by Cat Johnson
Jessa groaned aloud and clicked out of the photo files and back to something that might actually be helpful—and not make her cringe.
She’d just navigated to his sister Amanda’s profile when she heard the noise. A loud single bang. Not of the gunshot variety—thank God—but more like something slamming.
What had it been? Maybe just a car door closing. It was probably, hopefully, just the neighbors again, going out or coming in.
One glance at the digital clock displayed on her screen told Jessa she’d spent much more time on the computer than she’d realized. It was nearing one o’clock in the morning. That would be kind of late for her neighbors to be out and about, but not impossible.
Even so, she felt the need to check and see for herself.
Jessa abandoned her computer research and the laptop to creep to the window.
Two large dark figures, mostly shadow, hovered outside the door of the apartment across the street. Eyes wide, she backed up, away from the window and farther into the apartment so they wouldn’t see her.
An image flashed into her brain of the night Sara had left and the black-clad man she’d almost bumped into on the sidewalk.
Her eyes grew wider as she realized it was that very night that the neighbors had been robbed.
Had that been one of the robbers? Casing the apartments to see who was home and which were vacant?
She hadn’t known to be concerned then, but she knew now and she wasn’t going to sit by and do nothing again.
Diving for the kitchen counter, she grabbed her cell phone and called 9-1-1.
In what probably sounded like a jumbled mess to the operator, Jessa described what she’d seen tonight and the man she’d seen last month. The woman on the call took down the information, but sounded less enthusiastic than Jessa had hoped.
“I really think it could be them. The robbers. Back to hit more apartments.” She tried to reiterate the importance.
“I’ll inform the local police, ma’am.”
Jessa frowned, still not convinced the woman was taking her tip as seriously as she should.
Maybe she should go down to the station herself and make a report. Tomorrow. Not tonight because there was no way in hell she was going outside in that parking lot with those two scary-looking men out there.
And there was no way she was getting any sleep tonight either.
She thanked the operator and disconnected the call but kept the cell phone with her, safely in the pocket of her pajama bottoms. She didn’t want to be far from her phone in case the men decided to snoop around her door.
That mere thought sent a chill of fear through her.
She leaned in for one more furtive, heart-pounding peek outside. The shadowy figures were gone, but to where?
Shaking, Jessa flipped on the kitchen light so they knew she was awake and aware and not a target for a sneak attack.
Yup, no way she was sleeping tonight.
Resigned to that, and the fact she was going to be a wreck at work tomorrow, she filled the kettle with water.
Maybe there was something funny on television that would take her mind off this horror of a night. That and some herbal tea and she might be able to avoid having a breakdown at least, even if she didn’t sleep.
As she waited for the kettle to boil, her mind spun. She knew nothing about security systems except what she saw on television commercials and she didn’t hold much faith in those.
Drawing in a breath in spite of the remaining tightness in her chest, she slipped her cell back out of her pocket and hesitated.
Will had said he had a friend in the security business, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to take that pricey plunge just yet. Especially since she was still up in the air about if she wanted to keep the two-bedroom rental now that Sara had moved out.
Her lease was almost up. Most likely she’d look for a smaller apartment—a one bedroom not in this complex given the sudden rash of robberies and scary men sightings.
But maybe Will would have ideas for solutions she could look into for the interim until she moved.
She could text him now and when he woke up in the morning, he’d get back to her. She’d evaluate how much damage a temporary security solution was going to do to her bank account and decide then.
Feeling better to be doing something rather than nothing, she punched in the text and hit send. She laid the cell on the counter and opened the cabinet where she stored her tea. She hadn’t even gotten a teabag out of the box yet when Will’s name appeared on the cell’s display for an incoming call.
Cringing, she dove to answer. “Will. I’m so sorry I woke you—”
“I was already awake. Why are you up and asking me about security systems? And why do you sound so breathless. What happened? Is something wrong? Are you okay?” He spoke fast, the agitation evident in his voice.
Jessa felt horrible for worrying him. Then felt even worse for enjoying that Will was worried about her. It had been a long time since she’d had any man besides her father worry about her well being.
“I’m okay. Just a little freaked out by something that happened tonight.
“Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out.”
Talking helped. By the time she’d relayed every detail to Will, it was starting to feel less terrifying. Almost as if the more people she shared this burden with, the lighter the weight on her own shoulders.
Maybe she did have a chance of getting over her fear—after another couple of dozen or so tellings, coupled with a few security cameras . . . and maybe a guard dog.
“I want you to pack a bag with anything you’ll need and go to my place.”
“What?” Her voice squeaked with surprise. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
It was a valid question. One she didn’t have an answer to besides the fact it seemed crazy. And presumptuous. And too damn tempting. Sleeping in Will’s apartment wasn’t going to do her ever growing crush on him any good.
She needed a reason to say no to his kind but disconcerting offer. Luckily she had a damn good one. “If I’m at your place then my place will be empty, which will probably make it the next one to get robbed.”
