Daria didn’t know what she had expected. It was ridiculous, Kevin sitting outside in his SUV by the curb day in and day out, the two of them dancing around each other, playing this game. She needed to do something. Something physical.
Daria had always made out a list of chores that needed to be done, items she needed to pick up at the store. It kept her organized. She liked the predictability of that, needed it when she’d been little. It was easy to forget something important. Since they moved so often, she didn’t always have the opportunity to go back and do things again.
She grabbed the day planner and list from Kevin’s hands. “Don’t you have a girlfriend? A life? Something that’s missing you?”
“No, yes, and no, unless you can count my houseplants, which have seen better days, too. But they’re use to being deprived of nourishment.” He pulled open the driver’s side door and stepped aside. “Just for the record, I’m choosing to do what I want with my life. And for today, that means being with you. Do have a problem with that?”
“As a matter fact I do.”
“I can’t imagine why. I would think you could use that extra hand while you’re working on the house.”
She balled her fists at her side. “Stop it, Kevin. I don’t like being played with.”
“I’m trying not to do that. If I didn’t care about you at all, I would have taken you up on your offer last night without a thought about the consequences. But I do like you. Although with your bad temper, Iâm not sure why.â
âI donât have a bad temper. Iâm just annoyed. I think I have a right.â
âFair enough. But I want you to know that Iâm not the kind of man who takes sex lightly. I could be. Iâm a man. I donât deny I wanted you last night. Badly. I still do. But Iâve seen enough assholes over the years and I donât want to be one.â
He wasnât. Daria knew that.
âItâs been so long since Iâve seen a gentleman that I didnât recognize it.â
He smiled at her attempt to apologize. âI’m offering to spend the day helping you in whatever way I can. Because I like being with you.”
“As long as it doesn’t involve you, ah, sleeping on my sofa?”
His eyes flared with heat. “Exactly.”
“You really want to give up your day off to help me with the house?”
He shined one of those high voltage smiles again. “Itâs more than just a day off.â
âIt is?â She gasped. âOh, they didnât fire you, did they?â
He laughed. âNo. I just realized something last night.â
âWhat was that?â
âIâm not superhuman.â
She cocked her head to one side and feigned surprise. âYouâre not?â
âNo. Iâve taken a leave of absence. Vacation time. Lord knows I have enough of it. My falling asleep on you last night, getting so wrapped up in this case the way I have, trying to do it all, has shown me just how dangerous I was being when the reason Iâm here is to keep you alive.
âI know if you could get away from your ex you would. But until that happens, we’re left in a precarious situation. From now on until you’re able to leave, I’ll get some sleep during the day while you’re at work. And Jake has agreed to take the lead on finding whatever he can dig up on George. When you’re home, I’ll be here. Maybe over the next couple of days we can figure some things out. Itâs what Iâd wanted to talk to you about last night. Maybe we find something we can use to get your ex-husband in jail. That has to be our focus for now. So I’m all yours today if you need help working on the house.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. Why do you have such a hard time accepting help from other people?”
âI have a hard time with it. Iâm sorry.â
âEveryone has something to work on. See? Weâre already good for each other. Weâre learning things about ourselves.â
âYeah, if you say so.â She rolled her eyes as she smiled at him. âThank you.â
âYouâre welcome. I think it’ll be kind of fun. I’m looking forward to seeing you in a little tool belt and a pair of work boots.”
A grin tugged at her cheeks, one that she forced not to become a full-fledged smile. “And is that your secret fantasy where woman are concerned?”
“Lady, I think we’ve established that I’ve had a whole lot of fantasies watching your bedroom window.” He swallowed and his face grew serious and tight, as if he’d crossed an invisible line and he needed to backtrack. “But none of them involve a tool belt or work boots. My aim is to keep today completely fantasy free.”
“Damn, you’re strong. I don’t think I can handle that.”
“Truth be known, I’m not sure one or two little fantasies won’t creep their way into my day. But I’m sure going to try to fight them off. By the way, what are you getting at the home improvement store today anyway?”
“Some sheetrock to replace the mammoth size whole in the wall the plumbers made when they ran the new plumbing. I was working on squaring things off last night so I could see how much I needed to get. A new windowpane and glazing so I can get that eyesore of plywood out of my front window. Oh, and new locks for the front and back doors.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here. You need an extra hand for all of that.”
Daria had wondered how she was going to struggle with a 4 x 8 sheet of sheetrock all by herself and then lift it into place without any equipment. If Kevin was going to be her shadow, he could be a huge help too.
She climbed in the truck and reached for the door, slamming it shut. He stared at her, his eyes unreadable. He was going to follow her to the store. That much she knew. He’d followed her to work every day this week and then managed to be at the curb every evening and again in the morning when she pulled the curtains aside as soon as she woke. He was going to follow her to make sure she was safe and nothing was going to change that.
“Get in,” she said, gunning the engine.
