I feel like breaking something. “How much time are we talking about? And how’d you know I killed Glenn?”
Her brows pinch together. “You confessed when they picked you up. You don’t remember?”
“Look …” I stare at her pointedly, sitting up. “There are people I need to talk to. When are they planning to lift this restriction?”
“I told you. When you’re cleared,” she says like it’s obvious. “And when they’re positive there are no other hits on you.”
“Glenn’s dead. Valdez is in prison. I don’t understand.”
Tilting her head, obviously annoyed with me, she says, “They both had an army of men working under them. It wouldn’t be safe to go back to your old life right now. If anybody wanted to find you, they could.”
“You’re saying I can’t go home? Fuck that! I thought this was over.” I rake a hand through my hair.
“They’ll put you up at a hotel somewhere under a different identification. But it’s only until the investigation’s complete. It’ll be fine.”
“Fine for who? What about my girlfriend? I’m stuck in this bed, while she’s dealing with her father’s murder. She needs me! Who the hell’s going to watch out for her, if I’m shacked up in a hotel?”
She works the details in her head then stands up. “So there is a girlfriend.” She brings her face close to mine. “You lie,” she says, slowly scanning my face.
I stare right back. “I want to know she’ll be safe.” My jaw clenches tightly. “Is she going to be in danger?”
“Are you willing to stay away from her?” She arches a brow.
“They can’t keep me from her. I won’t do it.”
“Guess she doesn’t mean that much to you then.” She backs away. “’Cause if you care about this girl, you’ll leave her alone until they clear you.”
“Luke, is everything okay?” Lauren asks, walking in with my frozen yogurt, clearly noticing the tension. Her eyes flick from me to Rachelle, then she glares at her. “I need to speak with my brother in private now,” she spits out, throwing Rachelle’s words from earlier back at her.
Rachelle purses her lips, raising her eyebrows at me, like she expects I’m going to defend her.
“She was just leaving.”
It’s been nearly three weeks since my father passed away, and life is slowly returning to normal. Gia, Pam, and several others helped plan a beautiful ceremony for the funeral. When the service was over, we gathered for a memorial dinner that Pam held in her home. I got to see some familiar faces and listen to stories about my father that I hadn’t heard before. As sad as it’d made me to hear them, I’m so happy I did.
I’d finally heard back from my mother a couple of days later. She had taken the news hard, apologizing for not being here. We’d talked for close to an hour, taking turns sobbing while I explained all that had happened in the hospital. At the end of our conversation, she told me she loved me, but she wanted some time to cry alone while Tim wasn’t home. We haven’t spoken since.
Right after changing into a cotton sleep shirt and comfy shorts, I hear a knock at the front door. Sean and I are watching a movie tonight—probably a horror flick since it’s his turn to pick. He owns practically all of them.
I tread down the hallway, past the kitchen and through the living room, finally reaching the door by the second knock.
Swinging it open, I exhale. “Sorry. I was changing.” My eyes widen at what I see.
“Hello gorgeous.” Sean stands there with a smile, holding a bouquet of pink roses in one hand, a bag of groceries in the other. He’s got his hair gelled high, even though it’s short. He’s wearing a light blue t-shirt and jeans that fit his body nicely. He seems to be in an extra good mood tonight.
“Are those for me?” I grin, reaching for the flowers.
He curiously watches my reaction. “Do you like them?”
“Of course. They’re beautiful. I’m just surprised. Thank you,” I reply, taking them to the kitchen to put them in some water. “Why did you buy them for me?” I regret the question as soon as it leaves my mouth. I know Sean has feelings for me that go beyond our friendship. He’s made no practice of hiding it.
He’s right behind me with the groceries, setting them on the counter. “Why not?” He pulls out a couple pints of ice cream. “Cookies ‘n’ Cream, right? That’s your favorite?” he asks, nudging me with it.
