Loving Tessa (January Cove) by Rachel Hanna Read Free Book Online Page A

here, okay? You have no idea what could happen if I was found,” she said. It was as much as she’d said during the time he’d known her so far.
     
    “I’ll keep you both safe.”
     
    “What are you? Some kind of FBI agent? Martial arts master? What makes you think you can keep us safe? You don’t even know the situation, Aaron. Trust me when I tell you that we need to stay hidden from view. It has to be that way.”
     
    Aaron ran his hand over his chin, as he always did when he was deep in thought. “Okay, I have a plan.”
     
    “Why don’t I like the sound of that?” she asked.
     
    “My brother Kyle has a great place on the beach. His part of the beach is completely private, and we can have it all to ourselves.”
     
    “But won’t he see us?”
     
    “Yes, but he’s trustworthy too. All the Parker men are,” Aaron said with a wink.
     
    “He won’t know why I’m hiding.”
     
    “Neither do I.”
     
    “But you want to know, and so will he.”
     
    “No, he won’t. I’ll just tell him we want a quiet place to relax for the day. Tessa, no one needs to know if you don’t want them to. Let’s just go and allow Tyler to have some fun. One of these days, you’re going to have to let go and relax. How will you ever live a normal life if you don’t let your guard down at some point?”
     
    “That’s exactly what he wants, Aaron. When I let my guard down, I’m dead.”
     
    ***
     
    Why had she said that of all things? Dead? Dear God, he wasn’t ever going to let that one go. Time stood still as Aaron stood there looking at her, his mouth gaping open. She couldn’t get a good breath into her lungs.
     
    “Tessa, are you in that much danger?”
     
    She wanted to say no. Say no, say no… “Yes.” Damn it! Why had she said yes?
     
    “You have to let me help you,” he said softly as he watched Tyler feed Beau a piece of bacon in the kitchen. “For his sake, Tessa. Please.”
     
    “This isn’t your problem, Aaron. I can’t drag yet another person into it.”
     
    “Fine. Then I won’t let either of you out of my sight ever again. Not until I know you’re safe.”
     
    “Why do you even care, Aaron? You don’t know me. You could walk away right now and never look back.”
     
    “No, I couldn’t.”
     
    “Why?”
     
    “Because I’m not that kind of man.”
     
    She wanted to hug him for just that one comment. But she couldn’t involve him for the same reason she couldn’t involve her own extended family. There was just too much danger.
     
    “Please listen to me, Aaron. There is danger in this situation, and it’s mine to deal with. I will protect my son just as I always have, but I won’t involve other people. I can’t. The guilt I feel for dragging my son through this is almost more than I can bear. Please don’t make this worse.”
     
    He sighed and looked down. “Have you always been this stubborn?” he asked. Tessa laughed and threw her hands up.
     
    “Some people would probably say so.”
     
    “So what is your long term plan then? To just keep running?”
     
    “If I have to.”
     
    “What kind of life is that for you? For Tyler?”
     
    “I can’t think about that right now.”
     
    “You have to, Tessa. You’re not thinking clearly. You’re reacting out of fear instead of thinking logically. It’s almost like you’re running from a ghost instead of a person. How do you even know he’s looking for you?”
     
    “Trust me, I know. He doesn’t like to lose or be made to look like a fool.”
     
    Aaron was growing frustrated; she could see it in his face.
     
    “See? I’m already ruining your life, Aaron. Twenty four hours ago, you were single and footloose and fancy free…”
     
    “Footloose and fancy free? What era were you born in again?” he asked laughing. She punched him lightly on the arm.
     
    “You shouldn’t have these worries. Your heart was just broken. You need time to heal.”
     
    “Being with you and Tyler has helped me