Kevin walked over to the driver’s side. “Scoot over.”
“It’s my truck.”
“I’ve seen the way you drive this thing,” he teased.
*
They spent little more than an hour at the home improvement store. Daria had to admit it would have taken her twice as long if Kevin hadn’t been there to help her lug the awkward sections of sheetrock onto the dolly, maneuver it through the store and out to the truck. He’d barely needed any help from her to lift each sheet and slide them into the truck’s bed.
“Hello, Daria,” she heard from behind. The familiar voice had been comforting at one time. But now, hearing George’s voice sent a chill racing up her spine and made her knees grow weak.
She swung around quickly, but Kevin had already straightened his spine and stood rock solid a foot in front of her like an armored tank. From his profile, he looked lethal.
George eyed Kevin hard and then dropped his gaze to Daria.
“You’re still fixing up that old relic, I see. Living your dream,” he said, smiling.
Daria had never really noticed it before, but she realized his smile was anything but sincere. His tone was bright and cheerful, his posture relaxed, but everything else screamed he was putting her down, looking down at her. He’d never shared her dream of finding an old house and making it their own. He’d placated her, telling her one day they’d have a home, but each and every time she’d scour the newspaper or drive street to street in search of something affordable, he ‘d always put her off.
She sighed. There were no regrets. Their dreams were different. It was a simple sign that she’d ignored that they weren’t meant to be a couple. Well, no matter. She’d rectified that mistake by divorcing George. She’d moved on with her life.
Kevin scowled, bu
t remained silent. George smiled. Daria sighed.
“Well, we have to be going,” she said at the same time George uttered, “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Daria said, shifting in her place. Why on earth was she so nervous? She’d spent nearly five years married to this man. She’d vowed to spend the rest of her life with him.
And he’d offered an undercover police officer fifty thousand dollars to kill her.
Looking at George now, Daria still couldn’t believe it. But she knew it was true. It was the why she couldn’t figure out.
“Awkward times, I know. It’s bound to happen when we run into each other,” George said with sigh. “Did you know we were married for five years?” he said, looking at Kevin.
“Four,” Daria corrected before Kevin could respond.
“No, my darling. We never got a chance to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary together, but we most certainly were married five years.”
There was no malice in his tone. He was simply correcting something factual that was important to him and not to Daria.
“You’re right, we were separated. Our divorce was final a few weeks later.”
She glanced at Kevin and saw he hadn’t moved. He was like a formidable statue, stone cold and unmovable.
George lifted his shoulder, his hands hidden deep in the pockets of his tweed blazer. “So, are you two an item now?”
“None of your fucking business.â Kevin ground out. “You’re divorced, remember?”
“How could I forget?” For a split second, George’s eyes turned to ice. It was something Daria had never seen in George before.
It was natural for an ex-husband to be a little jealous when he saw his ex-wife with another man. Wasn’t it? But George had crossed the line.
Daria felt her skin crawl with fear.
âYouâve been spending time together,â he added.
“I’m her bodyguard,” Kevin said.
George’s laugh was like nails against slate, grating on every nerve ending in her body.
“That’s an interesting way to put it. I didn’t realize you were into fantasy role-playing, Daria. If you’d let me in on that little secret, maybe we’d still be married.”
Anger coupled with humiliation washed over her in a tidal wave of force. She stepped forwardâto do what, she didn’t knowâbut Kevin’s quick outstretched arm shielded her from going any further.
“Get in the truck, Daria,” Kevin said through clenched teeth. “We’re done here.”
She stared at the two men, a war raging inside her. Kevin didn’t need her protection against George. And George? He wanted to kill her. It didn’t make any sense. She still couldn’t believe it. Nothing about this man standing in front of her was menacing.
She climbed into the truck and locked the door, her hands trembling on lap. For first time, she felt scared enough to run.
Kevin climbed into the truck as she watched George walk away toward the back of the parking lot.
“What did he say?”
Kevin glared in George’s direction. “He gave me a line about donating blood.”
She glanced across the parking lot to the blood-drive mobile. George was walking in that direction.
“Itâs not a line. Ever since I’ve known George he’s donated blood regularly.”
“All of the sudden heâs a good Samaritan?â
âHeâs afraid of tainted blood,â Daria said. “He’s been afraid of germs and catching something ever since he was a kid when he had leukemia.â
âHe had leukemia?â
âThat wasnât in his file?â
Kevin shook his head.
âHe had a bone marrow transplant. His parents had an awful time getting a donor. They did find someone though.â
âNeither one of them could be a donor for him?â
âGeorge was adopted.â
âThat wasnât in his file either.â
âEvery few months he goes to donate blood and has it frozen in case he gets leukemia again and needs it.”
“Interesting. I’m surprised he’s risking a donation at a blood-mobile in a parking lot instead of at a sterile hospital.”