“Yeah,” I say awkwardly. We’ve spent a lot of time together the last few weeks, but tonight feels strangely intimate. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that just yet. The pain from Luke is still fresh. It’s going to take some time for me to heal completely, and I don’t want to hurt Sean in the process. Snapping out of my thoughts, I tell him, “Again thank you. It’s very sweet.” Maybe I’m making this bigger than it is.
“You’re welcome,” he answers, scooping out a bowl of ice cream for himself. “By the way, I hope you like The Notebook ‘cause that’s what I brought.” Taking a bite, he walks right over to the couch and plops down on it.
“Did something hit you over the head today?” I tilt my head, scooping out my own bowl before scurrying over to the couch, sitting down beside him. “We never watch chick flicks together. Are you feeling okay?” I mockingly place my hand on his head to check for a fever.
With a mouth full of ice cream, he laughs. “I’m feeling fine. I thought I remembered you saying you liked The Notebook so I brought it. I actually like the movie.”
Biting my bottom lip, I say, “What about the flowers? I’ve never asked you for flowers.”
He shrugs. “So I bought you flowers. You deserve them.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, you do,” he says seriously, then asks, “What kind’s your favorite?” He flashes me a dimpled smile.
“I like the kind you bought me. Roses are beautiful,” I tell him, not wanting to hurt his feelings.
He’s not buying it. “No. Honestly,” he says, shoving another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. “Tell me the truth.”
“Okay fine,” I reply. “I love calla lilies. They’re my favorite.”
“Good to know.” He nods. “Thanks for being truthful. I’d rather not waste money buying you something you don’t like.”
“You don’t have to buy me flowers. Really, you don’t.”
“I know I don’t have to.” His brows pinch together as he stares into his bowl. “I want to.”
My heart swells from his honesty. If he wants to buy me flowers, how can I stop him? I pause, appraising him for a moment. “Thank you, Sean. You’ve been such a good friend.”
“You’ve already thanked me three times. Let’s start the movie. I got a late night tonight.” He lifts his chin. “Still catching up on work.”
“Sorry.”
Sean didn’t make it through the movie. He’d fallen asleep with his head on my shoulder. His small snores were what clued me in, and I felt bad waking him up, but knew he still had some work to do. He fell behind, and I feel partly responsible for it. Now he’s ready to head home, and we’re standing in the front of the house, enjoying the beautiful weather.
“I talked to Thomas today … the guy with the FBI,” I note, kicking some rocks away from the walkway.
“You did?” He runs a hand over the top of his head.
“Yeah, I’m bugging him, but I don’t care.”
With his eyebrows quirked, he asks, “Did he tell you anything new?”
I lick my lips. “Just that the investigation is almost complete. Like last time, he reassured me the person who shot my father is deceased. Told me to call him if I had any more questions.” I shrug. “I’m sure I’ll call him again.”
“He was your father. Don’t worry about bugging him.” He tilts his head, taking a step toward me.
“I’m not.” An unexpected breeze passes over us, causing a chill to run through me. I slide my palms up and down my arms, warming myself up.
“Here,” Sean says, coming closer and sliding his own h
ands over my skin. “That better?”
My gaze flicks up to his. “Yes. Thank you.”
“That’s four.” His mouth tips as he stays in the same spot.
“What?” A moment later I grin, realizing it’s the fourth time I’ve thanked him tonight.
“You know what.” He chuckles softly, still running his hands over my arms. “I’m going to show you how a woman deserves to be treated. You’ll see …” He narrows his eyes on me. “That Luke guy’s a loser. How’d you ever end up with him anyway?”
“Sean, please don’t even go there,”
He stops me. “Just hear me out on this. Please.”
It’s hard to turn him down when he looks serious. “Go ahead,” I tell him quietly, hoping he doesn’t ask something I’m not ready to answer.
He gazes deeply into my eyes. “I know you’re not ready for a relationship right now, and I understand that. But if I want to buy you flowers, let me buy you flowers. Let me take you to places you’ve never been. Don’t you think you deserve that?”
