* * *

  All of these tantalizing glimpses and teasing remarks were beginning to torment Jason. He’d deliberately kept his distance from Dana for the past week, hoping that this craziness would go away, that he’d awake in the morning and Dana would no longer appeal to him. He had a sinking feeling that changing the color of his eyes or the rhythm of his heart would be easier.

  Last night in the bookstore he’d sensed that she was on the edge, struggling with deep emotions that were clearly as foreign to her as they were to him—emotions neither of them were ready to accept.

  She’d looked so lost and alone that he’d wanted to take her into his arms and swear to her that she would never be lonely again, that he would always be there to offer comfort and strength and love. He wasn’t sure, though, that it was a promise he could keep. He had no track record with commitment and responsibility. As for handling the implications of love—not just sex—between a man and a woman, he was every bit as inexperienced as she.

  And then there was Sammy. His respect for the boy’s intelligence was growing, even as his frustration mounted. For all the progress the two of them had made in recent days, the kid was hardly ready for sainthood. Jason suspected that their outings to the gym might only be giving Sammy the skills he would need to tough it out on the streets. Jason doubted the teen actually saw boxing as an alternative to the thrill of real violence. Every time Jason tried to speak to Sammy about making a serious change in his attitude and his companions, the youngster’s overt hostility returned.

  Faced with the least attractive side of Sammy’s personality, Jason continually had to remind himself that he was doing this to prove to himself that he was capable of being totally unselfish for once in his life. Maybe it would be a sign that he’d finally grown up.

  The bonus, of course, was the approval and relief that shone in Dana’s eyes with each tiny bit of progress he made with her brother. It made him feel ten feet tall. He hadn’t realized how badly his self-confidence needed such a boost.

  He had started doubting his own common sense. Maybe he’d misjudged how wrong Dana was for him. He’d felt revitalized the past couple of weeks. Maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible to risk deepening their relationship.

  Convinced of that, Jason left work early with his blood pumping just a little harder as he contemplated a very romantic evening ahead. He found a florist who’d managed to rush the season with an abundant assortment of spring flowers. Jason filled his arms with red tulips and golden daffodils, picked up a bottle of wine, then stopped at a meat market that dealt only in the choicest steaks and chops.

  It occurred to him to call ahead to be sure Dana would be home. But he felt certain she’d find a dozen excuses for turning him down. He skirted the most obvious one by buying a third steak. He figured there was no escaping Sammy’s presence. Jason appreciated the irony in having the kid as a chaperon.

  It was dusk when he reached the neighborhood. The nearest parking place was an unsavory two blocks away. Jason gathered his purchases from the back seat, then started toward Dana’s. He had just started to cross the entrance to an alley, when he heard a commotion and sensed a violent undertone. One glance into the gloomy alley brought his heart to his throat.

  Dana was pressed against a brick wall. A trio of unkempt youths were taunting her. A fourth, his back to Jason, was hanging back, oddly silent. From where Jason stood at the entrance to the alley, there was no question at all about their intentions—they were going to rob her or worse.

  Jason was filled with such a murderous rage, his hands shook. Every instinct shouted at him to rush to her rescue. His muscles ached from the tension of listening to his head, which warned him that rushing in against these odds wouldn’t help Dana and might even get her hurt.

  As he considered what to do, his heart pounded so hard he was sure they would hear it. Anger rushed through him with raw, primitive force. If they laid one finger on her, one finger, he would delight in taking them apart.

  “You don’t want to do this,” Dana said. She was pale, but there wasn’t the slightest quaver in her voice. Jason winced at the spunky declaration. Didn’t she know she was just daring them to contradict her? Didn’t she have enough good sense to recognize the very real danger she was in? Maybe it was just as well. He was terrified enough for the two of them.

  He’d never felt more helpless in his life, trying to cling to reason when all he wanted was to strike out blindly, to pay them back for threatening her. In that instant he realized with a sense of shock that he was falling in love with her.

  And, with horrifying clarity, that he could lose her.

  “Hey, did you hear that, Rocky? We don’t want to do nothin’ to the lady.” The punk who said it leered at her and inched closer as if to contradict her statement. His fingers swept down her cheek. Jason felt sick to his stomach as he thought of how easily the boy could have wielded a knife instead.

  Finally, his hands knotting into fists, the boy hovering in the background spoke. “Leave her alone, Vinnie.”

  Vinnie didn’t look inclined to take his advice. “Kid, stay out of this.”

  At the hint of a split in their ranks, Jason took heart. Maybe the odds weren’t so uneven after all. Suddenly, with a move so swift it took both Vinnie and Jason by surprise, the boy leaped. He began pummeling the ringleader, obviously fearless or determined to pretend to be. Jason recognized the attitude even before he picked up on the slim build and blond hair. Sammy, coming to his sister’s defense without regard to the consequences to himself—or to her, for that matter.

  With Vinnie occupied, Dana flew at the one called Rocky. Just as the remaining youth prepared to come to the assistance of the gang leaders, Jason tore down the alley and slammed the guy into the wall. The boy managed one glancing blow to Jason’s head that drew blood. Then Jason grabbed the boy’s arm and twisted it behind his back until he heard a satisfying grunt of pain.

