But the first familiar face she saw wasn’t his. Instead Mary Jo Sheffield, his attorney, hurried in.

“Are you all right?” she asked, putting her leather briefcase on a chair.

“I’m fine. But my car was a rental and I don’t think they’re going to be happy when they see the tire.”

“What about the shooter?”

“I never saw the perp. It was a black town car. There are a thousand in the city. Limo companies use them for airport runs. No license plate.”

“Was he a bad shot or trying to scare you?”

“That’s my question. If I had to guess, I would say trying to scare me.”

Joe Campbell, a guy she’d worked with for two years, walked over. He didn’t look happy.

“You sure about your report?” he asked. “You’re saying Jed Titan is behind this?”

Mary Jo bristled. “My client,” she began.

“You hired a lawyer?” Joe looked hurt. “Dana, you work here.”

“I didn’t hire a lawyer,” Dana told him. “Mary Jo represents Garth Duncan, who’s a friend of mine. She can be a little overzealous.” She turned to Mary Jo. “Back off for a second, okay?”

Mary Jo nodded, but didn’t physically move away.

Dana turned back to Joe. “I realize that this is Titanville and Jed’s not only related to the founder, but a model citizen. But I know he’s behind this. Did you check with the Dallas PD?”

“Not yet.”

“Call them. They’ll confirm there’s an investigation.”

“I also have the names and numbers of people at the FBI and ATF,” Mary Jo said. “There are several ongoing investigations. And Jed has threatened Dana.”

Joe looked at her. “He threatened you? Did you report it?”

Dana groaned. “Not officially.” She glared at Mary Jo. “I never said he threatened me.”

“You didn’t have to. I’m a good guesser. Based on my instincts, I’m also going to say this isn’t the first time he’s come after you.”

Garth chose that moment to walk in and join the conversation. He’d come from the office, so had on his suit, but for some reason, he looked a little rumpled. And worried.

He walked directly to Dana and pulled her to him. “You okay?” he asked.

She felt awkward being hugged in public, in front of Joe, where she worked. “Um, fine.”

“Good.” He released her and greeted the others. “What did I miss?”

“Dana was just going to tell us about her previous encounters with Jed,” Mary Jo said calmly.

Garth spun toward her. “There have been others?”

“It was nothing,” Dana said, wishing Mary Jo had kept her mouth shut. “I was run off the road a couple of days ago.”

“Run off the road?” Garth and Joe said at the same time.

“That explains the rental,” Mary Jo murmured.

“You have a rental car?” Garth asked. “Since when?”

“It’s no big deal.” She dug in her purse and pulled out the paper with the license plates on it. “Here, Joe. You won’t find anything, but it’s all I have.”

“What happened?” Garth demanded. “And why the hell didn’t you tell me? We had a deal.”

She knew he was referring to the fact that she’d promised to move in with him if Jed came after her. “This happened before that,” she said.

“You kept it from me. You lied.”

Mary Jo slipped her arm through Joe’s. “Let’s go get some coffee and leave them to work this out.”

When they were gone, Garth narrowed his gaze. “Start talking.”

Her temper flared. “You’re not my boss. You don’t get to say what I do.”

“You deliberately withheld material information. Dammit, Dana. Jed is coming after you and I’m the reason. Do you think I want anything to happen to you?”

“No. You’re worried about everyone. I get that.”

He grabbed her arm, his expression intense. “I’m worried about you. I wanted you to move in before this ever happened. I let you put it off because I thought you were safe and you let me believe that.”

She glanced down then back at him. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”

“He hired someone to run you off the road. Then he paid you a private visit. Now this. How big a deal does it have to get before you pay attention?”

She pulled free of his grip. “I’m sorry. Okay? I should have said something.”

“Damn straight.”

“I don’t want to be anyone’s responsibility.”

“It’s too late. Jed knows we’re together. You’re just as vulnerable as Lexi or Izzy or Skye. You’re part of this.”

She knew what he meant, but even though he was trying to scare her, she couldn’t help feeling a warm little jolt inside her belly. Being part of something was important to her. She hadn’t allowed it to happen many times in her life. Just as intriguing was Garth’s statement that they were together. Was that how he saw things?

