No Safe Haven. Virginia Vaughan

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      She got up and walked around the desk, towered over him as he sat. “What you did, Counselor, was to put me and your sister in jeopardy because you’re dealing with a psychology you don’t understand.”

      “I put you in jeopardy?” He rose from his seat. “You placed yourself in a dangerous situation that you didn’t need to be in. But that’s nothing new for you, is it? Everyone in town knows you thrive on putting yourself at risk.”

      “You’re the one who put me at risk when you didn’t get Sarah to the car like I said. You should have been out of the house and in the car before that situation had a chance to escalate.”

      “What kind of man would I be if I left you to fight that maniac alone?”

      Indignation swept through her. How dare he turn this around on her? “Don’t give me that macho bravado spin. You wanted him to see you leave with Sarah. You wanted him to know that you were going to stop him.”

      “I did what I had to do to protect my sister.”

      Without her heels, she had to look up at him, but that didn’t stop her from locking eyes with him and issuing a stern warning. “Your form of protection is going to get someone killed.”

      She didn’t realize she was yelling until a voice from the doorway interrupted their conversation. “Children, children, behave.” They both turned at the reproach. Her friend Margo was standing in the doorway. She’d been the first friend Jessica made when she came to Jackson from Atlanta. She’d been instrumental in helping start and fund the shelter. Slim and athletic, she didn’t need the badge or gun at her hip to exude authority. It flowed from her personality.

      Margo stepped between them. “I’m calling a time-out for you two kids. What’s going on?”

      “Nothing.” They both spoke in unison then turned away.

      She glanced at Jessica and smirked as if knowing how childish Jessica felt at that moment. Margo always treated her like a mother hen and now she’d caught her playing tug-of-war with the school yard bully.

      “Margo, this is Andrew Jennings. Andrew, this is my friend Detective Margo Stephens.”

      He held out his hand but all Margo returned was a cold stare. “I know who you are. You let Tim Meadows slide with a three-month probation on misdemeanor assault.”

      He pulled his hand back. “We almost didn’t get that. As I recall, Mrs. Meadows refused to testify about how she received her injuries. All we had to prosecute was the bystander he punched.”

      She turned back to Jessica. “What’s he doing here?”

      “I’m helping his sister.” She saw the surprised look Margo gave her. “Sarah needs help, regardless of who her brother is.”

      Margo’s eyes widened and she rushed to Jessica’s side. “You’re bleeding.”

      Jessica touched the spot on her head. The pain had already faded from a jackhammer into an ice pick jabbing into one spot on her temple. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

      “I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

      She pulled away from Margo’s grasp, hating being treated like a child for the second time today. “No, I’m going home. I can’t wait for a long soak in a hot bath. After that, I’ll be fine.”

      “Well, where is your car? It wasn’t in the parking lot.”

      She’d forgotten. They’d left in Andrew’s car. “I had to leave it.”

      Margo sighed. “Give me the address. I’ll go get it and bring it to you after my shift ends.”

      She scribbled down the address and handed it to Margo along with a spare set of keys.

      “I’ll take you home,” Andrew offered.

      Margo turned to him. “She is not going anywhere with you, Counselor.”

      Usually, Jessica didn’t allow anyone to know where she lived, but Andrew wasn’t just anyone. She knew him and despite their differences on past cases, he wasn’t the type to hand out her private address.

      Plus his offer would save her from the loving rebuke Margo was sure to give her on the car ride to her house.

      You have to be more careful, Jessica.

      You have to think about your safety, Jessica.

      Her friend meant well, but Jessica was too tired and too sore to argue tonight. “Thank you for the offer, Andrew. I accept.”

      Margo shot her a curious look but didn’t belabor the point. “I’ll see you later, then.”

      Jessica let Mia know they were leaving then walked with Andrew to his car.

      But as he opened the passenger door for her and she slid inside, she realized how uncharacteristically quick she’d agreed to let him drive her. She’d trusted him so easily and not only because she knew him in a professional sense. She’d seen beneath the shell of the man he projected to the media and the courtroom and she’d caught a glimpse into his soul. Since the moment he’d pulled Sarah into his arms, ever since she’d seen the protectiveness in him, her opinion of him had been altered. He was no longer just the spoiled rich golden boy of the D.A.’s office. He was more than that now. He now possessed a quality that made him even more attractive than good looks or charm or expensive suits could ever do.

      Or had he always had that quality and she’d just never noticed?

      She recalled that moment in the car when he’d touched her face, his fingers gentle and nimble on her wound. He’d leaned so close she could hear the pounding of his heart and feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Her heart fluttered at the memory just as it had at the moment.

      She blew out a breath and turned her head away as Andrew started the car and drove.

      Maybe getting into the car with him again wasn’t such a good idea. She had to remain strong and in control. She wouldn’t allow herself to become one of the many women falling over themselves to get Andrew Jennings to notice her.

       TWO

      Jessica directed him toward a subdivision outside of town. The neighborhood seemed quaint and quiet with rows of older houses. Jessica pointed to a white single-storied house with a large front porch as hers.

      He parked in the driveway, then shut off the engine.

      “Thank you for the ride,” she said, then opened the door and hopped out without waiting for him.

      “I’ll walk you to the door,” Andrew said, getting out and following her.

      She stopped him at the porch steps. “That’s not necessary.”

      “I should be going, anyway. Thank you for your help with Sarah today. I’ve been trying for months to get her to leave Robert. You’re right. I should have come to you sooner.”

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