“I’m finding out that George is full of surprises.” Daria watched George’s movement in her rearview mirror. “What did he mean about you being under scrutiny?”
“He’s playing with me.”
“Kevin, do you think he knew about…”
“Me being at your house? I donât know. As far as I know he hasnât been near your house.” Kevin shook his head. “Ski was watching him. Carlisle was home last night and never even went for his walk. The night guard verified it.”
“Maybe he was just fishing.”
âMaybe.”
Daria’s blood turned cold. “Do you think George will follow us?”
Kevin took his eyes off the road for a brief moment and looked at her. The ferocious look on his face told her that for George’s sake, the answer had better be no.
Chapter Eleven
The tulip bulbs she’d spent hours selecting and then planting early last month had been uprooted yet again before they’d had a chance to take root and show their glory. Daria’s spirits plummeted even further as she stepped out of her truck. Her mood hadn’t even had a chance to level itself off after seeing George at the home improvement store. Now this.
As she heard Spot’s barking in the next yard, Daria realized the dog must have broken free from his chain again while they were gone. He probably had a field day digging yet another huge hole in her flowerbed.
“Damn,” she said, mostly under her breath. Tears filled her eyes and her bottom lip trembled as she eyed the destruction of all her hard work. She clamped her teeth over her lip before Kevin came up beside and noticed the mess out back.
“Mrs. Hildebrand insists she keeps Spot on the chain all the time, but somehow he always manages to break loose and make a mess over in my yard.” Daria shook her head and blew out a quick breath. “Hasn’t she ever heard of a leash law?”
“Want me to arrest her?” Kevin said.
Startled by his response, Daria snapped her gaze at him, saw the slow smile that pulled at his lips and the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
The tension that had plagued him throughout the ride back from the home improvement store was now gone to Daria’s relief.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Knowing Mrs. Hildebrand she’d just end up baking you some cookies and youâd set her free.”
“She does make some mighty fine cookies.”
Pushing a lock of hair out of her face, she grimaced. “My every attempt to beautify my yard seems to be a waste of time. Sometimes I wish she’d just get rid of that dog.”
Kevin glanced over to the holes dug in the ground.
“The woman can’t see beyond her front porch and she’s afraid to go much farther than that because of the vandalism over the last few years. She told me about the neighborhood kids breaking into her house while she was home. It shook her up real bad.”
Feeling guilty, Daria said, “I didnât know that. She probably has Spot for protection. Even though he isn’t much of a watchdog, he is sweet. When he’s not messing up my yard.”
“And she’s an old lady who needs the companionship.”
Daria smirked. “Okay, you’ve sufficiently made me feel guilty. I don’t know how since it’s my garden that keeps getting torn apart.”
“Maybe you should get a fence. Spot can’t dig into your garden if he can’t get to your back yard.”
Daria glared at Kevin. “I don’t want a fence. I want to be out in my yard and feel the space around me. Well, okay, maybe the yard isn’t the biggest, but I don’t want to close it in. I just want Spot to dig in Mrs. Hildebrand’s garden for a change, instead of mine.” She sighed with a laugh. “Oh, never mind. It’s useless.”
Stomping up the back porch, she
slipped the key in the deadbolt on the back door. Try as she may, it wouldn’t budge. Frustrated with fighting the same irritations, Daria yanked hard on the knob and let out a grunt of frustration, already knowing it wouldn’t open because she hadn’t managed to unlock the deadbolt.
“I oiled this thing last night and it had worked perfectly fine for me then.”
“You just need to put a little more pressure on it.”
“I’ll break the key if I force it any more.”
“Here, let me try.”
They were standing so close. Any other time Daria would have stepped aside, but she remained rooted in place. Her initial annoyance now vanished, she simply nodded.
*
Kevin was standing so close to Daria that he could smell the scent of the shampoo sheâd used this morning. He was dying. If he didnât get the damned door open, heâd die. But it wouldnât budge.
On a gust of breeze, the sweet scent of her drifted to him and drove him wild. Daria smelled too damned good. Nothing heavy or fancy. It was light and airy, much like the world Daria surrounded herself in. It was all Kevin could do to keep his mind on this stupid deadbolt and not reach out to touch her.
He remembered the feel of her hands on his face as he’d been sleeping last night. He’d pretended to be asleep, willing himself to stay in a dream state because it just felt too good. Leaving her on her doorstep last night was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He thought he was losing his mind and called Jake, who, thank God, had offered to rescue him from his torture.
Sure all he needed was a good night sleep and a cold shower, Kevin had gone home to the apartment he hadn’t seen for more than a few minutes in over the last few days. He needed some sleep and a little clarity. He’d woken this morning convinced he had everything under control.
What a fool he’d been!
Kevin stepped in front of her, facing the door.
“It’s jammed,” he said, keeping his face to the door.
Kevin inspected the lock and began to jiggle the key.
“Have there always been scrapings around the keyhole?” he asked.
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