Allison shook her head. “I’m aware of the risk, and I’m with you a hundred percent. But somebody needs to keep an eye on Garrett. If I’m working with him, I can do that.”

He still looked skeptical, but Allison sensed that she’d gotten through to him. “Maybe,” he said. “But what about Brianna? She thinks Garrett’s her friend. We’d have to keep her out of this.”

“You’re right. She has to be protected.” Allison had almost forgotten about Brianna’s liking for Garrett. “I’ll talk to her. I think I can warn her away.”

“You’ll have to. I won’t accept any plan that puts her at risk.”

“I know. Neither will I.” She rose, meaning to leave before he began to have second thoughts. But as she turned away, his hand caught her wrist. With surprising strength, he whipped her back around to face him, pulling her down until their faces were inches apart. His eyes blazed with an angry desperation. For the space of a breath, she imagined he might kiss her. But then he spoke.

“Don’t do this, Allison. Garrett’s fallen in with some dangerous people. They could be capable of anything. I’m asking you for the last time.”

Allison knew a calm answer would be best; but the hurt of the past days and weeks rose inside her. Words emerged like barbs, aimed to wound. “Why should you care whether it’s dangerous? You’ve been wanting to get rid of me ever since the accident. Maybe you’ll succeed this time. Now let me go.”

He released her, his expression rigid, as if she’d slapped his face. She backed away a step. Then, without giving him time to speak, she turned and stalked out the door, closing it behind her with a click.

* * *

As her footsteps crossed the hall and mounted the stairs, her words echoed in Burke’s ears. Was that what she really thought, that he was out to get rid of her? How could she believe that? All he wanted—all he’d ever wanted—was to protect her from harm when he couldn’t keep her safe, and from need when he could no longer keep her in comfort. Why couldn’t she understand that?

Pushing through the pain, he used the chair arms to lever himself to his feet. Without the walker or cane, each step was a study in balance, but he made it to the door, out into the hall, and to the foot of the stairs. Here he stopped, one hand resting on the banister.

Overhead, he could hear Allison’s quick, sharp footsteps heading down the hall to the bedroom—their bedroom where, night after night, they’d made soul-searing love until they fell asleep in each other’s arms.