I nod slowly. “No, you’re right. I—”
“He abandoned you, Reese. He discarded and abandoned you, but you still love him. It’s clear all over your face.”
I flick my eyes away from his. “I can’t just snap my fingers and turn off my feelings,” I reply, unsure what else to say. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
His eyes soften. “There’s nothing wrong with you. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Can you consider giving us nicer guys a chance? I’ll wait until you’re ready. You’re worth it to me.” He sighs, looking up at the sky. “Just tell me if I’m wasting my time here.”
I blink once, maybe twice. “No. Believe me, Sean, I’ve thought about it. I think maybe with time we—”
“Shh.” Smiling, he leans down and plants a soft, lingering kiss right on the lower part of my jaw. I hadn’t expected it, but it felt nice. “That’s all I needed to know,” he says, pulling back.
Then I stand in stunned silence and watch him walk away.
“You about ready?” I say to Chance, with a pat on top of his head. We’ve been living at the Westin in Scottsdale for about three months now, and it’s been rough on both of us. After I’d gotten out of the hospital I told them to get me a place that was pet-friendly. There was no way I was leaving my dog with Rachelle for all that time. He’d made that clear when he jumped into my arms, knocking the wind out of me on Rachelle’s tiled floor.
After nine additional arrests, and Isabel’s sworn testimony, I’ve received my keys to freedom. If Isabel weren’t such a hard woman to track, this investigation would’ve been wrapped up over a month ago. Turns out, she and her kids were in Mexico with a family friend, trying to start a new life. Starting over there probably made her feel safer.
I did spend a little time with Rachelle. Being holed up in this hotel made her feel sorry for me, so she came by a few times with dinner and played with Chance. He doesn’t seem to mind her, and I’ve learned she isn’t as bad as I made her out to be. I was pissed at what she said—that if I really cared about Reese I’d avoid her—but in all honesty, she was right. Her safety had to be my priority, so I had to keep away from her.
Chance sits back on his hind legs and watches me.
I stand in front of the mirror one last time, working over the details in my head. I’ve been dying to see Reese. I miss her and the way her big eyes light up when she looks at me, like I’m her favorite person in the world. I miss the curve of her mouth when she smiles, and the way it turns down when she’s frustrated with me. I miss everything that is Reese. I don’t want to lose her. How will she ever forgive me? Will she understand? I can’t even forgive myself for bringing her father into this mess. Will she look at me the same way? Or will the death of her father be all she’s able to see? I never expected things to come to this. And though it’s been a few months, I can still barely stand the sight of my own reflection.
I don’t know where her heart is at anymore. All I know is I can’t stay away from her any longer. I’m ready to go home.
“C’mon boy. Let’s go.”
This week has gone by in a flash. Tonight, Pam insisted I leave work early to take advantage of having my place to myself. Logan and Gia decided on a camping trip for the weekend, because the weather here is way too hot. I won’t have to deal with Logan’s dirty looks or snide remarks for a whole two days, which is enough to keep me smiling. I may end up buying a couple gallons of ice cream and plop myself down on the couch all night—watching chick flicks and getting fat.
As I walk toward my house I see several tiny lights twinkling through the window. That’s odd. Once I’m close enough I get a better peek. A countless number of candles flicker from everywhere inside. I unlock the door and open it, confused. “Hello?” I call out. “Is anybody here?” My eyes fall to the ground. Rose petals in every color line the floor.
I carefully step inside without an answer, hesitating as I walk through the entry. Trying not to crush the colorful petals, it’s hard to avoid them; they’re everywhere. “Logan?” Would he have planned something for Gia and not told me?
I check my cell phone for missed calls or messages, but there aren’t any. “Logan?” I call again, wondering if maybe they changed their minds about leaving. In the back of my brain I think of the possibility that this could be Sean’s doing. He’s never gone to this extreme, but things have started picking up between us recently.
