TREVOR LEANED FORWARD, his hands braced on Liam’s dash. Alex’s large SUV was impossible to see around. The emergency lights made it worse to pick out what was happening down the street.

They’d all seen the smoke.

“How close are we?” he asked.

Alex’s vehicle slowed.

Trevor leaned toward Liam and saw the small house, flames licking out of the window, rising from the roof.

“The car’s around here somewhere,” he said.

“Dina?” Trevor’s heart leapt to his throat.

“Trevor—”

“Dina!” He ripped the seatbelt off and threw himself out of the car.

Alex was on the lawn, his radio in hand. He reached for Trevor but he shoved his friend away, sprinting for the door.

“Dina! Answer me.”

Trevor ran right up to the door. He knew better than to grasp the metal knob. Instead he lifted his booted foot and kicked.

“Damn it, Trevor.” Alex grabbed his arm. “Together. One, two, three!”

They both nailed the door. The top and middle hinges popped and the wood casing gave way. Trevor grabbed the edge of the door and yanked. He pitched backward as the door came free.

“I’ve got her,” Alex yelled.

Trevor staggered back, letting the door fall to the ground.

Alex had his arm around Dina’s waist. Her head sagged forward and her whole body shuddered.

“Get away from there,” Liam hollered.

“Come on.” Trevor grabbed Dina under the arms and together the three of them made it to the sidewalk.

“We need to move the cars. Fire department is on their way.” Liam had his phone pressed to his ear.

“Is there anyone else in there?” Alex eased his hold on Dina.

“No,” she coughed out. “Rudy’s dead.”

“Here. Sit her down and get her to drink.” Liam thrust a bottle of water at Trevor.

“Are you hurt?” Trevor eased Dina to the ground.

“No.” She braced her hands on the ground and coughed.

“What happened? What were you thinking running off like that?” He bent and kissed the top of her head. The scent of smoke clung to her.

“Phillip and Little Tony.” She finally took a long pull from the water bottle as the first police cruiser and a fire truck rolled up.

Alex took over directing them freeing Trevor to focus on her.

When they’d pulled up, he’d thought she was dead. She very well might have been if they didn’t take that door down when they did.

“Here. Over here.” Alex waved a stretcher and a team of EMTs over to them.

Trevor backed up, making room for the professionals.

She didn’t appear hurt besides some soot stained clothing and streaks on her face. The tear tracks from her eyes watering were the worst.

“Trevor?” Alex called out.

Trevor nodded and got to his feet, walking the short distance to where Alex and Liam stood together with another uniformed officer.

“What the hell just happened?” Alex asked.

“Dina had a friend that lived here named Rudy. She was coming here for help, but it sounds like the two guys who broke into her house were coming here, too. Not sure why.” Trevor stared at Alex. “She’s in danger. The same two guys who did this? They killed my partner earlier tonight.”

“Parson? Shit.” Alex gaped at Trevor.

Helping Dina used to be about doing what was right. Now it was personal Trevor wanted to nail Phillip, Little Tony and her brother. They’d messed with the wrong people. They’d disrupted their quiet lives and robbed families of their loved ones.

No more.

DINA SAT AT THE table, staring at the polished floor while Trevor, Liam and Alex stood on the porch of the cabin talking. Probably about her.

In her wildest dreams she couldn’t have cooked tonight up.

What was going on with Phillip and Little Tony?

She’d heard the yells and the gunshots. A neighbor had come out after the police arrived to say they’d seen one man drive off, leaving a second to run for it. Neither had been caught.

Why were they fighting?

Why had they gone back to Rudy’s?

Focusing on the things she didn’t know was easier than accepting what she did.

Her external drive was gone.

The new laptop was gone. Some of the data had been saved on her cloud account, but she’d more than likely lost it all. Her means for starting over were gone.

She’d broken Trevor’s trust by stealing his borrowed car and running.

Two men were dead because of her.

And she’d stolen Trevor’s family ring.

She twisted the gaudy gold thing around her finger. The action soothed her raw insides.

The cabin door opened and Trevor stood there, the porch light creating a halo around his head. The light glinted off the sun bleached streaks in his hair.

“Thanks. I’ll make sure to check in. Have a safe drive.” He waved and a moment later two engines started up.

Headlights shone through the open windows, momentarily blinding her. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound fade.

The longer the silence went on the tighter her insides wound. She could hardly breathe. Her heart felt as though it were caged, unable to pump.

From the moment she’d dove through the burning door at Rudy’s Trevor had been in officer mode. He’d taken care of her physical needs. He’d helped work the scene and guide first responders. He’d stood guard while the EMTs looked her over, then sat with her while she gave a statement. At some point Jenna and the woman named Sterling had shown up and taken the car, leaving them to pile into Liam’s truck for the drive back to Ransom.

