“I can’t believe you’re saying this to me.” The pain on his face nearly convinced her of his sincerity. “I searched for you, yes, but not to kill you!”
Priscilla wavered, wanting to believe him. But a life spent not trusting anyone made it difficult for her to put her trust in a man that she could barely remember. Yes, she recalled spending a summer with him on a youth mission trip on the Navajo Nation Reservation, but that was years ago when they were both teenagers. People changed, and not always for the better. What if he coerced her into marriage? What if she had been running away from him when she ran into the kitchen of the Last Chance Hotel and Casino?
“I would never hurt you. Please believe me.” Luc reached out for her hand, but she took a step back.
“Those are only words.” She choked back sobs, exhaustion and stress robbing her of the ability to keep a tight lid on her emotions. “I don’t know if I believe you or not. But if it’s not Culvert and it’s not you, who could it be? What motive would this mysterious other person have for wanting me dead? Culvert’s the only one with a motive.”
“I don’t know.” Luc rubbed a hand over his eyes.
“You don’t know.” The energy and anger drained from her like water from a bathtub. “I’m going to take a shower, then try to get some sleep.”
“Okay.” Luc put his hand on the bedroom door, then turned back to her. “If it’s not Culvert, then you might be in more danger than any of us realizes.”
* * *
Luc unwrapped the fast-food breakfast sandwich and bit into it. Cold. He glanced up from the couch where he had slunk to see Priscilla standing in the tiny kitchenette near the microwave. After the frosty way they’d parted last night, he wasn’t about to ask her to move to warm up his sandwich.
Last night, while lying in bed unable to fall asleep thanks to Agent Myers’s snoring, he went over and over their conversation. He certainly could have been less dogmatic about his idea that it must be someone other than Culvert behind the attacks. In the wee hours of the morning, he had realized Priscilla was right—his actions looked suspicious. He had been hunting her for years. He’d shown up out of the blue, using an assumed name. He hadn’t been forthcoming with his identity after the shooting. Yes, he had done all those things but not because he wanted to harm her. He’d started out wanting to find Priscilla to annul their marriage and have a clean slate for any future relationships. Not that he’d planned on finding a girlfriend anytime soon. He had no faith in his ability to sustain a relationship after his college fiancée left him for someone else and then Priscilla abruptly departed after their wedding. Lately, though, he found himself wondering what a future with Priscilla would be like.
“Luc?”
He jerked at the sound of Priscilla’s voice, nearly dropping the sandwich.
“May I join you?”
“Of course.” He scooted over to allow her more room. The last thing he wanted was for Priscilla to feel crowded by him—even though he ached to be close to her.
Dark circles smudged the pale skin underneath her eyes, attesting to her own restless night. She wore a fresh flannel shirt tucked into a pair of jeans. Both articles of clothing hung a bit loose on her frame.
“About last night.” Priscilla set her coffee cup on the low table in front of the couch. “I’ve been looking over my shoulder, examining everyone’s motive who wants to get close to me, for years. It’s hard not to be suspicious when that’s been my modus operandi for so long.”
“I understand.” Luc couldn’t imagine trying to carve out a life under those circumstances. He admired her for how she’d managed thus far.
She shook her head. “I don’t think you do. It’s lonely and monotonous and scary all wrapped together. I have very few friends because I can’t share anything beyond the surface to avoid accidentally sharing too much. I found it’s better to appear aloof than risk putting a friend or myself in danger.” She opened her sandwich, but didn’t take a bite. “Then you came along.”
“And told you we were married.” Luc held her gaze, seeing the confusion in her beautiful blue eyes.