Even saying that sent a chill down her spine.
She didn’t own much of anything valuable but the thought of someone in her private space ,even if she wasn’t home at the time, felt like a physical violation.
Jessa shivered and the apartment wasn’t even a little bit cold.
“I’m emailing a friend of mine. Jon Rudnick. We used to serve together. Now he owns a private security company. My teammate’s brother works for him. So do a couple of other guys I know who got out. Jon’s good and I trust him. He’ll be able to get something installed at your place, maybe even tomorrow.”
“But I think I’m going to look for a new place and move as soon as my lease is up.”
“Good. That sounds like an excellent idea. Someplace safer than that damn place you’re in now. But until then you need something in place to protect you.”
“Okay. I agree. But is it going to be very expensive, do you think?” Jessa braced for his answer.
He let out a cuss. “You need this. I’ll loan you the money if you can’t afford it.”
Shocked, she said, “Will, no—”
“Jessa, listen to me. I’ll make sure Jon knows it’s only temporary and that you don’t need Fort Knox level shit, but that you need to be secure. It shouldn’t be too expensive. I promise. Okay?”
Finally, she agreed. “Okay.”
“Good. I’m emailing him your contact information so you can coordinate a good time for him to get in there.”
Jessa sighed, knowing Will was right and she needed to get this done right away. “All right.”
“And I know I can’t tell you what to do, but please reconsider my offer. I really don’t think you should spend another night in that apartment alone.”
“But it might have been nothing. Really. Maybe they were just
lost or looking for their friend’s place.”
Will cussed again. “Jessa, you don’t really believe that, do you?”
He was right. She hung her head in defeat and admitted, “No.”
“Then grab what you need, leave the lights on inside when you go, but get your ass over to my place right after we hang up.”
She drew in a breath. She would feel better not being here, but still . . .
Apparently, she took too long to consider, because Will said, “Jessa, I’m serious.”
“Okay. I’ll go over.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight.” In spite of herself, she smiled at his persistence.
“Good. Do you know the address?”
“Yes. I—” She was about to say she’d dropped off Sara there once but decided to not remind him of that. Instead she shifted away from that topic and asked, “How will I get in? Do you have a hide-a-key?”
He snorted at that. “No. And you shouldn’t either. Please tell me you don’t have a spare key to your apartment stashed somewhere outside where anyone can find it.”
“No, I don’t.” But only because the spare key was in the glove compartment in the car, which probably wasn’t much better in Will’s opinion, so she didn’t mention it.
“Good. Anyway, I’ve got a lock with a code on the door so you don’t need a key.”
“Let me get a pen and paper and I’ll write it down.” She grabbed both from the kitchen drawer and said, “Okay. Go ahead.”
“It’s one-zero-two-five.”
Hand paused over the paper Jessa stopped writing and put down the pen. She didn’t need to write down the code to remember it.
She’d never forget it.
Ten twenty-five. October twenty-fifth. “Sara’s birthday,” she said aloud.
After a pause, Will let out a breath. “Yeah. I need to get around to changing that. It’s just such a pain in the ass to recode it, I haven’t bothered.”
Jessa nodded, even though he couldn’t see the action. “Sure. I understand.”
She understood more than he knew. He wasn’t over her sister. Sara was still a huge part of his life. Right down to the code he used every damn time he walked in the front door.
Jessa would have to make sure to remember that. Not that she could forget. She’d be reminded each time she opened his door that she was nuts for even letting herself entertain the idea of Will Weber.
That alone was enough to change her mind. “You know what? I’m just being silly worrying. I’m sure it’s perfectly safe to stay at my place.”
“Jessa. Stop. You’re worried and rightfully so. Until Jon puts in that system, I’m worried for you. Just use my damn place so we’ll both sleep a lot better. It’s sitting there empty. Believe me, it’s not a problem.”
Not a problem for him maybe. Definitely a problem for her and her ill fated crush on a man still in love with his ex, her sister.
Drawing in a breath she weighed the options one more time. Sit up all night at her own apartment, scared out of her wits or sleep in the bed of the man she had an unhealthy attraction to while surrounded by reminders that he’d spent four years loving her sister.
Hell of a choice.
Finally, practicality won out. “Okay. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. Anytime. I mean that. Anything you need, just ask. If I can help, I will. You know that.”
Yeah, she did. Will was kind and giving and generous and too damn good to be true.
That was exactly the problem.
CHAPTER 10
Will had been making huge headway on his app—midnight in a hospital was a surprisingly good place to get work done—but that phone conversation with Jessa blew his concentration right out of the water.
Jesus, he needed to convince her to move out of that place sooner rather than later. Even one of Jon Rudnick’s security systems wasn’t going to make him feel much better about her living there alone. Not after at least one robbery that he knew of, and there could be more he didn’t know of.
It wouldn’t be hard to find police reports if there had been more break-ins in the area. He’d look into it. But maybe even the one break-in would be enough to get her out of the remainder of her current lease early.
