by Jessica Ames
“No,” he says, “but I have sway with some people who will definitely be willing to do some digging around.”
“Who?”
“My brother’s old team.” He’s already pulling his cell out of his jeans pocket. “They run a security firm now, mainly military contracts and bodyguard stuff, but I’m sure they can help.”
I perch on the edge of the couch as he gives me his back, as he talks into the phone.
“Hey, Curt,” he says into the handset. Then he pauses. “Yeah, I know. I’ll try to get up to see you, Dana, and the kids as soon as I can, but right now I need your help.”
I listen as he relays the issues I’m having to his brother, and hearing them makes me wonder yet again if I’m being crazy. What if this is something of nothing?
Then they won’t find anything…
But what if it is something and you ignore it?
Chills crawl up my spine and settle in my stomach. I rub at my swirling belly as Chris says his goodbyes and hangs up.
“Curt’s going to speak to Ian and the others then he’ll call me back. You’re going to need to tell them everything about the flowers, the keys… all of it. Any weird things that have been going on, about your relationship with Milo or anyone else.”
“There is no one else… well, apart from you, but you’re obviously not involved.”
His face pulls into a scowl. “Don’t rule anyone out just because you think they’re your friend. Right now, everyone is a potential suspect.”
Another shiver rolls up my back. “I hate this.”
He goes down on his haunches in front of me and rubs my legs. “I know, but we’ll figure it out. What time is Bekah back at?”
“Uh, she’s got the graveyard shift all this week.”
“So, you’re going to be here alone?”
The thought does terrify me a little, but I nod. “I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
I blink at him. “What?”
“I’ll stay.”
“Chris, you can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have your own life to get back to and you don’t need to deal with my drama.” An ugly feeling slithers into my gut. “Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this… me and you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed by my life is kind of a disaster right now.”
His face contorts into an angry grimace. “I’m not walking away from you, April. Not while you’re in trouble.”
I push up from the couch, needing some space from him, so I can think properly. “Which is exactly why we should call it quits. This is never going to work while I’m in… whatever trouble this is.”
He comes to his full height. “If you think I’m going to leave you to deal with this shit alone, you’re wrong. I’m in this now, and I’m not going anywhere. And you’re not staying here on your own. I’ll take the couch tonight and any other night Bekah isn’t here.”
His words make my legs unsteady. “You’ll stay here?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. I’m not leaving you. And I mean it when I say I’ll stay on the couch. This isn’t some ploy to get in your panties.”
Heat floods between my legs at this statement. I want him in my panties, but I keep this to myself.
“Okay then. I would really like you to stay, because I’m kind of scared out of my mind.”
20
Chris
April gets me pillows and blankets for the couch, although she hesitates a little, and I’m not sure if she’s reluctant to have me staying in her living room or if she’s reluctant to have me on the couch.
Either way, this isn’t about getting in her pants—I meant that when I said it. I’m here to keep her safe and nothing else. I take the pillows from her with a smile.
“Thank you.”
“I think it’s me who should be thanking you. I’m sure you had better things to do tonight than babysitting me.”
I cup her face with my hands and press a kiss to her mouth. She melts into me as my mouth brushes softly over hers, and I love how soft she is, how pliable.
“Keeping you safe is my only priority.” And I mean it. This is the truth.
All I care about is keeping her whole while discovering who is fucking with her, and I have no doubt someone is fucking with her. I’m not sure they want to hurt her, but let her know they’re here, absolutely. Why, is a deeper question and one I don’t have an answer to.
After seeing her ex with her, I’m convinced this is something to do with him. He’s clearly having trouble letting go of her—not that I blame him for that, but I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to let her go in the first place. April is amazing. She’s kind, caring, intelligent and she’s stunning. Even now, her thinly applied mascara smudged under her eyes, and her hair coming loose, she looks beautiful. I’m not sure she realizes how attractive she is, and I worry that has put her on the radar of a psycho.
She stays standing in front of me, wringing her hands a little as she shifts on her feet.
“You okay?”
Her head bobs. “Yeah, I’m fine. Um… I’ll let you get some sleep then.”
“Night, April.”
Her nose wrinkles. “This wasn’t exactly the end I planned for this date.”
“What was?”
“You kissing me senseless and me being on cloud nine for the rest of the night.”
I grin and step into her space. Then I kiss her like she’s my lifeline. My tongue swipes down the slit and her lips part to give me access. I dive right in, my tongue finding hers immediately. Her movements are a little hesitant, but mine are anything but. I take what I want, and I take more than I should, given the circumstances, but I can’t help it. She tastes like heaven and feeling her softness against me has my cock hardening in my jeans. I want to have her, but tonight is not the time—not when she’s shaken up. I can’t wait to have her, though. When she’s ready, it will be divine, I’m sure of it.
