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squatted beside her. “You shouldn’t still be here, Kitten. Go inside. Your arms are getting bitten,” he said, his voice close to her ear, warm breath caressing her cheek.
    Jennie rubbed the reddened marks on her bare arms, sure her sore eyes were red and full of tears. “I haven’t got the energy to move. I thought I’d wait for you. Have they taken Harry?” She tasted salt as her tears fell unchecked.
    “Yes.” Jared’s monosyllabic answer barely masked the anger in his voice.
    “Did the sheriff find anything suspicious?” Jennie didn’t want Jared hiding the truth from her, however bad it was.
    “Dan says not. He thinks it’s most likely an accident.” Jared’s troubled gaze met hers.
    “You don’t agree with him?” Jennie sensed he was keeping something from her.
    “Honestly, I don’t know.” Jared half smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes as he enclosed her in his strong arms.
    “I can walk, Jared,” she protested halfheartedly. Her needy body snuggled into his safe, protective embrace, and her exhaustion almost won over her principles. It seemed churlish to refuse his comfort, but her mind insisted being too close to Jared’s muscular chest was playing with fire. “Let me go, I want to walk.” Jennie pushed against his hard arms.
    Jared shook his head but let her go. Her ankle ached as she gingerly hobbled up the steps. She forgot about the raised doorframe as she walked into the house and overbalanced.
    “Damn, Jen.” Jared ignored her protests and carried her into the dining room as if she weighed nothing and placed her amid the couch’s cushions. “Stay here. I’ll make you some food. Is an omelet all right for you?”
    Jennie nodded. The forgotten invitation card fell from Jared’s pocket into her lap as he straightened and walked into the kitchen. The blood-red words on the white card stared back at her. Someone hated her. Darleen’s beautiful, unsmiling face flashed into her mind. Jennie shivered and forced her tired body to follow Jared into the kitchen.
    Jennie fought sleep as Jared moved round the modern kitchen with quiet expertise. “I didn’t realize you could cook,” she said as the golden omelet slipped easily from the pan onto the waiting plate.
    Jared looked across at her. “Never said I couldn’t, but if someone does it for me, I don’t object.” A slight smile touched Jared’s lips.
    She hobbled over to the work counter, and Jared’s fingers grazed hers as she took the plate from him. A lick of fire rushed to her core, and she risked a glance at Jared, anxious to see if the chemistry affected him too. He averted his gaze as he flipped another omelet in the oiled pan. Flustered, she heaped too much salad onto her plate and headed for the scrubbed-pine table in the middle of the room. The fluffy and light omelet melted in her mouth. Her stomach growled in appreciation. Jared added salad to his own plate before he joined her.
    “This is good, Jared. I’m so hungry.”
    Jared’s face still wore a haunted expression. He loved Harry, and they’d always been close. If he died, Jennie worried it would break Jared.
    They finished their food at the same time. Jared cleared away his clean plate along with Jennie’s half-full one. “Sure you’ve finished? There’s no hurry.”
    “I’m exhausted. I should go to bed.” Jennie stretched and couldn’t suppress a yawn.
    “Give me a minute. I’ll help you up the stairs. I don’t want any more accidents.” Jared loaded the dishwasher and scrubbed the pan.
    Jennie’s cheeks heated in anticipation of Jared’s intimate embrace. Her ankle ached, and though she could walk, letting him carry her would be safer. Her heart raced and thumped against her rib cage as Jared dried his large, long-fingered hands and walked towards her. As he scooped her into his strong arms, her body went into instant meltdown. “Put me down, Jared. I can walk if you help me.”
    Jared tightened his embrace, and Jennie didn’t protest