Page 54 of Guarding Truth
Should he allow himself to be swept away by the woman in front of him? No.
Did he want to miss out on the potential for something great if he were open to love?
Another no.
And then there was that kiss on a replay loop in his mind. That was wreaking havoc on his emotions. What would happen if she left again?
Time to clarify things with Juliette. They needed to talk about the kiss. “While we’re thinking about risk, um…I’m not sure we should have kissed, Jules. It just complicates things. We make a great team, but we both know we’re not destined for more.”
Juliette leaned closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry I hurt you by leaving. I made the wrong choice. I hope you can forgive me. I’m not leaving again.”
“Of course I forgive you, Jules.”
Forgiveness was the easy part.
But how could he keep his distance from her when he was caught in her tractor beam and being drawn closer to her with every beat of his heart?
THIRTEEN
FRIDAY, 6:00 A.M.
Juliette stayed up all night on watch duty, paying extra attention to Ivy’s room. That girl was a handful but had passed out in the guest room bed without any further incidents.
The coffee pot sputtered. The smell of fresh coffee sent her to her happy place. Juliette watched out the kitchen window. Caleb dozed on the couch, and Ivy still hadn’t emerged from her room.
Noelle came out of her room, dressed and ready to take over watch duties. She grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at the table. Alana would be by later with some supplies.
“You two are really good together,” Noelle said. “I can see why you held out.”
She glanced at Caleb, who was sleeping like a rock.
“I didn’t hold out.” She joined Noelle at the table. “It just wasn’t the right time.”
“And is now a better time? Because he makes you smile in ways I’ve never seen.”
Juliette shrugged. “We’ve both changed over the years. Maybe it’s possible to explore a relationship.” Oh, how she wanted that to be true. A second chance with Caleb.
But he’d already said their kiss was a mistake.
Noelle changed the subject. “What I wouldn’t give for a run.”
“I know. This morning is the perfect weather. Cool, with a mist blanketing the yard. Everything is so still and peaceful.”
Then a chill crept up her spine.Whywas it so still?
“I can’t remember the last time I saw the two FBI agents on patrol. They took shifts all night.” She moved to the window and peeked out the blinds. The agents had been hanging out in their SUV when not actively patrolling.
The car was there, but with the tinted windows, she couldn’t see if the two agents were in the vehicle.
Noelle had put down her coffee and joined Juliette. “I don’t like this.”
Juliette agreed. Something was off. “You stay here, and I’ll go outside and check on the agents. I’ll bring them some coffee. I’m sure everything is fine.”
She poured two mugs and was grateful they’d given her the alarm code. She tapped in the six-digit number, and the alarm chirped off. Neither Caleb nor Ivy stirred. They needed the rest. She heard the beep as Noelle locked the door and reset the alarm.
She headed out the front door with the mugs in hand and approached the passenger side of the SUV. The car was running, but as she peered through the windshield, it didn’t look like the driver was moving. The rest of the tinted windows made it hard to see, but as she got close, she noted the agent in the driver’s seat was slumped against the wheel.
The coffee mugs hit the sidewalk and shattered. In a fraction of a second, Juliette’s gun was in her hands, and she ducked behind the passenger side door. She opened it to peer inside the car. The driver’s lifeless eyes stared back at her, and blood streaked down the side of his face. No need to check his pulse. The man was gone. No passenger.