Chapter 2
Two
Erin was just about to retrieve Chester’s leash when someone knocked on her door.
She grabbed her phone so she could check the doorbell camera she’d had installed.
After dealing with a ruthless killer several months ago, she felt much safer being able to tell who was outside.
She clicked on the camera’s icon. Adrian.
She got up and hurried to the door, self-consciously straightening her hair and pulling it down on one side to hide the scar on the side of her face.
Adrian knew about the wound she’d received from a vicious gang member’s knife in St. Louis when she was a cop, but she was still sensitive about it.
Thankfully, she’d put on her makeup this morning.
She used a concealer that worked pretty well.
It was difficult to see her scar unless you were looking for it.
She wished there were some kind of concealer that worked on the wounds inside people.
“Hey,” she said when she swung the door open.
“Hi. Just checking on you.” He smiled, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. “Are you all moved in?”
“Yeah, finally,” she said. “I’ve got some coffee on. Would you like a cup?”
“Sounds good. Jake’s in the car. Okay if he comes in?”
Erin laughed. “If I don’t say yes, Chester will pout the rest of the day. Please get him. I have some of those special treats he likes.”
“Okay, but I can’t guarantee his manners. He gets pretty excited when he’s around his new friend.”
“I know,” Erin said. “It’s fine. I love his enthusiasm. You know, I planned to take Chester for a walk this morning. After our coffee, are you up for it?”
They’d actually gone on several walks. It was becoming a habit that Erin really enjoyed.
“Sure,” he said with a smile. “It’s a beautiful morning.”
“Great,” she said. “I’ll get your coffee while you get Jake.”
“Sounds good.”
Erin went into the kitchen and got a cup out of the cupboard.
One thing she hadn’t gotten rid of was her coffee cup collection.
She had way too many, but she enjoyed collecting them.
She grabbed one that had Cup of Happy written on its side and poured some coffee into it.
She didn’t add anything to it. Adrian liked his coffee black, just the way she did.
Adrian came into the kitchen, but Jake, his golden retriever, had stayed in the living room with Chester.
Since the kitchen and living room weren’t divided by walls, Erin could see the dogs smile at each other as their wagging tails signaled their pleasure at being together again. Erin handed Adrian his cup.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m used to drinking my coffee as quickly as possible.
It’s a skill I’ve had to learn as a police chief.
I’m usually just trying to get a fast jolt of caffeine.
Seems like there’s always something that needs to be done immediately.
I think I’ve lost the ability to linger over a hot cup of coffee.
” He looked at his watch. “Hopefully, we’ll have plenty of time for our walk. I keep waiting for my phone to ring.”
“And you can’t turn it off since you’re the chief and have to be reachable at all times, right?”
Adrian nodded. “Yep. Thankfully, most emergencies in Sanctuary are usually lost pets or tracking down guests who’ve stolen towels from the resort.”
Erin laughed and glanced over at their dogs. They both knew what the word walk meant. Their impatient expressions were truly comical.
“We’ll go in just a minute,” she said soothingly to them. She looked at Adrian. “Do you think they understand me?”
“I’m pretty sure they get the idea. I have to ask Jake to wait quite a bit. He’s used to it, but he certainly doesn’t like it.”
Adrian sat down at the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.
Erin loved the way the rooms were constructed.
It made it easy to talk to guests while preparing food or drinks for them.
She almost laughed out loud as she admitted to herself that she didn’t actually have many guests.
Kaely Quinn-Hunter, her friend and research partner for her books, and Adrian.
That was it so far. She still wasn’t ready to reach out to the people who lived in Sanctuary.
She liked some of them, especially the cops who worked with Adrian.
Maybe someday she’d make more friends, but for now, she was content just spending time with Chester .
. . and Adrian. She really did miss Kaely and wished she were closer.
The drive was a little over seven hours from Sanctuary to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where Kaely and her husband, Noah, lived.
Faster by air, but Erin wasn’t keen on flying.
Ever since the night that changed her life, she’d been plagued by claustrophobia.
Spending time in a metal cylinder, unable to escape, frightened her beyond words.
At least the agoraphobia that had crippled her for so long had lessened some.
She was now able to go into town for groceries and other things.
There’d been one episode when she’d had a panic attack, but she’d been able to pay for her groceries and leave before it got too bad.
Not being able to breathe was the worst part.
She was actually terrified she might pass out in front of people.
She’d kept an image of the cabin in her mind, assuring herself that she had a safe place to go.
A place where she could lock the door and be secure. It had helped immensely.
Chester was also a big help. Except for places where dogs weren’t allowed, he stayed by her side whenever she left the cabin.
She was convinced that somehow, he understood how she felt and was determined to protect her.
Anytime she began to feel panicked, he’d move closer to her, even leaning up against her to let her know he was there.
Kaely was the one who’d initially given her the courage to face her fears, but Chester had taken up the mantle when Kaely went home.
Erin was a little worried about what she’d do when it got hot.
She wouldn’t be able to leave Chester in her car.
At one time, she’d reasoned that if she left the air-conditioning running, he would be okay.
But then she read an article about a police dog in St. Louis that was left in a car while the officer went inside somewhere.
He’d left the air on, but without his knowledge, it had turned off.
The dog had died. Erin could never take a chance like that with Chester.
Of course, she was usually only gone from her car no more than ten minutes, wherever they went.
Still, she was concerned. The few times she’d left him alone in the cabin for a short time had caused them both distress. Now, she tried to avoid it.
“How’s your coffee?” Erin asked.
“Perfect,” Adrian said, taking a sip. “Your coffee is so much better than mine. What brand is it?”
“I special order it,” Erin said, telling him the brand name. “I know it’s probably silly, but my coffee is important to me. I can skimp on almost anything but that.”
Adrian laughed. “The generic stuff I get from the store doesn’t hold a candle to this.” He took another sip and sighed. “You really do get what you pay for.” He grinned at her. “I may have to stop by more often. For coffee, I mean.”
Erin shrugged. Her heart beat a little faster as she said, “Any time. I never go anywhere—except when I walk Chester or go to the market.”
Adrian appeared to study her for a moment before saying, “Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Erin picked up her cup of cold coffee so she’d have something to hold onto.
She’d promised herself that after losing Scott, she would never get involved with another man.
She had no desire to ever be that vulnerable again.
But police chief Adrian Nightengale was making that vow a little tough to hold onto.