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fingered a long strand of wild, tousled hair that had fallen out of place. Swallowing hard, he began, “Kendra...”
    She reached up and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes, and for a moment they stood there in silence without either of them moving.
    “Don’t say it,” she whispered.  “Don’t say it’s over before it’s even begun. I can see it on your face.”
    “I have to protect you, Kendra,” he said hoarsely. “I can’t go through another ordeal like today. Watching you be put in danger because of me. We have to end this between us. Tonight. Please tell me you understand.” He shook his head slowly, his green eyes piercing hers. “I don’t want to do this. God knows I don’t want to. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Which is all the more reason why this can’t be. I don’t deserve someone like you. My life is all screwed up right now.”
    “Do you believe in fate, Flint?”
    He let out a humorless laugh and ran a hand through his hair. “No, I don’t believe in shit. I used to believe in a lot of things. Not anymore. If you believe in things, then you start to have hope. When you have hope, all you do is set yourself up to be shattered later on down the road.”
    “Maybe someday I can change the way you feel about that,” Kendra said. She stepped closer and wrapped both arms around his waist under his leather jacket. He fought to ignore the delicious soft weight of her full breasts pressing against his chest and the sweet smell of her shampoo. He needed to stay strong to get through this and she was making it so damn hard.
    “You don’t think it’s weird how we met?” she asked, her head against his chest. “Think about it. What would be the chance of that? Even if our paths had crossed another way, would we have given each other an opportunity to get to know what was really inside? We were brought together for a reason. I can’t help but believe that. We can’t just throw it all away because we’re scared.”
    Flint started to speak and she interrupted him. “Don’t deny it. It’s okay to be scared. Even for a big, tough guy like you. I know you’re worried and afraid...for me. I get that.”
    Flint pulled her close and bent down to nuzzle her neck. “I’m not just scared,” he murmured. “I’m fucking terrified. I feel like I can’t even breathe. I’ve never been put in a position like this before. The Liberators can hurt me most by hurting you. I feel so goddamn vulnerable. You’re absolutely right, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m scared and I’m worried sick for you.”
    “Nothing is going to happen,” she reassured. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. And I promise to be more careful when I go out on vet calls if that’s what you’re worried the most about. I’ll screen my calls and can even take a volunteer or a vet tech out on calls with me.”
    Flint wanted to believe her. How he wanted to believe she would be safe and things would be okay. That they could continue on like a regular couple and go to movies or grab a burger without packing a weapon and looking over their shoulders every few seconds.
    “I know you’re tough,” he said, smoothing down her hair. “And can handle yourself just fine. But you’re also a big-hearted person and trusting. And that’s what scares the shit out of me. What if the Liberators found some way to trick and hurt you? Hell, look what we did! When Tom Brewer called, you drove straight up to the cabin without thinking twice about it. What if one day the Liberators are on the other end of the telephone line asking for your help?”
    “They don’t even know who I am, do they?” she asked. “Aren’t they all dead? Nobody else saw me. And not a single person in my life knows the truth about where I was this weekend. So only your crew knows about my involvement with the Steel Infidels. And you trust them implicitly. There’s nothing to tie me to what happened today or to