Strong arms held her, that much Hannah knew. Anything else? Maybe the cold—the bone-shattering, violent shivering until your body seized with it—cold that enveloped her entire being. She vaguely heard sirens in the distance. For her? Was she hurt?

Think. What happened? The attack. The boat.

David! No—David.

She forced her lids open to find intense eyes burrowing into hers. A man was holding her. She had a sense of homecoming, but couldn’t place why. He was dark-haired and rugged with a shadow of whiskers covering his wide jaw, his eyes a dark grayish blue. His nose was large and crooked with a bump at the top as if it had been broken. Something about him said safety. Security—dependability—and she had an urge to run a finger over the bump, but her arms felt like heavy weights held them down.

“Welcome back.” His full lips split in a smile as sirens sounded in the distance.

Yes, she knew him, but her foggy brain wouldn’t reveal how.

“Mommy,” she heard David say, and suddenly his face filled her vision.

“Mommy,” he said again, this time on a breathy sigh. “You woke up.”

“Of course I did.” She dug deep for the strength to smile, then frowned over the blue tint to his lips and his shivering body. “You’re cold.”

“Gage is keeping us warm.”

“Gage?” She shifted and drank in the face she never expected to see again. “Gage? Is it really you?”

“Yes.”

“He pulled us out of the water,” David said solemnly. “He’s a hero, and I called the ambulance.”

“You’re the real hero.” Gage smiled at David. “The medics are almost here, thanks to you for being brave and making the call.”

Gage. They hadn’t seen each other in—what?— almost ten years, but they’d been oh-so-in-love back then. And now? He kept smiling at David and being so sweet to her son. Maybe he had children of his own. She glanced at his ring finger but found it empty. She’d heard he’d married, but then he’d left the SEAL team her husband had belonged to, and she’d lost track of him.

The siren grew louder, and she would have wiggled out of his arms, but her body wouldn’t respond. She felt safe and secure, despite the cold and pain in her head.

A big sigh of relief welled up inside. Safe. Yes, safe.

No, wait! She wasn’t safe after the assault in the cottage, her throat likely bearing the marks from the man’s deathly grip. If not for her tools, she’d be dead. And David…

A shudder raked over her body. No. She wouldn’t go there.

“I’m sorry about the cold,” Gage said, shivering himself. “I don’t have anything but my jacket to keep you warm.”

“Thank you for sharing it.” She rested against his solid chest, his powerful long legs holding her the same way he’d done many times. Until he didn’t. Until he’d left her behind without a glance. The familiar pain settled into her heart, but she couldn’t think about that now. She had to think about getting herself and David to safety.

“How are you doing?” he asked. “Can you stop shivering?”

She tried and succeeded. “Yes.”

“Good. So can David.”

She cast Gage a questioning look.

“It means your body temps may have lowered due to the cold, but any hypothermia you might be experiencing is mild. The medics will soon be here, and everything will be fine.”

She sighed out a breath, but her attention went to flashing red lights and the siren whirling close. Ambulance or police?

“Did you call the police?” she asked.

“No. Should I have?”

David’s eyes widened, his interest clearly piqued. She wouldn’t talk about the attacker in front of him, so she shook her head until a swirling wave of dizziness stopped her.

“What are you doing in town?” Gage asked. “And out in a boat in this weather?”

“Just visiting … at Heavenly Hideaway.”

He gaped at her for a moment. “Then you’re the one doing the—”

“Reconstruction,” she burst in and gave him a pointed look to silence him before David learned about Jane Doe.

A clipped nod told her he understood.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“Small town. We not only know everyone, but we know what they’re doing most of the time, too.”

“Oh, right.” This had to be how her attacker discovered she was working on Jane’s skull and where to find her.

“And why in the boat?” he asked.

She still wouldn’t talk about the attack, so she turned her head toward the strobing red lights settling in one location. Two medics soon crested the dune, a tall blond male and petite woman with jet-black hair. Medic bags were slung over their shoulders as they trudged across the sand carrying a backboard holding blankets.

The male arrived first, surprise lighting his face. “Gage, that you?”

“Hey, Terry. Glad you got here so fast.”

After removing Gage’s coat, Terry immediately wrapped Hannah in blankets, covering her from head to toe but leaving one arm out. Gage put his coat back on and reached out for her. She settled back in his arms and watched the other medic wrap David in a large blanket and hold him close.

“I’m Vicki,” she said. “What’s your name?”

“David.”

Vicki continued to talk to him, but her son’s gaze remained fixed on Gage as he told the medics how he’d witnessed the boat capsize and his quick rescue.