  “I think maybe you should plan on sitting this one out,” he said as he wound his tie around the youth’s wrists, then looped it around a drainpipe. Satisfied that this one was out of commission, Jason went to Dana’s assistance. He decked Rocky with a blow that the kid didn’t even see coming. The crunching shot gave him a mild sense of satisfaction.

  Even before the thug crashed to the ground, and with barely a glance at Jason, Dana moved on to help Sammy. The two of them were all over Vinnie. They didn’t look as if they needed any help from him in winding things up. In fact, Dana actually looked as if she was enjoying her moment of revenge on the scum who’d threatened her. Jason had no intention of denying her the pleasure. He figured the punk had it coming.

  With blood dripping from the gash above his eye, Jason settled on a garbage can to watch. He pressed a clean handkerchief to the scrape and admired the uppercut that Sammy delivered to Vinnie’s jaw, while Dana held his arms pinned behind him. Vinnie sank slowly facedown into a bank of gray slush. Apparently out of some misguided concern for the punk’s life, they rolled him over before walking over to Jason, whose temper was kicking in at full steam now that the danger was past.

  “My heroes,” Dana declared, looking downright invigorated by the success of the brawl. She had a scrape down one cheek and scratches on her hands. Other than that she looked none the worse for wear. It took everything in Jason to keep from crushing her in an embrace.

  Instead, he glared at her. “Heroes, hell. Sammy, what were you doing here in the alley with those guys when they went after your sister?” he demanded.

  Dana looked shocked by Jason’s implication. “He wasn’t with them.”

  “Oh, wasn’t he?” He leveled a look at Sammy, who had the good sense to look uneasy. “You were right in the thick of things until you realized it was Dana they’d dragged back here, weren’t you?”

  “No. I saw ’em and followed,” he swore unconvincingly. His gaze never met Jason’s directly. “That’s all.”

  “You don’t know these boys?” Jason pressed.

  Dana regarded him oddly, her expression puzzled. “Sammy is not on trial here. He threw the first punch to protect me.”

  “The police might think otherwise. Sammy, you haven’t answered my question. Do you know these guys or not?”

  “I’ve seen ’em around.”

  “Are they part of a gang?”

  “I guess.”

  “What about you?”

  Sammy looked from his sister to Jason and back again. “I’m not in any gang.”

  “But you want to be.”

  “Dammit, Jason, leave him alone,” Dana said protectively. “I’m telling you he came to my rescue. You were here. You must have seen it.”

  “In the end, yes, he did,” Jason admitted, then sighed. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “There is nothing to discuss,” Dana declared. “Sammy, go call 911 and get a policeman over here so I can file assault charges.”

  Sammy’s expression went from hostile to scared in an instant. “Sis, can’t you forget about it?” he pleaded, confirming Jason’s belief that he’d been up to his skinny little neck in the activities of this gang of hoodlums.

  “No, I cannot forget about it. If I don’t press charges, they could do this to someone else. Get the police now.”

  Sammy ran off. As soon as he’d gone, Jason said mildly, “I seriously doubt that the police will show up here anytime soon.”

  “Of course they will,” Dana said. “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “Because Sammy won’t call them, not if he expects to hang out with his friends ever again. These guys don’t rat on each other.”

  Fury flashed in Dana’s eyes. “And I’m telling you that you’re wrong about that. Just because a kid’s had it tough in life, doesn’t mean he automatically turns into some criminal. I thought you were his friend.”

  “I’m trying to be. That doesn’t mean I turn a blind eye to his faults.”

  “The way I do?” she asked resentfully.

  “I didn’t say that, but yes, the way you do.”

  Dana’s lower lip trembled. “I see his faults. I’ve told him...”

  “Telling him isn’t enough.” He reached for her hand, but she stiffened. “Dammit, Dana,” he said impatiently. “There have to be consequences. Can’t you see that, even after this?”

  “What kind of consequences did you have in mind? Jail? Beating him with a belt? What?”

  Jason raked his fingers through his hair. “No,” he said wearily.

  “What then?” She perched on the lid of the garbage can next to him. “Take tonight. He came to my rescue. Am I supposed to punish him for that?”

  “No, but you’d better make darned sure you know who his friends are from now on.”

  “And just how am I supposed to do that? I work two jobs at the moment. I can’t stick around all afternoon and do background checks on the kids he spends time with after school.”

  Jason sighed. There was no denying the complexity of the problem. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I don’t know what the answer is. I just know that he’s headed for trouble.”

  “I thought the time he was spending with you was helping.”

  Jason grinned ruefully. “Sure. Didn’t you see those punches he threw? The kid’s a natural. On one hand, I’m damned proud of him. On the other, I want to shake him until his teeth rattle.” He glanced sideways. “There may be one thing you could do to improve things.”

  “What’s that? I’ll try anything.”

  “Move. This neighborhood’s not safe for you, and it sure as hell isn’t doing Sammy any good to associate with the kids around here.”

  For a fleeting instant Dana’s expression brightened, then her face fell. “I can’t afford to move.”

