Kit Wilkinson - Protector's Honor

“I know you have to go. But here.” He pulled out his wallet, grabbed a card and placed it in her hand, letting his fingers linger over her palm a little longer than necessary. “This is my cell number. I want you to call me if you have any more trouble. I hope you don’t, but I’m going to get your address from Terri and have a Charlotte patrol car drive by your home.”

She started to reject his idea.

“Don’t say no. I’m going to do it anyway. Just for the next few days…Tabitha, you need to be careful. This may not be the end of those men.” He brushed a finger down her cheek and lifted her chin. She pulled away and Rory wanted to kick himself for once again making her uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”

“No,” she interrupted. “It’s just…I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. I’m glad God chose you to help me.”

“God?” He didn’t want to talk about God. He wanted to kiss her. He felt the frown form across his face.

“Yes. God,” she said, scrunching up her nose at his doubtful look. “When those men grabbed me, I prayed for God to send someone. And He did. He sent you. And I’m so glad.”

Rory looked up at the ceiling and remembered his prayer—his own acknowledgment that God had used him. But he couldn’t think on it. Too many unanswered questions, too many doubts, too much pain.

“I’m glad He answered your prayer,” he mumbled, hoping she couldn’t hear the anger laced in his words. He sighed and ran his hand over the top of his head. This was not how he wanted to end the evening. “I’m glad I was there, too. But those men are serious and they might come back. You won’t be alone tonight, will you?”

“No, Sasha will be there,” she answered.

“Good,” he said, but he wanted more. A promise to see her again. But that was something he couldn’t have. Tabitha would forever connect him with this terrible day and that was that. He had to back off and forget his attraction to her.

Sasha returned promptly and the two ladies headed out. He tried to help, but Sasha moved beside her friend and took over.

“I got it,” she said.

Rory followed them out of the inn, feeling lost and alone. His time of helping Tabitha had ended. As the two women drove away into the darkness, he walked to his truck with his head down. The sound of their car faded into the night and the solitude of the mountain overwhelmed him.

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