“I think I got them out of the water in time,” Gage added. “Both of them can voluntarily stop shivering, and my SEAL training tells me that’s a good sign.”

Terry nodded and pressed his fingers against Hannah’s wrist. “Can you count backwards from 100?”

She had no idea why, but she started counting.

“Good,” Terry said, stopping her at eighty-five. “You’re coherent, your pulse is strong, and you’re shivering. All of that suggests your hypothermia—if any—is mild. Same for your son.” He took his stethoscope from around his neck. “You’re both very lucky. No better place to capsize than with a former SEAL standing by.”

“Former?” She looked up at Gage as Terry listened to her chest. “You left your team?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t miss the longing in his tone. Her husband had been a SEAL, and she knew all about their creed and dedication to the job. Never had she met more trustworthy and honorable men. Nothing could have taken Nick away from his job. Nothing. Until he died. Gage had once felt the same way. So why had he quit the team?

“Not just a SEAL.” Terry hung his stethoscope around his neck. “But a hero many times over.”

“I’m a hero today,” David piped up. “Gage said so.”

“If Gage says so, then it must be true.” Terry grinned at David, then focused back on Hannah.

“Well, little hero,” Vicki said. “We need to get you and your mom into the ambulance and on the way to the hospital where they’ll have nice warm blankets for you.”

David’s bravado evaporated, and he nibbled on his lower lip that was still a dark shade of blue. She hated seeing her son distressed over the medic’s care. Since Nick died, David had an unreasonable fear of medical professionals.

“It’s okay, David.” Gage smiled. “Vicki is my friend, and I promise she won’t hurt you. Besides, heroes have to be brave, right?”

David’s focus remained fixed on Gage for a moment, then he nodded. “I’m brave.”

Terry strapped Hannah on the board. “You’ll need stitches, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a concussion.”

David’s eyes went wide again. “Are you going to die like Dad?”

“No, of course not.”

“But he had a ’cussion.”

“No, he…sweetie, I’ll be fine.” She forced a smile, but her heart sank at the reminder of Nick’s fall from a towering cliff and internal injuries that he couldn’t recover from.

“We need to get moving, Ms. Perry.” Terry circled his stethoscope around his neck. “And maybe on the way you can tell me about the bruising—”

“Later,” she interrupted before David heard about the injuries to her neck.

Terry raised a brow, but thankfully he got the hint and didn’t ask additional questions. She wanted her attacker caught, but protecting David came first. She’d get the police in on this as soon as possible, and then she had to figure out what to do after she was discharged from the ER because her attacker promised this wasn’t over.

His hate-filled gaze roving over her, threatening and burning with rage flashed into her mind. Fear followed. She had to get well and get out of town so this maniac didn’t come anywhere near David again.

Vicki set David down and freed his feet so he could walk, then the medics picked up her board. She glanced at Gage. “You should get out of those wet clothes and indoors ASAP.”

“Trust me. I’ve been far colder in my SEAL career.” He looked at Hannah. “Best of luck to you two.”

What? He wasn’t coming with them?

Of course he wasn’t. He’d left her once before when they were in love. Why should she expect he’d want to stay with her now? She should close her eyes. Forget about him and let him go, but she had David’s safety to think about. They needed Gage’s protection until she could talk to the police and find someone else to keep them safe.

She grabbed his forearm. “Come with us.”

His mouth opened in surprise.

“Please,” she added for David’s sake.

“I don’t know. I—”

“Please,” David’s little voice echoed.

Gage looked at David, a fond look claiming his face. He gave a quick nod. “Can I catch a ride in the front, Vicki?”

“You got it.” She gave him a wide smile.

“Thank you.” Hannah squeezed his arm, and the realization of what she’d done hit her hard.

She asked the man she’d once thought she’d marry, before he bailed on her, to stay by her side. Such a foolish action couldn’t be a good thing. Not a good thing at all.

Hannah.

Gage had rescued Hannah of all people, now here he was in an ambulance with her riding in the back. She hadn’t changed. She still had that fragile beauty with strength riding underneath. A powerful combination and he was instantly drawn to her again.

Man, he’d once loved her, but she deserved someone who could commit to a long-term relationship. That wasn’t him. Not then. Not with all the junk he was dealing with. So he’d had to leave and he’d hurt her. Big time.

And then she’d married one of Gage’s former SEAL team members. Gage remembered the day he’d heard about it. Hurt like crazy, but Nick was a good guy. Then sadly, Nick had died a couple of years ago. Gage had wanted to go to the funeral, but that would have been awkward for Hannah. Still, as Gage battled through losing his own spouse, he sometimes wondered how she was doing with her loss and with raising their son.

