The dilemma was that she did trust him. He was an honorable man. Not only had he protected her from Nathan, he’d saved Jed’s life. Then Danny had stuck around the hospital until her mother arrived, just quietly sitting in the background so she wouldn’t be alone. And she’d learned later that he’d done all that with an injured hand and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was a hero.

She wanted to tell him everything and let him handle the fallout. She was damned tired of being strong.

The kitchen door slapped open.

“Mandy, what’s for lunch?” Bill barreled through the opening. He stopped short, his eyes bugging when he saw Danny. “Are you OK, Mandy?” Bill’s voice trembled with apprehension.

Danny eased back, slowly stepping away from her.

“I’m fine,” Mandy breathed. Her heart pounded; everything inside her fluttered like moths in the porch light. This was no good. She needed Danny and his solid body out of her kitchen. As much as she wanted his help, he couldn’t fix the problem. “Bill, this is Danny Sullivan. He’s a…friend.”

“Nice to meet you, Bill.” Danny must have known about or sensed Bill’s discomfort. He didn’t move any closer or hold out his hand to her brother.

Bill’s eyes bugged. He wasn’t convinced, but he bravely stayed in the kitchen though the tension in his body told Mandy he wanted to bolt. Watching Bill fight his fear of strangers for her, Mandy’s heart swelled. She should be ashamed she’d ever thought of Bill as a burden. He loved her unconditionally.

“Danny was just leaving.” Mandy walked to the back door and opened it. “I’ll see you out.”

The desire in Danny’s eyes shifted to irritation. He spun around and walked out the door. Mandy followed him onto the back porch. “Thank you for not scaring Bill.”

Danny pivoted. “I don’t want to scare anyone. I just want information.”

“Which I don’t have.”

His eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe her. She couldn’t blame him. She’d never been a good liar. He jogged down the wooden steps. “I’ll be back, Mandy.”

The look he shot over his shoulder was challenge accepted.

He got into his car. The engine started up with a deep rumble. She stood on the porch until he’d driven away. This was not good. Not good at all.

Danny was not the sort of man to step down from a confrontation.

What was she going to do? Ignore him and hope he went away?

Mandy turned back toward the kitchen door. A tingle shot down her spine. She whirled around, certain that Danny had returned, but there wasn’t anyone behind her. She scanned the rest of the yard. Except for a squirrel clambering up the trunk of the big oak near the garage, the yard was empty.