Page 139 of Secrets in the Deep

He slipped an arm around her as Shaun crossed the lawn. “Emily, can you?—”

“Get off.”

Shaun frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Get off my lawn.Now.”

The journalist straightened. “You know I have other bits of this story. I can print those, but it’ll be less factual.”

Was the fuckerreallythreatening him? After the day they’d had?

Ryan growled and inched forward, but Emily placed a hand on his chest before looking back at the guy. “I’m not telling you anything, Shaun. In fact, you’re not getting another scrap of newsworthy information from me. Ever. I’m going to contact a legitimate, professional journalist who has integrity, and share what I went through with Roscoe. I’m going to share my and Ryan’s story and our future plans. Now get off Ryan’s property or I’ll let him kick you off.”

Shaun’s jaw dropped and he went white as a piece of paper.

Ryan almost laughed. When the guy didn’t move, Ryan inched toward him, but the journalist shot back. “I’m going. I’ll get my story somewhere else.”

The second he left, Ryan lifted Emily gently into his arms. “You were too nice. I wanted to hit him.”

“No. What I did hit him far harder. And you don’t need to carry me.”

“We’re back to that?”

They made it inside and he carried her to the couch, where he set her down before crouching in front of her. “I’d take you to bed but Ward’s on his way over.”

“Ah, that’s why you look like you want to kill someone.”

“It’s not helping.” He cupped her cheek, letting the warmth of her skin slip into his palm. “I can send him away and tell him to come back tomorrow. I’d actually love to kick his ass off my property.”

“I know you would. But I don’t want you getting arrested for interfering with law enforcement.”

“He wouldn’t arrest me. Too much paperwork.”

A small smile curved her lips. “I love you.”

“For a second there today, I thought…” He couldn’t finish the sentence. He could barelythinkit.

“I know. But I’m here. You’re here. We’re okay.”

He leaned forward and kissed her, letting her soft lips, the way her sweet breath brushed over his face, take the edge off the fury.

A knock sounded at the door.

And there it was, screaming back to life.

She groaned. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

Ward snapped his notebook shut.“Well, you really brought the trouble to Deep River, didn’t you, Miss Prior?”

She felt Ryan’s muscles contract beside her on the couch. She set a palm on his thigh. “With all due respect, Sheriff, that was Roscoe, andonlyRoscoe.”

“Yes, well, luckily for you, we have a mountain of footage to back up your story.”

Ryan scowled. “Or what? You wouldn’t believe her?”

“Didn’t say that.” The sheriff’s eyes narrowed on Ryan. “I said this to your boys already, but I could have you arrested for breaking and entering today.”

What?