Page 13 of Secrets in the Deep

“No.”

Her eyes narrowed. She obviously wasn’t used to hearing that word.

She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “You stay away from her. She’s happy. She’s moved on from you and actually done something with her life.”

He lifted a brow. “You implying I haven’t?”

Did being a Navy SEAL, defending his country, and now working in search and rescue count as nothing to this woman because it didn’t come with big money and notoriety?

Melanie laughed, not a single wrinkle appearing on her face. “There’s no comparison between your life in this tiny town and everything Emily has. So don’t put her at risk.”

“Careful, Melanie…you almost sound worried.” From his peripheral vision, he saw Emily look their way, then hurry toward them.

Therewas the limp.

“Worried about what?” Melanie huffed.

“Is everything okay here?” Emily’s words were rushed. Anxious.

Melanie smiled, and it was the fakest thing he’d ever seen. “Of course. I was just saying hello to Ryan. Reacquainting. It’s been so long.”

Ignoring the lie that no one in their right mind would believe, he gave Emily his full attention. “Is your leg still hurting?”

Her eyes flared, a bit of color slipping from her cheeks.

What the hell was the deal with the limp?

Melanie linked her arm through her daughter’s. “We’re leaving now. It’ll be good to have your team keeping us safe…from a distance.”

Her mother pulled Emily away harshly, and when she did, Emily’s knee almost buckled.

He started to help her, but she pulled away.

“I’m fine.” She spared him one last glance before walking toward her trailer.

There was a story there. And the fact that she didn’t want him to know made Ryan absolutely determined to get to the bottom of it.

4

Emily popped two Advil onto her tongue and swallowed them with water.

The almost-full bottle hit the dressing table with a thud as she looked at her reflection in the trailer mirror. Hair and makeup were done. Scene clothes were on. Now she just needed to get out there and act.

But she didn’t want to. No part of her wanted to.

It was another scene that would take a lot out of her physically. It would involve running and dodging and balancing on wet stones to cross a river. They’d done a run-through yesterday and she’d tripped at least three times—two of those times, jamming her knee.

She’d wanted to refuse to do the scene today. Wait for this mystery stunt double to arrive in Deep River. She’d argued with her mother about it all morning until she’d been too exhausted to fight anymore.

Would her knee hold out today? What if she slipped on the stones this time and fell into the water?

Her phone vibrated from the dresser.

Mom: Where are you? Roscoe’s getting impatient.

Roscoe’s getting impatient. Not, “Are you okay?” Or, “I know these scenes are hard for you both physically and emotionally. Is there anything you need?”

She dropped her cell onto the dresser and looked back at her reflection.