Now Gage could find out, he supposed. Who knew? Maybe God had put them together again so he could apologize after all these years. Maybe help her cope, too. He’d sure like the chance.

Vicki pulled the rig under the ER canopy. He opened his door but his palms started to sweat, and he froze in place. He hated hospitals. Had since he was a kid with pneumonia and later his appendix burst. Then he’d suffered too many injuries to count as a SEAL. And if that wasn’t enough, his daughter nearly died in this hospital and was left dealing with the life-altering effects of a traumatic brain injury. His wife sank into a coma here, too, before a transfer to a long-term care center where she’d passed away.

“You coming, Gage?” Vicki asked from outside the vehicle. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t even heard her approach his door.

He swallowed hard and followed her toward the back of the ambulance where David, still wrapped in a blanket, bounded down while holding Terry’s hand. Mia would never be a regular kid like David—thinking, processing, and speaking without difficulties. Sure, she’d improved over time and would still likely continue to improve, but she’d never be so-called “normal” again.

Terry and Vicki unloaded Hannah’s gurney, and then Vicki took David’s hand to lead him toward the ER doors.

Gage started forward when Hannah’s hand came up and wrapped around his arm to pull him close. “I need to talk to you where David can’t overhear us.”

“Okay.” He had no idea what was putting the fear in her incredible blue eyes and why her chin quivered. Maybe this was about their past, and she didn’t want her son to know they’d once dated. “I’m sure David will be seen in a separate room from you. If not, once we get inside I’ll ask Vicki to sit with him to give us a moment.”

She nodded and released his arm while Terry wheeled her inside. As Gage suspected, the charge nurse directed Terry to take Hannah and David to different rooms. Gage followed Hannah’s gurney down the hall where Maggie Turner, a tall slender nurse, waited.

She introduced herself to Maggie then glanced at Gage. “You’ll have to excuse us, Gage. Hannah has to get out of her wet clothes. You should, too.”

“I will.” Knowing Hannah was in good hands with Maggie, he went down the hall to check on David.

When Gage opened the door, he found the boy crying in his bed, a nurse Gage didn’t know offering comfort. Gage hated seeing the kid go through this trauma. It was bad enough that he nearly drowned in the stormy ocean, but it seemed as if he equated his injuries with losing his dad. Poor kid. Maybe Gage could help.

“Gage!” David’s eyes brightened.

“Hey buddy. How you doing?”

He frowned and held out his arm. “They put a big needle in me.”

Gage gave a commiserating nod. “Like I said, heroes have to be tough.”

“I’m trying, but mom…I…” Tears glistened in his eyes, and he lowered his head as if ashamed of crying.

Gage crossed over to him. “Listen, buddy. It’s okay if you feel like crying. Heroes cry, too. Especially when they’re worried about their mothers.”

His head popped up. “Really?”

“Really. But the thing is, you don’t have to be worried about your mom. She’s gonna be okay.”

“Honest?”

“Honest,” Gage answered and hoped he was right. “Why don’t I arrange for you to go see her?”

“Yes!”

Gage patted the boy’s hand then returned to Hannah’s room to get permission to bring David in. The door was cracked open so he figured it was safe to enter. Hannah was alone and buried under blankets with one arm out, an IV inserted near her wrist.

She looked up at him with tortured eyes. “Good, we’re alone and we can talk now. I was attacked at the cottage. That’s how I got the bruises on my neck and why we had to flee in the storm.” She lowered the blanket to reveal harsh slashes of purple ringing her delicate neck.

A curse came to Gage’s lips, but he squelched it and clenched his hands to control the anger. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“David was sleeping when the man attacked, so he doesn’t know about it. And I don’t want him to.”

“How did you get away from the attacker?”

“I hit him over the head with a hammer, grabbed David, and jumped in the boat.”

He hated that she’d been through something so horrific. He couldn’t even form a word to respond, so he gently tucked the blanket under her chin while he got his emotions under control.

She’d been on a secluded island, miles from the mainland, with no way to escape except in a boat. She’d had to take the life-threatening risk of going out in the storm—with her little boy—or die a certain death at the hands of her attacker. She was likely still terrified, and yet she was still going. Took a courageous woman to handle such terror. He’d always known she was a strong person, but he was impressed at how deep her strength went.

He would do whatever he could to help her. “I’ll call the sheriff.”

