Chapter 11

“Rich attacked her.” Seth stood over them both. He looked like a grim specter, and Heath knew the only reason Seth wasn’t out there hunting Rich down was because Rose needed him to stay close by.

“I was walking Callie,” Rose said, the dog in question lying at her feet. “She started barking right when Rich tried to—” She swallowed. “I don’t even know. Kidnap me? Scare me? He tried to drag me away, but Callie attacked him. She bit him in the leg right when Seth arrived. I’d left my gun at home. Stupid. I know better.”

“Not your fault. You should be able to walk home without being afraid.” Heath wrapped an arm around Rose, although he wondered if he was comforting himself more than he was comforting her. “What happened to Rich?”

Seth narrowed his eyes. “He ran. Only reason I didn’t break his fucking neck was because Rose told me not to.”

That caused Rose to smile slightly. “I’m so sorry I stopped you from murdering someone.”

“For you, I’d kill anyone who’d try to hurt you.”

Heath si