Then again, if she keeps leaning into me the way she is, and making those little moans of pleasure, I might not be able to keep being a gentleman. She’s making my cock painfully erect. I pull back from her with monumental effort.
“Go to bed, April.” My voice is low, husky, and it has her biting her lip.
“Okay.” The whispered response has me gritting my teeth. She’s a temptress. “Goodnight, Chris.”
“Night, sweetheart.”
I watch as she heads off in the direction of the stairs, my heart thrumming in my ears. The urge to go after her is intense, but I refuse to go there. Tonight, she’s scared and needs my reassurance, not to be preyed upon.
I wait to hear her bedroom door click shut, then I toe my boots off and lay back on the couch. I don’t undress, in case I need to move fast. I’d prefer not to wrestle a suspect in my underwear.
I’ve been lying there maybe an hour when I hear a scream.
I’m up and racing up the stairs to April’s room without thought. I push inside and expect to see her being attacked. I don’t expect to see her curled up against the headboard, her eyes wide with fear.
“April?”
Her breaths rip out of her in heavy pants as her eyes come to me. Then she’s off the bed and flinging her arms around me, sobbing into my chest.
I want to clear the room. Training urges me to make sure it’s safe, but she’s hanging off me like a limpet and I can’t remove her hold. I don’t want to. She clearly needs the comfort and I’m more than willing to give it to her.
Stroking her hair, I make soothing noises.
“What happened?”
“I had a dream… There was someone in the yard, watching the house...”
She tenses in my arms, and I squeeze her gently to let her know she’s safe, I won’t let anything happen to her. Then carefully, I extract her from my neck, but keep a tight hold on her as I move carefully to the window. Peering around the edge of the frame, I glance out into the garden and see nothing but flowers and lawn.
“There’
s no one out there, sweetheart. It was just a dream.”
Tears roll down her cheeks, and I sit on the bed, tugging her back into my arms, murmuring, “It’s okay.”
“Who is doing this? And why?” Her sob nearly breaks me, and I vow in this moment I’ll do everything I can to make things right for her.
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”
I run my fingers through her hair until she’s calm again. When she stops hiccoughing, I kiss her forehead.
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”
She shakes her head. “No way can I sleep now. I don’t even want to be alone right now.”
I know what she’s asking. I should say no, but she’s standing there with a tear-stained face, her eyes puffy from crying, asking me to comfort her in her time of need, and I can’t bring myself to deny her.
I nod. “I’ll stay with you.”
I help her into the bed and climb in the other side. It’s not comfortable with my jeans on, but I don’t plan on sleeping tonight, so I don’t worry too much about this. I just want her to get some rest.
As soon as I’m comfortable, I pull the covers over us both and tug her into my arms. She comes willingly and snuggles against my chest.
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a pest.”
“You haven’t been. I’m just sorry this is happening to you, but we’ll figure it out, sweetheart. I promise.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.”
I wait while her breathing evens out and finally she falls asleep, wrapped around me.
21
April
I wake to an empty bed. A feel of the sheets tells me he’s been gone for a while. It’s cold on his side of the bed.
His side of the bed…
Yikes, I’m reading far too much into this. Two dates does not mean a relationship, and he most definitely does not have a side of the bed. He doesn’t even have a key to my place, and we’re not ready for that yet either.
I lie for a moment, my eyes feeling gritty from exhaustion and crying last night. I’d managed to relax with Chris in the bed with me, but I’m already sleep deprived. One night doesn’t make up for the weeks I’ve tossed and turned into the early hours.
I also can’t believe I cried on him. What was I thinking?
Well, I wasn’t thinking at all. I was terrified. My dreams are plagued with horrible scenes that scare me half to death. I wish they would figure out who is doing this, so I can get back to normality, but the police currently have no leads, no evidence, and no ideas, which means I’m stuck living in this nightmare indefinitely, wondering what surprises will happen next.
Since I can’t lounge around in bed all day, I head for the shower. Once I’m clean and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans with an oversized tee, I head downstairs. As I do, the smell of food filters up to me.
Is he… cooking?
I find Chris in the kitchen at the toaster. He glances up as I enter and his entire face softens. This makes my belly warm.
“Hey, morning.”
I’m not sure what the etiquette is for sleepovers on the second date, so I give him a smile.
“Morning.”
He holds his hand out to me, taking control of the situation, and I move to his outstretched olive branch. As soon as my hand touches his, I’m pulled into his arms and kissed senseless. My legs wobble under the intensity of his mouth, and when he moves away, I’m breathless. The man certainly knows how to wow a woman.
His eyes roving over my face. “Did you sleep better?”
I nod. “Yeah, thank you so much for last night.”
He presses his lips to my temple. “You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always take care of you.”
The sincerity with which he says it makes me believe he will.
“I know, although I wish you wouldn’t. I feel terrible dragging you into my disastrous world.”
“I’ve dealt with worse. Much worse. Your dramas are small potatoes in comparison.”
