Chapter 12
Emma was feeling morethan a little wigged out about the break-in, but she was trying not to let it show. She was trying to be logical. She didn’t want to stay in her apartment, but knowing Blaze was here and she could call him, she thought maybe she could manage it. She’d lock the door, wedge the chair beneath the lock, and try to sleep.
She wouldn’t sleep, though. She would lie awake all night, coming out of her skin at every creak and groan of the building. She was used to old buildings, and she knew how much settling they could do at night.
Still, it wasn’t going to be easy when every creak meant she’d picture Simon creeping closer and closer, his palm wrapped around the butt of the pistol he’d threatened her with the day he’d hit her. She hadn’t told Blaze that part. She didn’t think she could. He would want to know why she hadn’t called the police for that alone.
She had no excuse other than she’d believed Simon when he’d told her if she did, he’d make sure she regretted it.
He’d said even if they arrested him, he’d be out on bond because he had no record and was a good citizen. That’s when he’d find her and make her wish she’d kept her mouth shut.
“I can’t impose,” she said, her throat tight.
Can’t impose?She heard the words leave her lips and felt the panic tighten her gut. What else could she do but impose?
“Honey, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this apartment could house a whole family. There are three bedrooms, and two of them have beds. You can shut yourself in and lock the door if you like. You can have the bath in the hall, and I’ll stick to the one in my room. We don’t have to see each other until morning.”
She didn’t miss that he’d called her honey. She should say something about that, but she didn’t actually want to. There were far more important things to worry about. Plus, she kinda liked the way he said it and the involuntary thrill that slid down her spine.
She could get a room at the Wheeler Inn, which was the closest motel to Sutton’s Creek, but her parents would find out because Celia Lincoln would call and tell them. She’d been managing the Wheeler Inn since Emma was in diapers, and she wouldn’t miss a chance to gossip about Emma’s presence. Her parents would ask questions, and then what?
“I need to get my toiletries and clothes.”
“Sure. You also need to check your belongings and see if anything is missing. If so, you might want to fill out a police report. You could do that anyway for the break-in.”
He said it gently, as if he expected her to say no. Her heart skipped. How unreasonable must she seem to him?
“I’ll see if anything’s missing. If not, I don’t want to call the police.”
If she did, the whole town would know within hours. She wasn’t ready to face that kind of scrutiny unless she had to. A picked lock with nothing missing wasn’t enough. She didn’t know if it was really Simon anyway. Was she supposed to tell Chief Vance that she had a feeling? How would that sound?
“Okay. Then I’ll go over with you and stay in the hall outside while you get your things. When you’ve got everything, we’ll come back here. It’s that or tell your friends, because staying in a compromised location is not an option.”
She stood, determined to get this over with. He was right. Only an idiot would argue with him.
“Then I’m choosing get my things for a thousand, Alex.”
He arched an eyebrow. “A Jeopardy joke, Doctor Sutton?”
She couldn’t deny the warmth that flowed through her whenever he smiled. “My granny loved it. I used to watch it with her whenever I stayed over at her house.”
“Nothing wrong with Jeopardy.”
He led the way to her apartment, then unlocked the door and swung it open. He didn’t enter, though.
She hesitated. “Please come inside. I don’t want you to have to stand in the hall.”
The man was offering her shelter. It wasn’t right to make him stand outside her door like a sentry.
He grinned at her again. “It’s my job to watch for trouble. I’ll stand in the door while you collect your stuff.”
Emma felt weird going into the apartment, but she pushed her feelings aside and went to get her suitcase and toiletry bag.
She hated Simon. Even if it wasn’t him who’d broken in, she hated that she felt unsafe in the building her family had built. This was home to her as much as her family home, and for the first time in her life she was scared to be alone in it.
It took only a few moments to get what she needed and return to Blaze’s side as a chill she couldn’t shake seeped into her bones.
“Anything missing?”
“No. I only brought my clothes up today. Everything else is still in my car.”
“I can help you with that tomorrow if you like.”
“Thanks, that’d be great.”
She’d feel better getting her stuff out of the car. Maybe she’d go furniture shopping this weekend. Rory was off on Sunday. Emma would ask her if she wanted to go.
Blaze locked the door behind them, checked that it was latched, and they went back to his place. Emma could breathe when she crossed the threshold. Didn’t matter that she barely knew Blaze Connolly and she was spending the night in his apartment. It was safer than being alone.
His apartment was a mirror image of hers. Tall ceilings, plaster moldings, three bedrooms, a main bath and a full hall bath, a kitchen and dining room, a living room, and windows that ran along two sides of the building since they were on a corner. The wall between their apartments was where the bedrooms and bathrooms were, which meant they could be in bed at the same time and only inches apart if he’d put his bed in the logical place against the wall.
Then there was the shower. They could be naked at the same time, only a wall between them as they soaped up and rinsed off and got ready for the day. Emma dragged her mind as far from the thought of Blaze naked in a shower as she could get.
It wasn’t very far. She’d had a couple of lovers over the years besides Simon, but none had been as fit as Blaze appeared to be. That wall of muscle intrigued her more than it should.
“Make yourself at home,” he said as he dropped his keys into a bowl on the kitchen island. “I’ve got sandwich fixings if you’re hungry. There’s beer and water in the fridge. Might be some crackers in the pantry.”
Emma stood in the door to the kitchen with her suitcase and felt her heart start to return to its normal rhythm.
“I ate before I went to the Dawg, but thank you.” She nibbled her lip. “And thank you for taking me seriously earlier tonight when I told you about the feeling I get when I think he’s there. I realize this could have nothing to do with him, but if you hadn’t come to talk to me at the bar, I’d have probably walked home alone. I’m glad I didn’t.”
He tipped his chin. “You’re welcome. Something you should know is that I will always take you seriously.”
Warmth slid into her bones. It was a welcome change from the cold that’d taken up residence there.
“I appreciate that, but the cynic in me feels compelled to point out that some people lie for attention.”
“They do, and I’m pretty good at spotting it. You aren’t looking for attention, Emma. You don’t have to worry I’m gonna think that. I can tell the difference.”
Her pulse throbbed a little faster. “Part of me wants to protest that I’m not that predictable. But that would be silly because I’d basically be suggesting you couldn’t trust me to tell the truth.”
His smile made the butterflies swirl in her belly. “Protest all you want. You aren’t going to change my mind.”
“I’m not going to try, really.” She shrugged. “I just like to point out potential logical inconsistencies when I run across them. Consider it an adorable flaw.”
Dear God, was she flirting with him?
He laughed. “Noted. You wanna stash your stuff in the bedroom and continue this discussion over a beer?”
She told herself she shouldn’t. That she should thank him again, go into the bedroom, and stay there for the night. But she was keyed up, and a beer wouldn’t hurt if she wanted to sleep at any point this evening. She’d had wine at the Dawg, but that was wearing off.
“Sure. Sounds good.”