Navy SEAL Rescuer Read Online Free PDF Page B

have a choice. Some kid came by the
house, trying to scare me. He got a little carried away.” Catherine touched her
neck, and Darius was sure she didn’t believe that any more than he did. A little
carried away didn’t result in welts and bruises.
    “Did you call the sheriff?”
    “Of course.”
    “And he’s looking for this kid?” Eileen asked.
    “Yes, they even brought out a K-9 unit,” Catherine offered
quickly.
    “Hopefully, that will be enough, because I can tell you right
now, Catherine Marie, I’m not happy about this. You’re out there at that old
house by yourself way too much. What if he comes back and gets a lot carried away?”
    “No worries. I work for a company that’s ready to install a
security system. We just need to get the word from you and Catherine,” Darius
cut in.
    “You work for a security company?”
    “Yes, and my boss is at your place now. By the time we get
back, he should have a quote ready for you.”
    “No quote necessary. You go ahead and tell your boss to get
started,” Eileen said, and Catherine stiffened.
    “We need to get a couple of quotes before we decide.”
    “Why? So we can spend two or three weeks making a
decision?”
    “So that we can make an informed one.”
    “Like we made about central air? We still don’t have that, by
the way.”
    “Eileen—”
    “I’m dying, Catherine. I want to be comfortable in my home
while I do it.”
    “You’re not dying,” she responded, a catch in her voice.
    “I’m dying, but maybe not for a while. I still want the
air-conditioning, though.”
    “Fine. We’ll get that, and we’ll put in a security system.
Happy now?” Catherine sounded anything but happy, and Darius wanted to tell her
that it was better to be safe than sorry, better to be overprepared than under.
He figured she knew it though, and he kept silent.
    “Very. Now, let me be. I’m exhausted.” Eileen settled back into
her seat and into silence, and Catherine fell silent, too. Darius could feel her
tension, though. It radiated out, swirling through the cab until the air was
thick with it.
    Sweat beaded her brow, her breathing was hitched and uneven,
her fist white-knuckle tight.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, but she didn’t respond, just stared
straight ahead, her body so taut he thought she might break.
    He pulled into the breakdown lane, letting the truck idle as he
shifted, looked into her pale face. He recognized a panic attack when he saw
one. He’d had plenty of them in the first year after he’d returned from the war.
“Take a deep breath.”
    “I’m fine.” But she inhaled deeply, her body shaking with the
emotions she’d been holding in. As aloof as she seemed, she wasn’t unaffected.
Not by her grandmother’s illness and not by the attack.
    “Would it help if I let you drive?”
    “I don’t know.” She inhaled again, and he got out of the truck,
gestured for her to do the same.
    “Let’s give it a try, okay?”
    She nodded, sliding across the seat and nearly tumbling out
onto the pavement. He caught her, his arms latching onto a slim, firm waist.
Heat seeped into his palms, searing through him so unexpectedly he almost
released his hold before she caught her balance.
    “Thanks. I’m fine now.” She stepped away, and he climbed back
into the truck, Eileen’s soft snores filling his ears as Catherine got behind
the wheel and put the truck into Drive.
    Seconds later, they were moving again, Eileen still snoring
softly. He took off his jacket and tucked it around her frail body.
    “Thanks for that,” Catherine said softly, her gaze straight
ahead.
    “You love her a lot.”
    “She raised me. She’s as close to a mother as I remember
having.”
    “Then, you’ll do what’s best for her.”
    “You’re talking about the security system again.”
    “Yes. I noticed you said you’d have a security system
installed. You didn’t say that you’d have it installed today.”
    “You’re very persistent, Darius.”
    “Only