They hadn’t really spoken, but she knew once it was the two of them Trevor would have a lot to say. Whatever his judgment of her, it was probably right. She hadn’t done right by him. Again. And all he’d ever tried to do was help her.

The thud of a boot on wood planking reverberated through the cabin. She could even feel it through her thin flip-flops. Another thud and another, coming closer toward her.

She swallowed and opened her eyes.

Trevor stood a few feet away, his gaze on hers. It wasn’t the same warm, open stare. His walls were up. He was pissed and rightfully so.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. It wasn’t a tender question. It was more of his inner cop showing through. Like it or not, he was a caretaker heart.

“Fine, thanks.”

“Have you drank any more water?”

“Yeah.” She nodded at the sink. A blue plastic cup sat on the counter.

Trevor pulled out the chair adjacent to hers and sat. They’d been exactly here last night as well, but things had gone differently. She’d been the one angry, and he’d soothed her. Last night she hadn’t known if she could fully understand or trust Trevor. Then she’d met Elisabeth and his parents and now Dina understood him on a deeper level.

She wished she hadn’t run. She wished she’d stayed where she’d been and trusted him.

Maybe staying in Ransom was signing her inevitable death warrant, but all running did was create more targets. At the very least she could be a little happy.

She had to say something. She had to make him understand. But how? What could she possibly say to him that might make this all okay?

“Dina—”

“Trevor—”

They each lifted their gaze to the other.

So many questions floated between them.

She reached for his hand splayed on the tabletop and covered it with hers.

“I messed up,” she said.

He didn’t deny that.

“When you said—about Parson—all I saw was you. Dead. Because of me. I—I care about you.” No, her feelings were stronger than that, but she hadn’t examined them too closely. It was enough that she wanted to stay for now. “The last thing I wanted was for you, your family, anyone to die because of me.”

“Parson was doing his job.” Trevor turned his hand in hers until they could hold on to each other. “Dispatch said he radioed in about two guys possibly braking into a police issue vehicle. He probably knew it was mine. Thought my gear was in there. And he went to do his job.”

“But Phillip and Little Tony wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. If I’d moved or left or...” Never come here.

“Dina?”

She closed her mouth.

“Parson died doing his job. That’s not your fault. You didn’t pull the trigger. You aren’t hunting anyone down. Stop taking the blame.”

Those four words slapped her. A blush crept up her neck and her cheeks burned in shame.

“Do you want to leave? Do you want to run? What do you want?” Trevor dragged his chair closer and leaned toward her. “Tell me. Please. Just—tell me. If that’s what you want I’ll take you to a bus station or the airport or wherever you want to go tomorrow.”

“No.” Her throat constricted and she sucked in a breath. A tickle started down low, and she coughed.

Trevor got up and grabbed her another glass of water. Her hands shook holding the glass.

She hadn’t realized what she’d found until she was leaving it in her rearview mirror. That was when it hit her, that her feelings went deeper, that she finally had something she wanted to fight for. And she was leaving it. If she’d been smart she’d have turned around, but she’d been afraid for Trevor. So she kept going.

Dina drank from her cup, downing all of it. She might need to say a lot and a dry throat wouldn’t get her through everything inside of her. Her fingers wrapped around the blue cup, squeezing it tight since he’d remained on his side of the table.

“Better?” He leaned forward, perching his elbows on his knees.

“No, I don’t want to leave.” She stared back at him, willing him to see her truth. “I thought I did what was best for you. For me. But...I was wrong. I don’t want to leave Ransom. Or you.”

Trevor glanced away from her and ran a hand through his hair.

She’d run from him three times now. Was the third time the final straw for him? Three strikes and she was out of his life?

If he wanted to be done with her, she couldn’t blame him. She was trouble. Always had been. And he wanted a different kind of life. One that was better than what he’d had. She understood that. She wanted the same thing. But that didn’t mean they could have it together. Maybe he’d come to the same conclusion?

“Why now?” he asked.

“Why now...what?”

“Why are you just now realizing that? Because you almost died? Is that it?”

“No.” She glanced down at the cup, her knuckles white from her death grip. “Last night I accepted that you saw us as different. I didn’t understand you or any of this until today. Until I met your mom. I...get it now. We are different. And the same.” Elisabeth had helped aim the light for her, and Dina thought the other woman was right about him.

“What comes next then? I need you to tell me because...” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head.

She’d hurt him. Really hurt him. That was never her aim. Deep down she’d tried to do what was best, and she’d messed it all up.

They were both trying to be better versions of themselves and still making old mistakes. They’d each chinked away at the other’s armor in their attempts to figure out who they were dealing with. She didn’t want to hurt Trevor. She wanted to care for him.

Maybe even love him.

Her insides coiled tight at that word. Love made her vulnerable. It could be used against her. She didn’t know what real love felt like. But if she was ever going to find out, shouldn’t she take a chance on him? On the man who wouldn’t stop fighting for her?