“Yes, please, but be discreet. David can’t know.” She met his gaze and held it. “Promise me that. He lost his dad, and he can’t think something bad might happen to me, too.”

“I heard about Nick’s passing. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, but about the sheriff…” She’d always had a single focus, and that hadn’t changed either.

“I’ll call him while the doc checks you out.”

“Sheriff Blake Jenkins?”

Gage nodded. “I forgot you must know him from the reconstruction.”

“Yes, David knows I’m doing a project for Blake, but not what. I only work on it after David goes to bed. I don’t want him to know about the project or the attack.”

“I have a child, too, so I understand, and I’m sure Blake will as well.”

She blinked a few times as if processing the news that he was a father. “Please come back so I know you talked to him. Please.”

He nodded.

“Thank you.” She sighed out a long breath like she was deflating.

Her pain split his heart. He couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. A simple squeeze of her hand was okay, wasn’t it? He took a step forward, but the doctor, a short male in blue scrubs, entered the room with Maggie, preempting him. Probably a good thing. A touch from him might very well add to her distress.

“If you’ll excuse us, Gage,” Maggie said.

He nodded, but kept his focus on Hannah. “Before I go, you should know I checked on David. He’s hanging in there, but he wants to see you.”

“I can make that happen,” Maggie offered.

Gage nodded his thanks and left to make his call before he succumbed to Hannah’s tortured gaze and rethought his plan to take her hand. He looked around the busy space, trying to find a spot where he could keep an eye on both Hannah’s and David’s rooms. He found a corner out of the way and dug out his phone that he’d retrieved from David. Gage dialed his high school football buddy, Blake Jenkins, the elected county sheriff for the past six years. He’d captained a strong team in high school and was a well-respected sheriff now.

When he answered, Gage kept his voice down and recounted the little he knew about Hannah’s attack. After Blake promised to arrive soon, Gage came to his feet to wait for the doctor to finish his exam. Seemed like hours before he stepped out with Maggie. The pair immediately entered into a hushed conversation sending Gage’s concern skyrocketing. Maybe he shouldn’t have told David that she would be okay.

Gage hurried to her open door and peeked into the room. The lights were dimmed above her bed, likely due to the head injury. Still, her eyes were clear as they met his. He approached her bed, but her sudden tentative expression slowed his feet.

“Did you reach the sheriff?” she asked.

He nodded when what he wanted to do was ask if she was seriously hurt. For her sake, he needed to cool his worry and wait for her to volunteer the information. And even though he wanted to ask for additional details about the attack, he’d wait until Blake arrived to keep her from having to tell the story twice.

“Blake’s on his way.” He made sure to smile. “He knows not to speak in front of David.”

“Thank you.” She frowned.

He’d expected a smile in return. “What is it?”

“I don’t have hypothermia, which is a good thing, but the doctor ordered an MRI for the head injury. Depending on what they find, I may have to stay overnight.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and she shifted to track Maggie as she stepped back into the room.

“David’s on his way,” she said, then met Gage’s gaze with a stern look. “I see you didn’t take my advice and get changed. I’ll grab some scrubs after I get Hannah ready for transport for her MRI.”

Hannah’s focus changed to Gage. “If I have to spend the night, what am I going to do with David? I don’t know anyone in Cold Harbor.”

“I can take care of him,” Gage said before thinking about it.

A look of pure horror crossed Hannah’s face. “You? No. No.”

With Blake on the way, she’d likely realized she didn’t want Gage to hang around any longer. He deserved her response, but man, it hurt.

“I could call my friend Rachel to come from Portland,” she added.

“Why do that when you couldn’t ask for anyone better than Gage to watch your son?” Maggie unhooked a lead wire. “He spoils his daughter rotten.”

Hannah’s mouth opened and closed as if searching for how to respond.

“I can arrange for a bed for David in your room,” Maggie offered. “And to make sure you get your rest, Gage can spend the night to keep an eye on David.”

“Sure,” Gage said, but he doubted Hannah would agree.

“But your daughter and wife,” she protested. “They must need you.”

He wasn’t going to let her use that as an excuse. If she didn’t want him around, she would have to come right out and tell him. “My wife passed away three years ago, and I have a live-in nanny who will keep an eye on Mia.”

Hannah nibbled on her lip, her eyes narrowed.

“Look.” Maggie hooked the IV bag on the edge of the bed. “You can trust Gage. He’s the best.”

Hannah’s eyes narrowed even more, and Maggie looked confused.

No confusion for Gage. He got it. He could read Hannah’s mind without any trouble. He’d flaked on her before, so why should she trust him now?