Vicki would be safe with Peter and Jennifer, but Alice wasn't. She had no idea about the danger. He rushed into the crowded room to get her.
Walking fast, she'd already reached the front room near the main door, and he called out, "Wait."
Her face was red as she turned around and glanced at the crowd of people around them. "Why did you follow me?"
At least she stayed still as he approached. He needed to explain so she'd understand. With his palms up, he tried to sound reasonable. "Don't go."
She shook her head, her fingers on the door handle. "What are you doing? You should be with your family right now."
He reached out to stop her. "Stay with me."
She averted her gaze and looked over his shoulder at the people around them. "Victoria is in there. She'll call me later. Be with your family."
The thought of Alice outside alone sent a chill down his entire body. "I can't let you go."
Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "John, our date last night was great, but it was just a fantasy. Our worlds are different." As she spoke, a red laser appeared on her face and his mouth dropped.
Without a word, John grabbed her and positioned her between his chest and the wall as a bullet crashed through the glass doors right beside them. Alice screamed and then put her palm over her mouth to stop.
He covered her head with his arms to block any shattered glass.
Shouts sounded behind them.
He patted her strawberry-scented hair as her smell helped block out the stench of gunpowder.
From both sides of the church foyer, Secret Service came out of the funeral with guns drawn. Alice shook. He held her tight as he called, "Bullet came from outside."
At least he hadn't given back his gun or badge yet, as his training was why he was wore his weapon.
One of the agents had his finger to his ear as he answered, "We have two Presidents to protect. Our men are en route."
Alice trembled in his arms and he rocked her to keep her calm. This was his fault. No one would get to her. In the security mirror, near the entrance, he saw she was pale. "Can I take her to sit down?"
One of the men in sunglasses said, "I need to see identification."
Her lips shook. "My license is in my purse, John."
No one should scare her like this. He'd have to find out who did this. John nodded, but held her waist to keep her close as he opened his jacket to reveal his FBI badge. "She's with me. She was almost shot."
The men with the guns pointed at them held their weapons higher and let them pass. He took her toward one of the rooms to the back and away from the funeral. Alice stayed in his arms as she followed. She stayed close until he closed a side door. Then she blinked, tried to stand taller, and swallowed. "Who shot at me?"
His heart constricted in his chest. He had no idea how much to reveal. He couldn't tell her that this was a threat against him. "Could be anyone."
She took his bicep in both of her hands. "Did you see a laser on my face? I thought I saw a red light."
"Yeah. It's why I dragged you in my arms."
Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and fear. Her cheeks grew red. "Your skills as an agent were spot-on perfect."
"No, that wasn't what happened. I was lucky."
She shook her head, placed her palm to forehead like she recalled the feel of the red laser, and then closed her eyes. "Wow. I'll be fine. It was probably someone trying to shoot the President."
She walked away from him, and he reached out to keep her close. Again the smell of strawberries played in his throat. "They almost shot you."
Her face went pale as she stiffened. "That doesn't make any sense. I'm not the President. I'm no one important."
His hands froze on her back as he realized he had to tell her. He gazed into her eyes, wishing he didn't have to reveal his true feelings. "Someone threatened to kill anyone I loved."
Her lips parted. "What? I still don't qualify. You don't love me."
John let her back away as his spine stiffened while he waited to be knocked out from a punch he had no power to stop. What he said sounded extreme, but his heart knew the truth. He promised himself that no one was going to hurt her because of him. "Just now. On national television? We appeared close."
She frowned. "So someone thinks you love me?"
It shouldn't be that hard for her to believe that he had feelings. He took a deep breath and steered the conversation back to the point. "We need to focus on your safety."
Her arms stayed at her sides as her eyes grew wider. "What about my family?"
Alice should think more about herself. He nodded. "I'll keep a patrol at your parents' farm."
She shook her head like it wasn't enough. "They have to be safe."
As she wasn't a fan of his family, he wouldn't mention the Morgans had their own security that rivaled any government run organization. By staying out of sight, no one should go after her parents. John crossed his arms so he'd not attach himself to her. "You're the primary target. They'll go to them if they can't get to you, but you have to be kept out of sight."
"That wasn't very reassuring."
"I don't know how to soften my words or lie to you."
"My mother pretty much hates your family."
Only Alice would spend this long worrying about others and not herself. Her sweetness was more palatable than sugar. He stayed still so she wouldn't jump. "Good. Whoever hears her tell that to the world won't bother with her. Right now, I want you with me until I find out who is behind the threats. If you go home, you risk putting your family in danger. It's safer if I put a patrol on the outside while you're with me."
Her eyes misted like she might cry, though her pale cheeks stayed dry. She stared at him like he'd set out to hurt her. "So I can't go home?"
He'd have to go slow with her and not push too hard too fast, but no one would get to her on his watch. "I have to insist you stay with me."
Her lips twitched. "You don't have a place, and I'm not staying at Castle Morgan."
His brother's home would have state of the art security where no one would get to them, though he'd rather not bunk with Peter. He had his own version of a Morgan home that he never used and the family service just stocked for him. "I don't want to go there either."
"I won't be your shield from your brother. You need a better plan if I'm staying with you. The hotel?"
"No." He rubbed his chin. "Let me think."
She crossed her arms too as if this was an argument she could win. "I finalize buying my condo next week…."
He dropped his arms to his sides so he wouldn't close her off. She needed to agree to be with him. He missed the rest of what she said and blinked. She turned to leave. He said, "What?"
She turned back around, shook her head and threw her arms to her sides. "Yeah. I do have a life, John."