“In a perfect world?” She rolled the cup in her hands. “The bad guys would get caught and we could...do this right. Date like normal people. No drama. No danger. I like you, Trevor. I didn’t expect, well, I didn’t expect anything and I’m not good with what comes next. I want to try though. And if you don’t, I get it. I come with a lot of baggage. A lot of shit. It’s totally understandable if you’re not interested—”

Trevor reached over and grabbed her hand. He pulled her to her feet and into his arms. The smell of smoke clung to their clothes, a reminder that they’d survived.

He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. He squeezed her tight, one hand buried in her hair, holding onto her like he thought she was going to try and get away again. That was the last thing she wanted to do.

Dina closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder.

She didn’t want to be anywhere else. If Trevor wanted her here, she was staying.

They stood like that for several long moments, holding each other in silence.

A tickle in Dina’s throat caused her to cough. Trevor eased his grip and peered down at her.

“Water?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

He cupped her chin and stared down at her. She resisted the urge to look away. The more their gazes remained locked the more the feeling grew in her chest.

She’d fallen for Trevor. Being with him meant something to her that was new and unknown. When they’d begun to text and talk, she’d been afraid of losing the intimacy and all those warm, fuzzy feelings. Sex hadn’t diminished those feelings, it had deepened them.

Dina slid her hand up around his shoulder and lifted up on tip-toe. He bent his neck, and she kissed him, thankful for this caring man who’d come to her rescue yet again.

He gave her a squeeze then lifted his head.

“You want to get a shower first? Wash the smell off?” he asked.

“Wash my back?” She smiled and butterflies swirled in her throat.

Trevor stared at her for a moment before jerking his head in a nod.

She took his hand and led him into the bathroom. It wasn’t as big as the one at his place, but it had a nice sized shower.

Trevor reached in and turned the water on, never letting go of her hand. She was okay with that. They each needed to be reassured right now.

She used her free hand to grasp the hem of his T-shirt and slide it up his chest. She bent her head and kissed his stomach then his sternum, grateful that today he hadn’t been hurt.

Once he was satisfied with the water he let go of her long enough to toss his shirt on the ground. The hard stare he aimed at her made her swallow. The hurt was deep and needed tending. He needed this time together as much as she did. Or maybe more.

He reached out and grasped the knit material of her sundress in both hands. He dragged it up over her head then dropped it and stood back, watching her. She couldn’t read him. There was hurt and heat in the way he looked at her, but he was also guarded.

She reached back and unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the ground with the rest of her clothes, but he still didn’t move. Or speak.

“I’m sorry, Trevor,” she whispered.

He planted his hands on either side of her shoulders and leaned in. His breath tickled the side of her neck. He kissed her collar bone then the slope of her breast. He sank to a knee and pressed his lips to her belly then her hip. She leaned against the wall, her insides quivering as this strong, amazing man knelt in front of her.

She reached for him, running her fingers through his hair. She didn’t know what came next, but for right now, right here, they were together.

Trevor hooked his fingers in her underwear then yanked them down. She gasped, and a seam ripped. He flattened his hand to her stomach and bent his head, kissing her mound. He slid his hand between her legs and she widened her stance, greedy for him, for whatever he wanted to do to her. She loved him. Everything else didn’t matter so long as she was with him.

His fingers stroked her folds while he kissed the crease of her thigh. Forward and backward. He didn’t press into her, he just touched her.

She closed her eyes and focused on the feel of him. His rougher fingers on her sensitive skin. The desire deep in her belly for him to slide into her, possess her. Ever since striking out on her own she’d avoided permanent entanglements, both because of the danger and because she’d never wanted another man to control her. Trevor didn’t inspire that same aversion in her. Just the opposite.

In one move he hiked her leg over his shoulder and boosted her up the wall, the cool tile against her back a shock. She gasped, then cried out as his mouth settled on her. His fingers slid inside of her. She gripped his hair and blindly reached for something to brace herself against, but there was nothing.

Just Trevor, his tongue stroking her clit, his fingers curling inside of her. She shifted her hips, but he was in control. She couldn’t move without him. He was the one fucking her with his mouth and fingers. Dina was along for the ride. It was so Trevor, taking matters into his own hands, dealing with it, giving, never taking. The man was a damn saint, but she wasn’t going to let him do this alone. Not so long as she was in the picture.

That was what love was, wasn’t it?

Two people in it. Together.

His fingers curled, finding the pleasure spot deep inside of her. Her breathing hitched and then her world shattered. She cried out, gripping his hair as her orgasm spiraled through her. Pleasure and a deeper emotion infused every fiber of her being.

Love.

She loved this man even though she’d tried not to. She’d feared love, but now that she had it she wasn’t about to let go.