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The sheriff’s face clouded over. “Who exactly kicked the shit out of you?”
2
She heard a commotion out the door. A deep voice barked something. Demanded. Whoever that was, he was furious.
Eden sighed. “Kent’s here.”
That was Kent?
The sheriff had insisted on calling the paramedics. He’d taken Eden’s statement while waiting for them. Now a paramedic was checking Eden over while Ed took Abby’s statement.
The door to the room opened and in stepped Kent Jensen. Her whole body heated. He was wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. How could he still look hot in that outfit? Nobody looked hot in sweatpants.
Except for Kent.
His light-brown hair was kept short, drawing your gaze to his gorgeous features. He was sporting a five o’clock shadow, which just gave him a more rugged appearance. His deep brown gaze roamed the room. She’d noticed that about him. He always took in his surroundings no matter where he was. She guessed it came from being a former Navy SEAL. Or maybe it was because he owned Jensen Security International.
Once he’d glanced over the room, his gaze immediately locked on Eden. For some stupid reason, she felt a stab of jealousy. Idiot.
Someone moved into the room behind him. A big guy also wearing sweatpants. Although he didn’t rock them the same way Kent did. This man gave the room a similar glance. She’d seen him a few times before. She knew he worked at Sanctuary although he rarely came into the diner.
His cool gaze touched her briefly before Eden became the entire center of his focus. Kent was already crouched beside his sister, talking to her quietly. The other man moved to her side.
And here sat Abby. Alone. She took in a deep breath.
“Abby, you okay?”
She jumped. The sheriff, who was sitting across from her, gave her a worried look. She forced herself to smile. She’d forgotten he was even there.
“I’m fine.”
“Rye, check Abby over,” the sheriff ordered the hunky paramedic.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re getting checked over,” Ed said in a firm voice. She shivered slightly at that tone.
“Really. They didn’t even touch me,” she insisted. “I don’t need to be checked over.”
“Then how’d you get those grazes on your hands?” he asked.
“What grazes?”
She glanced up in shock as Kent asked that question. She hadn’t even seen him move and now he was standing next to the sheriff, staring down at her. She froze. She didn’t know what to say. His blue eyes were serious, his face cool. Was he angry with her? What had she done? Was he mad over the grazes?
She tucked her hands under her thighs, concealing a wince at the pain.
Kent raised an eyebrow. “Hiding them doesn’t mean you don’t have to show me, sweetheart.”
Warmth filled her at the endearment, even though she told herself he probably called lots of women that.
Kent moved his gaze to Ed, and she was able to breathe once more. “Eden told me what happened. I’m telling you right now, you better find these assholes before I do.”
Ed sighed. “You can’t say things like that in front of an officer of the law, Kent.”
“Just stating a fact. Two assholes beat on a woman who couldn’t even fight back. You think that sort of thing is gonna go down well? Fact that she’s my sister, belongs to Sanctuary, you can bet you’re gonna have a whole lot of angry people breathing down your neck.”
Ed rubbed the back of his neck as though he could feel it already. Then he stood. He looked down at Abby once more.
