“I’d love to be that guy, but I have my bad days just like the next person.”
“Thanks for the warning,” she said. As if she’d never caught Nathan in a moment where he was dark and disturbed.
She opened her eyes to look at him. He rolled to his side and propped himself up on his elbow. His dark eyes looked down at her, and his equally dark—almost black—shaggy hair was a tangled mess. She reached up and ran her fingers through it to ... um ... pull the debris out. But she was lying to herself. That wasn’t the reason at all.
Something feral flashed in his gaze, then he climbed to his feet and offered his hand. “Come on, Erin. It’ll be dark soon. There could be something we can use at the dam. Maybe even shelter. Someone might be there tonight, but definitely the authorities will be there by tomorrow to check the infrastructure and see what happened.” He smiled. “And we’ll be there when they do.”
“You’re doing it again. You’re sounding positive and encouraging. But I get the feeling it’s for my benefit.”
“What’s the harm in that?” He shifted, turning his back to her, then crouched for her to get on.
Erin climbed onto his back and held tight. Dusk had fallen. From here, she could make out some of the damage the river had done as it surged over the riverbank, grabbing dead trees and pulling new ones from the ground along its deadly path. Now, though, the water sounded peaceful, less angry.
Her thoughts returned to those moments before the dam had broken. Nathan had asked her to help him. It seemed nonsensical to help him look into something so dangerous and that could potentially cause him trouble with Sheriff Gibson. But if she didn’t help him, then who would? If Erin were in the same position, she would have no qualms about finding the truth about a loved one. Still, it was a bad idea all around. Nathan shouldn’t investigate his father’s shooting.
Erin shouldn’t help him do it.
“Silver lining,”he’d said.
Digging into cold cases had been her thing—albeit a way to make recompense for the past.
Nathan stumbled, and she gripped him tighter.
Being carried piggyback style was efficient but awkward. She felt the toned muscles in his back ripple with his movements. Nathan was strong and dependable and ... the best person she knew. She’d been a fool to push him away. But that was Erin—a fool when it came to love.
She had only been protecting him, but he could never know that.