Splashdown: A Christian Contemporary Romance with Suspense (Dangerous Series Book 3) by Linda K. Rodante Page A

vision. Her heart constricted, and heat rushed to her face.
    Maria touched her arm. “I’m sorry I remind you.”
    Lynn nodded, feeling the stickiness over her whole body. The air seemed thick and hard to breathe. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the image and concentrated on inhaling. 
    Maria glanced down at the bag she carried. “When I saw you get out of the car, I remembered this. Will you give to Sharee for me?”
    Hesitant, Lynn reached out her hand. A gift from Maria? Who had so little? Her fingers closed around the straps. An ache tightened her chest. Many of the people she’d met here were giving and warm, opposite from all the things she’d heard. Just as Victoria had been… She swallowed hard and swayed.
    Richards grabbed her arm. “Are you okay?”
    Maria’s eyes were round. “You come into the tent and get a drink.”
    Lynn stood still. Light and dark spots flashed before her eyes. Cold chills spread to her limbs. Rich’s hand tightened.
    “Thanks,” he said, “but I’ll take her back to the car and get the air going.”
    Maria’s head bobbed up and down, her concern evident.
    He glanced at Lynn. “Is it the heat?”
    “I...I just need to sit somewhere.” She blinked her eyes. The strobe light vision hit again, and she forced the waves of nausea down. “Thank you, Maria. I guess we’ll go.”
    “This way.” Richard’s voice had the sudden vibration of authority. He took the bag from her hand and led her back to the Porsche. The car’s locks clicked.
    “Sit down. I’ll get the air going.”
    The hundred-plus heat from the car hit her, and she recoiled.
    His fingers tightened on her arm. “Believe me, you don’t want to fall here. Sit on the edge of the seat. Leave the door open a minute.”
    He slipped in on the other side, started the engine, and the air-conditioning blew hot air toward her. “It’ll be better soon.”
    Lynn said nothing. The world spun. She could feel the heat from the leather through her thin slacks. She closed her eyes, waiting for the cool. A minute later, she heard his door close.
    “Close your door now. Put on your seatbelt. Do you need something to drink?”
    “That…would help.”
    The car backed and then swung toward the highway. “Okay. When did you eat last?”
    She turned her head, but his image wove in and out like heat rising from the desert. She blinked. Things began to focus. “I had some cheese and carrots for lunch, at my desk.” Her tongue felt thick.
    “That sounds like a hearty meal.” He approached the main highway and made a left-hand turn.
    “Hey, we’re going the wrong way.”
    “I’ll find you something to drink, but lunch was a while ago for me, and yours was non-existent. I’m hungry. Aren’t you?”
    “But…”
    “There’s a good restaurant down the road.” When she said nothing, his eyes slid from the road to her face. “Are you feeling better?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good.” 
    “You know,” she shook her head, swallowed around her tongue. “I still can’t understand how Victoria could marry such a brute. She seemed too intelligent for that.”
    Richards sent her an ironic smile. “Abusers come in all classes, intelligent or not, wealthy or not. Doesn’t matter. You wouldn’t believe half of what I’ve seen.”
    She gave a long sigh. “No, I guess I wouldn’t.” Quiet settled between them. The tires hummed. “How do you stand it?”
    “The people or the job?”
    “Both.”
    “Well, I like to think I’m helping. And when things really get tough, there’s God.”
    “God?” Startled, her eyes swung to his face.
    “I figure he has a plan and a purpose, although I don’t go much beyond that.”
    “Are you a Christian?”
    “Yes.”
    She tried not to stare but saw his mouth curl. “I’m sorry. It’s just…”
    “Cop and Christian don’t go together? Or is it Rich and Christian?”
    “I didn’t mean that.” She stopped. What did she mean?
    “I’m not much of a church-goer. I keep