Chapter 8 #4
“Did he get out of jail?” Daisy asked, unable to move until that question was answered.
“No,” Blaine said.
The flood of relief made her knees go weak. David’s arm around her waist helped her to remain standing as he led her into the house.
When she and David were seated on the ragged sofa she’d found by the side of a road two summers ago and Blaine in a rocking chair she had sanded and stained after rescuing it from a yard sale, Daisy braced herself for what she was about to hear.
She was grateful for David’s arm around her as well as the unwavering support he’d shown her throughout the ordeal.
Slowly and gently, Blaine told her what the assistant attorney general had said about the attempted sexual assault charges that were pending against Truck. She’d feared something like this—a technicality that would get him off the hook.
“Without evidence to tie him specifically to the attempted rape,” Blaine concluded, “those charges could be dropped. If that happens, the judge may approve bail while he awaits trial on the assault charges.”
As she thought of Truck going free and coming back to find the woman he blamed for putting him in jail in the first place, Daisy began to tremble. And here she’d thought she was past the fear. Apparently not, if the possibility of Truck’s release made her shake like a frightened doe.
“It’s okay,” David whispered as he tightened his hold on her. “He won’t get anywhere near you. Not while I’m around.”
“We’ll do our very best to protect you, Daisy,” Blaine assured her. “And I’ll keep you posted on anything I hear pertaining to the case.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you coming here to talk to me in person.”
“If you need anything, anything at all, I want you to call me,” Blaine said. “Day or night, I’m available. Don’t hesitate. All right?”
Daisy nodded.
Blaine stood to leave.
“Tiffany is upset about Jim,” Daisy said, apparently taking Blaine by surprise as every muscle in his face turned to stone. “I was with her just now. She was talking to Dan, and she sounded upset. I thought you’d like to know that she might need you.”
“I definitely want to know. Thanks, Daisy. I’ll let myself out.”
When the door clicked closed behind Blaine, David sat back on the sofa and brought her with him so her head was on his chest. “Talk to me. Tell me how you’re feeling.”
“I’m scared, and I don’t want to be.”
“I know it’s really hard, but try not to be. He’s still locked up where he belongs, but if that changes, you’ve got a whole lot of people on this island who care about you. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I’m tired of being afraid all the time. It gets so exhausting.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I’m here, Daisy. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. You’re not alone in this. Not anymore.”
His kind words broke the dam that had been holding her emotions in check. A sob escaped her lips and tears streamed down her cheeks. She’d never had a man in her life who she could truly count on, and here he was, this amazing, sexy doctor offering to be that person for her.
“I don’t want to drag you into my mess.”
“I’m already there, baby, and you didn’t drag me. I came willingly.” He wiped the tears off her face with the gentle brush of his fingers, and then he tipped her chin up to compel her to meet his gaze. “I’m here, and I’m going to be here no matter what happens. I promise.”
Daisy threw her arms around him and held on to the comfort and security he offered so willingly. Did he have any idea how much both those things meant to her? Or that she’d never felt entirely comfortable or secure with a man?
“Can we talk about this dress and how I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw you coming down the street looking so sexy?”
That drew a watery laugh from her as she pulled back from him and dried her eyes. “I wanted to surprise you with something new.”
“You surprised me all right. You surprise me all the time.” He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her face. “You look gorgeous. Even more so than usual.”
“Thank you.”
“I was able to get new reservations at Domenic’s, but if you don’t feel like going out, I totally understand.”
Determined not to let the threat of Truck’s release get in the way of another lovely evening with David, Daisy took his hand. “I feel like going.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure.”
“First things first,” he said, drawing her into a kiss. “I’ve been thinking about that all day.”
“So have I, along with a few other things.”
Groaning from her suggestive words, he kissed her again, longer and deeper this time, until they were both breathless and clinging to each other.
As she stared into his eyes, it became clear to her that she’d never known true desire until she knew him.
“We should go so I don’t ruin all chances of ever getting another reservation at Domenic’s.”
“Right,” she said, shaking off the stupor that accompanied the desire.
He helped her up and drew her into his embrace. “Everything’s going to be okay, Daisy. We’ll see to it, okay?”
She nodded and held on tight to him—and his assurances.