“Dana?”

“I’m listening,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry. I should have said something before. I thought he was trying to scare me. I didn’t think he would take it any further.”

“And now?”

“I’m not so sure.”

He seemed to brace himself. “I want you to move in with me. We talked about it before. I know it’s not what you want, but things are getting dangerous.”

“I know,” she said.

“He’ll keep coming after you. I swear, Dana, I’ll…What?”

“I know,” she repeated. “I’ll move in with you.”

“Just like that?”

“There’s nothing like getting shot at to change someone’s perspective. He wants to distract us from what’s important. I’m not saying living with you will be much protection, but I’ll do it. On one condition.”

He drew in a slow breath. “Typical,” he muttered.

“I don’t want Lexi, Skye or Izzy to know about the shooting or him running me off the road. It’ll scare them. They’re already being protected, so that’s not going to change. But if they know, they’ll be upset and they’ll feel guilty. That won’t help.”

Garth considered her words. “Fine,” he said, after a second. “But I’m telling the guys.”

She didn’t like that. She didn’t want to keep information from her friends, but she hated the thought of them taking the blame. None of this was about them. Jed was the one who’d gone over to the dark side.

She was most worried about Lexi and her baby. If anything happened to either of them, she would never be able to forgive herself. But to let the guys know?

“I hate that,” she told him. “Just for the record. And when they do find out and they’re pissed, I’m so going to blame you.”

“Ask me if I care. Do we have a deal?”

She nodded.

“Do you mean it this time?” he asked.

“Ouch. I meant the last one.”

“You withheld information.”

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t mean it.” She sighed. “I’m moving in with you. Isn’t that enough?”

“For now.”

DANA FOUND THAT PACKING up everything she owned and leaving her apartment, even temporarily, was harder than she’d expected. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of living with Garth. Despite his statements, she still considered their relationship undefined. What exactly would he expect from her? What were the house rules? While asking would be the most mature way to handle the situation, she wasn’t feeling especially grown-up at the moment.

She loaded everything in her nearly restored truck, doing it herself. A concession that Garth had fought. He’d wanted to come with her, as if expecting Jed to be lurking outside her apartment. Or inside-which he’d already done once.

She double-checked her drawers and the closet, trying to make sure she didn’t leave anything important behind. Not that she would be very far away. If she needed something, she could stop by and get it.

Still, even with just her clothes and personal things missing, her apartment seemed sad and abandoned. This had been her home for nearly four years. She liked the small, quiet space. She’d bought the prints above the sofa at a garage sale and the coasters, pictures of hunky naked guys under glass, had been a gift from Izzy. There were memories here.

“Get over it,” she said aloud. She was moving in with Garth for a few weeks at most. She would be back. Life as she knew it hadn’t ended.

But she was feeling uncomfortably emotional as she got into her truck and drove toward his high-rise condo.

When she pulled in front of the building, Garth was waiting.

“I got you a parking spot,” he said. “Number one-eighty-two.” He handed her a card that would let her into the underground garage. “Use this to get in. I’ll meet you by the elevator and help you carry up your suitcases.”

She stared at the small, white plastic card. “They have spare parking?”

“I get two spaces with my condo. This is the second one. It’s next to my car.”

She wasn’t sure if she believed him. Did he really have an extra spot or had he rented or bought one for her? Not that she would ask. She didn’t trust him to tell the truth. Besides, what difference did it make? He could afford it.

Except telling herself that didn’t make her feel any better. She didn’t want him buying her things or taking care of her. That implied an obligation she didn’t want to have. It made her nervous.

“This is why I keep relationships simple,” she muttered as she drove into the parking garage and found the spot in question.

A few minutes later, both Garth and George, the doorman, had joined her at the truck. With all three of them carrying things, they had her truck unloaded in one trip. Once everything was in his condo and George had left, Garth handed her a key on a ring.

“You know the main layout,” he said, pointing to the kitchen. “Help yourself to whatever you want. I don’t keep a lot of food around, but if you need girl food, that’s fine.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Girl food?”

He grinned. “Yogurt. Stuff with soy.”

“Because you see me as the soy type?”

“All women keep secrets.”

“Maybe, but none of mine involve soy.”