I’m happy to hear that, but it still doesn’t make me feel good about bringing him into my mess.
“You know, you can still walk away. I wouldn’t blame yo—”
His finger comes to my mouth, silencing me. “Don’t even say it. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Chris—”
“I mean it, April. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not leaving you to handle this shit on your own.”
I wish he would. If something happens to him because of me, I’ll never forgive myself, but Chris isn’t a man who likes to hear what he can’t do, I’m coming to realize. The man is stubborn to a fault, so I don’t bother arguing with him.
Besides, as selfish as it is, I feel better knowing he’s around. When Bekah has to work nights, the house feels too big, too open, and my mind starts playing tricks on me. I start hearing the usual noises of an older house as something sinister, and then I can’t sleep.
Chris being here was the first proper sleep I’ve had in a while.
I duck my head, pressing it against his chest, and cling to the sides of his tee like he’s my savior. In reality, he just might be.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but I need you to let go, April. The toast’s going to burn.”
I release him, giggling a little. “Oh, well, that would be a calamity, wouldn’t it?”
“It would. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“I haven’t eaten it since I was a teen, but I have to admit, I’m hungry this morning.”
I’m also hungry for him, but I keep this to myself.
He turns back to the toaster and the stove, where he has eggs cooking, and gives the food his attention.
“You look beautiful this morning,” he says suddenly.
I blink and then flush. “Oh… thank you.”
“That embarrassed you?”
“No. I’m just… not used to being complimented, I guess.”
Milo certainly wasn't big on shows of emotion. He barely told me he loved me, which makes sense, I suppose, because I doubt he ever did. He couldn’t have if he cheated so easily.
He’s about to respond when there’s a knock on the front door. My eyes skitter to it before coming back to Chris. As I start to rise, intending to see who is there, he puts a hand out, stopping me.
“I’ll go.”
“Chris—”
“This is all part of keeping you safe.”
“It’s only the front door.”
“Are you expecting someone?”
“Well, no, but—”
“But nothing. Wait here. Keep an eye on the eggs.”
He pops the toast. I want to bristle at his bossy command, but I know he’s just trying to take care of me.
Instead, I watch him leave the kitchen, peering around the frame to see if I can glimpse who knocked. I have a slither of a view, most of which is Chris’s back. It’s a good back, but I’m intrigued to know who is at the door.
The voices start soft, but then become loud until I hear the very familiar dulcet tones of my ex-husband demanding to know where I am.
Fudge!
I push up from the table and rush out of the room. I’m not sure what to expect, but it’s not my ex looking homicidal while Chris casually blocks his entrance by simply placing himself in the doorway.
Milo spots me, and his anger morphs into irritation.
“Oh, April, darling, there you are. Can you make this Neanderthal move, so I can come in?”
Why he wants to come in, I don’t know. I have nothing to say to him and he has no reason to be at my house. All our dealings are usually conducted in public, so him coming here is not usual, nor is it welcome.
“Why do you want to come in?” I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.
I don’t miss the fact Milo’s eyes dip to my breasts. Luckily, Chris does because he’s looking at me. I don’t think that’s the kind of thing he’d let slide by.
&n
bsp; “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“The house stuff.”
I let out of a huff. “I’ve told you repeatedly where I stand on that.”
“And I’ve told you why we shouldn’t do what you’re talking about.” His eyes slide to Chris. “Are you fucking him?”
I blink. “Oh my God!”
Mortification crawls all over me as Chris growls low in his throat.
“Is that really an appropriate question to ask your ex-wife? To ask any woman, in fact,” Chris snaps, his entire body wired tight.
Milo ignores him. “Well? Are you?”
“That’s really not your business.”
“He’s here at barely nine a.m. I’d guess you’re together.” He tears a hand through his hair. “Seriously, April, what are you thinking bringing strange men to your house?”
I push around Chris and step between him and Milo, because while I don’t think Chris is a violent person, Milo might just push him over the edge.
“First off, who I’m with has nothing to do with you. You gave up that right when you brought that woman into our bed. Second off, where the hell do you get off turning up here and giving me crap about who I’m dating? Third off, he’s not a stranger. I’ve known Chris for a long time.”
Milo’s face contorts for a moment before he manages to get it under control again. “Just because we’re not together anymore, doesn’t mean I don’t care about you, April. I don’t want to see you making mistakes.”
I clench my jaw so tightly my teeth feel like they might shatter. “The only mistake I’ve ever made was marrying you.”
This time it’s his jaw that is clenching. “I gave you everything!” he snarls out. “You ungrateful bitc—”
Chris places a hand on Milo’s chest and pushes him back. “You’re done here. Stay away from April.”
“You don’t get to make that decision.”
“No,” I say. “He doesn’t, but I do, and you’re done here.” I repeat back Chris’s words. “And I’m done with you.”
22