Will sighed.
There wasn’t much more he could do from Maryland. He’d already emailed Jon all the information he’d need. He would follow up on that with a call in the morning. And he’d convinced Jessa to stay at his place tonight.
He felt the need to follow up on that too, because he didn’t trust her to actually do as she’d promised and head right over to his apartment. The sweet, silly woman was always so worried about putting him out.
Will typed a quick text into his phone telling Jessa he wanted a reply the moment she was safely inside his place.
That done he tossed the cell onto the bed. He leaned back in his hospital chair and rubbed his tired eyes. It wasn’t the worst place he’d ever caught some shuteye, but it was far from the best.
He’d long ago kicked off his sneakers, so he flipped his sock-covered feet up onto the mattress and tried to get comfortable.
“Hey. Can’t an old man get some rest without you young folk bouncing around on the bed?”
Will’s eyes flew wide. His feet slipped off the mattress and landed flat on the floor as he sat forward. “Oh, thank God, you’re awake.”
“Wasn’t going to sleep through a visit from my favorite grandson. He only visits once a year nowadays.”
The older man’s voice was weak and rough—no doubt his throat was dry from days of being unconscious and sustained on IV—but the slowly grumbled complaint was the best thing Will had heard in days.
He reached for the pitcher of ice water he’d been shamelessly drinking since he’d finished his own bottle of water and poured a fresh cup for his grandfather.
Will moved to sit on the bed. Holding his grandfather up with one arm, he lifted him high enough to sip from the straw.
The offering didn’t alleviate his guilt. What the old man had said about his visiting only once a year was close enough to the truth to make Will ashamed of himself.
“I know, Gramps. I’m sorry. You know how it is.”
His grandfather coughed once, before saying, “I know. No rest for the wicked so there’s none for the good guys either.”
The man spoke the truth.
“Yup. Even so, I’ll try to visit more.” He’d come too close to losing this man. He was too grateful to still have him around to take him for granted again. Will eased him back onto the pillow. “I should call Mom.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s late. I don’t want to wake her.”
He coughed out a short laugh. “I meant I need a little peace and quiet before she comes screeching in here bothering me.”
Will chuckled. “All right. But I do need to tell the nurse you’re awake.”
“Only if she’s a looker. Otherwise, I’d rather not be bothered by her either.”
He shook his head. Typical Gramps. Barely conscious for a couple of minutes and he was already calling the shots, ordering everyone around, and making bawdy jokes. But Will reminded himself the old man wasn’t out of the woods yet. He was still weak. There was no power behind his usually booming voice.
Will let out a breath. “Seriously, Gramps. You gave us a scare.”
“I feel pretty good now.” He lifted one snowy brow.
“I’m glad.” Because the old man certainly didn’t look good. Will kept that opinion to himself.
His grandfather patted his hand. “Talk to me. How are you?”
“I’m good. Couldn’t be better now that you’re awake.”
“How’s your girl? You gonna give me a great grandchild while I’m still around to meet him.”
“Um, yeah, about that. Things didn’t work out with her.”
“Hm. Sorry to hear that.” The old man lifted bloodshot eyes to meet Will’s. “You ne
ed to talk?”
“Nope.” Will shook his head, leaving no doubt about that.
“Good. I hate that heart-to-heart bullshit.”
Will laughed. “Yeah. Me too.”
“When I get out of here, how about we take a six-pack to the lake and wet a line? That always makes me feel better.”
He smiled at the idyllic image. “Sounds good.”
That’s where he and his grandfather were completely alike. They’d both much rather throw back a cold one in peaceful silence while fishing than talk about loss or love, although the doctors might have something to say about that plan.
His grandfather caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall and frowned. “Why are you here so late? Jesus, was I that bad that y’all were taking turns on death watch?”
There was too much truth in that guess, but since that wasn’t the only reason Will was still there he said, “Actually, I was working on something. I got so absorbed I didn’t realize how late it had gotten.”
The old man shook his head. “You always did get involved with your computers. A bomb could go off next to you and you wouldn’t have flinched.”
Since that had actually happened, more than once since he’d joined the teams, Will only nodded and smiled.
“What’re you working on? Something top secret?” The old man waggled his eyebrows. “Can I see?”
“If it were top secret I wouldn’t be working on it here. And yes, you can see but you wouldn’t understand it if I did show you so I’ll just tell you what it is.”
“All righty, smarty pants. Tell me.”
“It’s a new kind of dating app.”
“Ah, so you’re getting back on the horse already and looking for a new girl. But did you have to invent a new dating app just to do it?”
“It’s not for me.” He’d rather die than let his friends or family choose his women for him. “It’s for Amanda, and yeah I did have to invent a new kind because that girl can’t be trusted to choose her own men, so my new app lets us choose for her.”
“Us who?”
“Anyone she gives access to.”
“And who we choosing from? Those yahoos on that matchmaker place?”
“What do you know about Matchmaker.com?” Will asked, laughing.