chair. His gaze became thoughtful as it lingered on him and Janie. “I wasn’t implying anything, Ben. Why don’t we just let Janie tell me what she means?”

Janie took a deep breath and sat up straight. Ben tightened his hold on her hand, and she glanced over at him. He saw the trust in her eyes, and wondered why she’d given it to him. Then she nodded once and looking over at Devlin began telling him about the murder she’d witnessed.

An hour later, Janie leaned back against the cushion of the couch and watched the sheriff try to absorb the story she’d just told him. Ben hadn’t let go of her hand, and she wanted to thank him for holding on to her, for helping her get through the story one more time. But she wouldn’t do that in front of the sheriff.

“I’m sorry, Janie.” They were Devlin’s first words, and she could see the regret in his eyes. “This must have been an awful three years for you. I wish someone could have been there to help you.”

“Someone is now.” The words slipped out by mistake, but she wouldn’t take them back, even if she were able to. Ben’s support meant more to her than she could express.

“Thank goodness for that.” Devlin looked over at Ben. “What about the boy?”

“Rafael’s in school,” Ben answered. “But I have an idea to keep him safe.”

Janie leaned forward. She had been thinking about Rafael all morning, torturing herself with images of him in danger. “That’s what’s most important right now. What’s your idea?”

“We’ve never taken a honeymoon,” Ben said slowly. He didn’t look at her, but Janie felt red heat creeping up her cheeks. “We had Rafael starting school and your restaurant to worry about. Maybe we should go away now.”

“What good would that do? If the killer is in Cameron, why wouldn’t he just wait for us to come back?” she asked.

“It would give Devlin and the other deputies a chance to look around for a stranger here in town while you’re out of sight.”

“But what if he follows us? Then all three of us are at risk, and isolated from the people who know us.”

“We wouldn’t take Rafael on a honeymoon with us,” Ben said quietly.

Something stirred inside Janie that wasn’t fear, something she couldn’t allow herself to think about. She wanted to spend time with Ben, alone and isolated. Trying to banish the wisps of desire, she said, “You would trust someone else to keep him safe?”

“This murderer isn’t after Rafael. He’s after you, Janie.

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