Terri Reed - Daughter of Texas

Gisella grimaced. “I’m sorry. I’m allergic to cats.”

“Then my staying with you won’t work.” Corinna bit her lip. She could stay at the Miriam shelter she volunteered at, but as soon as the thought formed she rejected it. She wouldn’t take a bed away from someone in need. “I could ask Susan or Felicia if I could stay with them.”

“I don’t think putting your friends in danger is a good idea,” Ben said.

He was right, of course. She had no family left, no one to turn to. She was alone. The need to move, to dance, washed through her like a rogue wave. Only when she was dancing did she feel whole and in control. Agitation revved through her veins, her foot began to bounce. “I can stay at the dance studio. There’s a couch in the locker room and I’m sure Madame wouldn’t mind if Gabby’s there.”

Ben frowned. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Then a pet-friendly hotel will have to do.”

“I’d rather you stayed with Gisella. I’ll take the cat.”

Surprised, Corinna stared at him. “Really?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of…”

“Gabby.”

“Right. Gabby. I can have pets in my apartment.”

She didn’t even know where he lived, let alone why he’d offer, but she’d take it. “Thank you. Her food, dish and litter box are in the laundry room.”

Relief softened Ben’s jaw. “That’s settled then. After we go to the station house, I’ll take you to Gisella’s.”

Corinna glanced at the female Ranger. “You’re kind to offer. Are you sure I wouldn’t be putting you out?”

Gisella smiled. “Not at all. I’m between roommates at the moment. The second bedroom is furnished and unoccupied.”

“It’s a good plan,” Ben said, taking one of Corinna’s hands and squeezing. “Stay with Gisella. You’ll be safe there.”

Safe.

His hazel eyes implored her to accept the offer. Part of her wanted to rebel, wanted to say no, she was strong enough, brave enough to stay here regardless of the danger. She didn’t need their help. But she really wasn’t foolish, either. She nodded.

After gathering her cat’s belongings and stowing them away in the back of the Jeep, Ben drove them to the San Antonio Police station.

This early in the morning, with the first streaks of sunrise appearing on the horizon, the green glass and yellow-sided police department building was lit up from within. Crime didn’t sleep and neither did the night shift officers.

After identifying himself, Ben explained the situation to the navy-and-gold-uniformed desk sergeant. They were led to a vacant desk in the belly of the bustling department.

“Have a seat,” the sergeant said. “I’ll bring you the books for the past five years.”

“Perfect,” Ben said as he held out a chair for Corinna.

She took a seat on the padded task chair while Ben grabbed a nearby metal folding chair, turned it around, and straddled the seat, looking directly at her. His gaze searched her face. The way he studied her was a bit unnerving. He’d been staring ever since they’d left her home.

If her dad hadn’t been killed, she’d have been amused by Ben’s overbearing way of ordering her to Gisella’s. She usually didn’t take to such high-handed behavior. But her father had been murdered and the recent break-in freaked her out.

The shot she’d fired off still had her ears ringing, and truth be told she was scared and feeling vulnerable. The intruder could have returned to kill her instead of searching for something. Ben had said the Rangers didn’t know what the guy had been seeking. Neither did she.

“Here we go,” the sergeant said, depositing a stack of five photo albums on the metal desktop in front of Corinna.

Each album was three inches thick. She flipped open the cover of the top one. The page was filled with small, square photos. There were hundreds of pictures to go through. It would be like looking for a viper in a pit full of every kind of snake imaginable. Her face must have betrayed her dismay at the enormity of the task facing her.

“I know this seems daunting, but take your time. Scan the photos. If anyone looks remotely familiar let me know,” Ben said.

She nodded and settled herself to the task. An hour and five books later, she finally shook her head. “I don’t know, Ben. He could be any number of these guys.”

Disappointment seeped into her tone, but she couldn’t help it. She’d so wanted to find the person responsible for her father’s death. She wished she could simply point a finger to a photo and, presto, have their killer.

Ben put his hand on her arm. “Don’t beat yourself up about this. You’re tired. Maybe we can have you work with a sketch artist. Paige is great at coaxing details from people’s subconscious. I’ll have her drive over from Austin.”

“I’ll try anything,” Corinna said, willing to do whatever it took to find her father’s killer.

Ben rose. “Tomorrow after you’ve had some rest.” He held out his hand. “Let’s get you to Gisella’s.”

She slipped her hand into his engulfing grip and allowed him to help her to her feet. His fingers locked firmly around hers. Their palms meshed together, sending waves of sensation up her arm to settle in the vicinity of her heart. There was no denying her attraction to Ben.

Old hurt and anger tightened her breathing. She still remembered the day he’d walked into her life thirteen years ago. He’d been a lanky, somewhat surly nineteen-year-old who’d embodied all her teenage dreams. Until she’d realized he wasn’t leaving. Then she’d come to resent him for invading her family. For taking her father’s attention away. For being the son she couldn’t be.

She jerked her hand free, ignoring his confused expression as she preceded him out of the police station into the still-dark and temperate morning air.

Attraction couldn’t counteract all the years of resentment piled up in her heart like old moldy blankets, smothering in its intensity and weighing down any wayward, unwanted yearnings.

In the grand scheme of her life, giving in to her attraction to Ben would only bring her more pain.

She had to remember that.

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