I’d finally let him kiss me last week. We’d spent the whole day together. He’d walked me to my door, looking nervous like a boy on a first date. Something melted inside me. He’d been so patient with me, but I knew what he was battling with on my doorstep. He didn’t want to push me. “Kiss me,” I’d told him. And that’s exactly what he did. It was tender and sweet, but when he pulled away, I was breathless.
He grinned. “That was some kiss,” he’d replied, his eyes sparkling.
“Did I just walk into the wrong house?” I glance around, seeing my chair and my couch. This is definitely my house. “Hello!”
A small square card rests on top of the counter, my name scrawled on the front of it. Once it registers that all of this is for me, my nerves start to consume me. I’m excited and scared at the same time. After reaching for the card, I tear it open.
In bold, it reads:
Dinner on the rooftop, 8:00.
Wear the dress.
Placing the card against my chest, I think, what dress? Confused, I make my way into my room, where a large rectangular box with a red ribbon tied around it is lying on top of my bed. I debate on whether to open it, thinking this is all too much, then again, it makes him happy to do these kinds of things for me. So of course I’m going to open it. I pull off the lid.
A crimson-colored fabric lies inside, a halter-style dress with the back cut out, designed to accentuate my curves. Wow.
Carrying it into the bathroom, I try it on in front of the mirror, turning from front to back. It looks as if it was tailored to fit my body. To say I’m impressed would be an understatement. It’s the perfect mixture of classy and sexy. “Looks like Mr. Lawyer has been doing his homework.”
I turn on the shower, then carefully slip out of the dress and hang it up in my closet. Taking two steps back, I admire it for a minute, when another box on the closet floor captures my attention, this one smaller than the last. When I open it, there’s a strappy pair of heels peeking out at me, obviously bought to match the dress. I laugh out loud. Is this really happening? Sean must love to shop, which I hadn't known about him.
After lathering my body with soap, I stand under the spray thinking about all that’s happened in the last few months. I’d finally told Logan and Gia that Luke and I were over, though I didn’t offer any details.
It happened about a month ago. We were all sitting in the family room, and Sean had his hand on my thigh. I hadn’t even noticed it there until Logan went off on him, saying something like, “I suggest you find another place for your
hand. Don’t forget who she belongs to.” Needless to say, I was mortified. After I snapped and told him it was over, he seemed to shut up about it.
When Gia asked about it later I told her it was too exhausting to explain, and honestly, it didn’t’ matter anymore. She responded with a sad look in her eyes and pulled me into a hug. She hasn’t brought it up since. She knows it’s bad, but she doesn’t know how bad it really is.
Rinsing all the soap off my body, I turn off the water and wrap myself in a towel. I only have thirty minutes to get ready, and the butterflies continue to build with every second. I put on my dress and turn on some music for a distraction. My mind is spinning with thoughts of what might happen later.
Finishing my make-up, I apply a light stroke of gloss along my full lips before stepping into my strappy heels. I blow out a breath and glance over my outfit one last time, pleased with what I see. When I check the clock, it’s time to go. Excitement fills me, and I flick off the light—stepping on layers of petals as I make my way out. I grab a bottle of my favorite cabernet out of the kitchen, then make my way out the door.
As I reach the top of the stairs, my mouth nearly drops to the cement. The view is stunning. I can’t believe the work he put into this. Candles line the perimeter of the entire patio, and there’s a table set for two in the middle, covered in dishes of lasagna, salad, and bread. A single, white calla lily rests on one of the plates. I pull out the chair that sits in front of it, setting the bottle of wine in the center.
“Sean,” I gasp, as I hear footsteps approaching. “This is incredible.” My breath catches when I lift my gaze. “Wh-what are you doing here?” I choke, barely able to speak. “I … I thought you were—” I hold my hand over my chest, my eyes widening. My heart is thumping to the point where it probably isn’t safe.
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