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Sara went back downstairs
    where Tyler was flipping pancakes and cutting up fresh strawberries.
    Her stomach growled noisily, and Tyler looked up at her.
    “I’m glad you’re hungry,” he said. He had the world’s sweetest
    smile. He handed her a plate stacked with warm pancakes and
    strawberries.
    “Where’s Gage?”
    “He nearly finished up a job yesterday, but he had to go back to
    pick up some of the extra materials and make sure that the client was completely satisfied. Of course, the clients always are when it comes to Gage, so he shouldn’t be more than a couple of hours.”
    The affection in Tyler’s eyes was obvious as he talked about his
    partner, and Sara was distracted by a whimsical thought. What would
    it be like if Tyler looked at her like that?
    “He took the truck and left us the Jeep,” Tyler continued. “It’s less likely to be recognized, I think, because we don’t drive it much. I
    don’t anticipate any problems if you think Jeremy’s at work but just
    to be on the safe side.”
    The thought that she might run into her ex sobered her quickly.
    She needed to keep her wits about her if she was going to get out of
    here in one piece.
    “You can just drop me at the end of the drive where you found me
    last night,” Sara stated.
    “Please tell me you’re joking. Obviously the previous man in your
    life hasn’t treated you very well, but I am not a brute. I will walk you to your door like a gentleman. I’m not letting you go until I at least have verification that your car is working properly, and you are safely on your way to an out-of-state hotel.”
    “You’re being very kind, but—”
    “But nothing. Finish your pancakes, and we’ll go and get your
    things.”
    Gage was right. There were just some things that you couldn’t
    argue with Tyler about.

    Protectors
    37
    When they’d finished eating, Sara put her torn dress and one
    remaining flip-flop into a plastic grocery bag and climbed up into
    Tyler’s Jeep. At least he could return the additional clothes that he bought her if all went well.
    The dirt road for the Big Sky ranch house was a long one, and it
    took a couple of minutes to even reach the road. Sara tried to enjoy
    the light conversation about books that Tyler was trying to maintain, but her head was too full of other thoughts to be much of a
    conversation partner. What if Jeremy was still at the house? What if
    he wasn’t? Could she really get out this time?
    Tyler reached across the seat and put a reassuring hand on her
    knee. “Don’t worry, honey. Everything is going to be fine.”
    But it wasn’t fine. As they rounded the last curve and the end of
    Sara’s driveway came into view, they could easily see Jeremy’s old
    truck parked in the middle of the drive, where they had last seen it the night before.
    “Get down,” Tyler said, moving his hand to her shoulder and
    encouraging her to duck down out of sight. Tyler slowed as they
    passed, but didn’t stop or make an effort to get up the driveway
    around the truck.
    “Did you see him in the truck?” Sara asked.
    “No. It looked like it was just parked there, but I’m not willing to
    take the risk. Does he normally drive to work?”
    “Yeah. He’s either still passed out up at the house, or else the
    truck won’t start and so he got a ride to work from someone on the
    force. Neither would be a big surprise. Truck is an old piece of junk.”
    “Well, if it stalled out last night and he couldn’t get it started, he might not be at the house, but I’d prefer to have Gage with us if we’re going to confront Jeremy. I think we should lay low until we know
    that he’s gone for sure.”
    Sara wasn’t thrilled about inconveniencing Tyler any longer, but
    she had even less desire to see Jeremy again so soon.

    38
    Samantha Blair
    “Okay. Maybe it would be safer to come back in a couple of
    hours,” she agreed.
    Tyler made a U-turn a little ways up the road, and Sara ducked
    down again as they passed