Chapter 9 #2
She stepped back and went to the window, then turned toward him.
“You know as well as I do, he’ll know it’s not you.
You’re too well known. With me, they might get away with using a decoy, but I still think my way is better.
I believe it’s the only way we’ll be able to get him.
He’s too smart, Chase. Look at all the years you’ve been looking for him and haven’t found him.
Now, we have a real shot at putting him away.
You know I’m right.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Do you have a better idea? Something that will work? Right now, he’s looking for me. He’s not looking for you…yet.”
He ran his hands over his face. “If I’d had a better idea, we’d already have implemented it.”
She walked back toward him, stopping about a foot away. “You know this has to happen. We can’t move forward until he’s behind bars.” Or dead. I won’t say that out loud, but those are the only two choices.
“All right. I’ll consider it, but not until you are healed. You get your stitches out in another week. While I admit you are doing amazingly well, we’ll let the doctor decide if you’re fit for duty.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Fit for duty? I’m not in the military, nor do I work for you. I could just go home now and wing it without you. I told you I know how to use a gun, even have a conceal carry permit. I’m good with it. Maybe I’ll get the drop on him before he gets it on me.”
Chase approached her with dark, narrowed eyes and his mouth in a firm line. “You will not place yourself in danger like that. Do you hear me?”
She grinned. “You care.” Meri rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him. “I’ll compromise and wait to see what the doctor says, but we will not tell him about the plan. I’ll simply see if he’ll release me for work.”
He turned and walked to the window, his body shaking. Then he turned back toward her. “You are the most exasperating, irritating woman I’ve ever known.”
“And you are the most arrogant, pig-headed man I’ve ever known.”
He returned his gaze out the window. “If we do this and I say if, you have to follow my instructions to the letter.” Then he rounded on her. “Can you do that? To the letter?”
She wrapped her right arm around her torso. “I can and I will.” She wouldn’t tell him her stomach was roiling, and all she wanted to do was lie on the bed in a fetal position. She must stay strong. They needed to put an end to this terror.
Chase walked over to her, grabbed her upper arms and then gently wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She started to wrap her arms around his neck, but a sharp pain in her left side stopped her. “Oww.”
He immediately stepped back. “I’m sorry.”
Meri pressed a finger into his chest. “Don’t you dare be sorry for holding me. I won’t hear of it. Understand?”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
Stepping back, she turned and headed for her room, talking to him as she went, her right arm making circles over her head. “I am putting my sling on. My side hurts and I haven’t been using it enough.”
Chase watched her go. How would he keep her safe? From him?
His feelings for her were wrong and more intense than he’d ever felt in his life.
Far surpassing his feelings for anyone else, even Paige.
How could he let the woman he loved put herself in harm’s way?
Another way had to exist. He’d been doing everything he could to get the assailant to come out.
He did everything with no bodyguard, from walking around town doing grocery shopping, to sitting in City Park on a bench reading a paper.
All of his actions trying to get the man to come after him.
But he didn’t. No one so much as looked at him funny.
Meri returned to the living room wearing her sling. She walked over to the sofa and flopped down. “Are we eating in here or in the kitchen or at the table?”
“I think we should eat at the table,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “I’m afraid if we eat on the sofa, you’ll fall asleep. You have had little rest since you were released.”
“I’ve had things to do, but now that I’m settled in here, I’ll get more rest.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his gaze.
She stood. “I will. I promise.” Then she stalked away and into the kitchen. “Speaking of rest, I think you’ll have to freeze the meat for the meatloaf. I won’t try to do it one handed and right now, I’m too tired to think about making it tomorrow.”
He followed her. “That’s fine. I’ll do it after dinner.”
She walked to the cupboard, took out a large, stemless wine glass, and set it on the counter. Then she picked up the bottle of Malbec and poured a serving into the glass.
Given her mood, it surprised him she didn’t fill the glass.
She lifted the glass. “Would you like one?”
“Please. But aren’t you still taking pain medicine?” He leaned against the counter next to her, his hands flat on the surface behind him, and one eyebrow raised.
She took a deep breath and handed him the glass she’d just poured.
Then she got another of the wine glasses and filled it with water.
She lifted her glass for a toast. “Here’s to catching murderers.
” She clinked her glass against his and took a sip.
Then she slipped past him, padded back to the living room, sat on the sofa, and put her feet on the coffee table, forgetting about dinner. She pointed at her feet. “Do you mind?”
He shook his head. “Be my guest.” Chase sat next to her right, took off his shoes, and put his feet up by hers.
“What are we doing, Chase?”
“What do you mean?” He knew she didn’t mean sipping wine on the sofa. He wanted her to take the lead in this conversation, so he didn’t reveal too much of his feelings.
“Us.” She waved her right hand back and forth between them. “What are we doing? Neither one of us should think of a relationship, and yet I am. And I would bet my trust fund, if I had one, that you are, too.”
He leaned back, resting his head on the back of the couch, and looked at the ceiling. “I’d be lying if I said a relationship with you hadn’t crossed my mind.” Sitting up, he set his glass on the table and took her right hand in his, tugging her close. Then he put his left arm around her shoulders.
With a sigh, she rested her head on his chest.
“We’ll figure it out. I admit you’re very special. I’ve felt the tug since I met you, but I wasn’t, and still don’t know if I am, ready for another relationship.”
“You haven’t had one since Paige, have you?” She leaned back and placed her hand flat against his heart.
“No. Hookups now and again, but not a relationship, and I sure don’t want us to just be a hookup. You are so much more and deserve more than that.”
He lifted her chin until she looked up. Lowering his head, he stopped mere breaths away from her mouth, “So much more.” His lips claimed hers even though he called himself ten times a fool.
His blood seemed to boil as he kissed her.
His whole body was alive. More alive than he’d been in a long time.
He couldn’t resist her for an hour, much less for days. What would he do with her? How could he keep her safe and still lure out a maniac?