  Before Jason could open his mouth to offer to help, she held up her hand. “I won’t take a cent from you.”

  “Do you really have a choice? If you don’t do something, Sammy’s likely to end up in jail. Let me help. If you won’t take money, then move into my place.”

  Her eyes widened. “You have to be kidding.”

  Actually Jason thought he might be slightly insane, but the longer he toyed with the idea, the more he saw it as the only solution. Once Sammy was removed from these surroundings, the kid might actually have a chance. As for Dana, at least she would be out of danger. Of all of them, he was the one most likely to be endangered by such a move. The feelings that had slammed into his gut when he’d faced the prospect of losing her would be on the line if she were in close proximity. He had to risk it, though. For her sake. And Sammy’s.

  “Just temporarily,” he said, giving both of them a needed out. “Just until you save enough to get a better place in a better neighborhood. There are plenty of bedrooms. You and Sammy can both have your privacy.”

  He allowed his gaze to linger until he saw the rise of desire in her eyes. He dropped his voice. “If you want it.”

  Dana seemed to shake off the spell she’d clearly been succumbing to. “Not a good idea,” she said, but there was a breathlessness to her voice that contradicted the declaration. She was tempted. He would just have to make her see the logic of it.

  At the first stirring of Vinnie and his cohorts, Jason glanced toward them and asked pointedly, “Do you have a better idea?”

  “No, but...”

  “Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

  With her gaze locked with his, she finally sighed and nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

  “By the way, are you ready to concede that the police are not headed our way? If so, I suggest we take off before these guys decide they’d like to go another round. If they ask for more, I’m not at all sure I won’t be the one in jail with a murder rap hanging over my head. With any luck, we can make that call ourselves and get the cops down here before these jerks vanish.”

  Dana’s chin inched up. “I’ll wait. You call the police.”

  “Oh, no,” Jason said. “You’re not staying here another minute. And since we’ve already established that there are very valid reasons for not leaving me within a mile of these guys without witnesses, we’re going together.”

  “What if they escape?”

  “Then we’ll just have to convince Sammy to tell us who they are. Now let’s go.” He groaned as he leaned down to pick up the bag with the steaks in it. They were about the only thing he could salvage from his romantic offerings. The bottle of wine had broken when he dropped it to go after Vinnie. The bouquet of flowers had been trampled. Dana stared around at the mess, seeing it for the first time.

  “Flowers?”

  “For you. Sorry they didn’t make it.”

  She picked up one spunky daffodil that was less bruised than the rest and held it gently. “They’re beautiful,” she said. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll buy you more.”

  “No. I like this one. It’s a survivor.”

  Jason shook his head wearily and admitted with grudging admiration, “Like you.”

  Sometimes Dana’s fight-to-the-end philosophy scared the daylights out of him. Protecting a woman like that took more ingenuity than most mortal men possessed. He was trying, though.

  And with a little divine intervention and a whole lot of patience, maybe he’d survive Dana’s stubborn determination to fight him every step of the way.

  Chapter 10

  After the incident in the alley, Jason could barely bring himself to let Dana out of his sight. He was astounded by the deep feeling of protectiveness she aroused in him. Again and again he tried to tell himself it wasn’t because he was falling in love with her. He couldn’t be. He was a man who always used his head, and his head had warned him from the outset to steer clear of her. His heart, though, was another matter. He couldn’t seem to control it the way he could his thoughts.

  The only thing keeping him from forcing the issue of a move was the knowledge that Dana’s reaction to pressure was likely to be withdrawal. She didn’t seem to trust simple generosity. It had taken him a long time to understand that. It was Halloran tradition to reach out, to give something back to the community, to help those in need. In Dana’s world, though, she’d learned to look for the ulterior motive.

  Jason had no idea how to break through that kind of instinctive self-protection except to give her time. Since she was about to start working full-time for the Lansing Agency, and thus for him, on Monday, he didn’t want to do anything that would scare her off. Once they were locked into a day-in, day-out pattern, he could look after her the way he wanted to without arousing her fiery streak of independence.

  That didn’t keep him from calling as many times each day as he could justify. It was astonishing the number of excuses he could manufacture. If Dana suspected his motives on this too, she never let on. On most occasions, she actually sounded glad to hear from him, at least until he tried to delve into anything personal. She dodged those questions with the skill of a shady politician. When he brought up Sammy, who’d refused any more boxing lessons, she turned downright testy. Jason wondered if they would ever be able to agree on anything having to do with her brother.

  That didn’t stop him from trying, though he was rapidly reaching his wit’s end. Not even the lure of tickets to a Celtics game had improved Sammy’s mood, which seemed surlier than ever. He’d refused the invitation. As a result, Dana had begged off, too. Jason had gone to the game with his father, hoping that the night out would lead to confidences that would help him understand what was going on with his parents.

  To his frustration, he’d struck out on that as well. The only thing his father seemed remotely inclined to discuss was the basketball game, and even then he’d kept his comments terse. Jason was more convinced than ever that things weren’t right between his parents. On one level he realized he was no more ready to deal with that aloud than his father was.