Chapter 19
“I never want to leave you,” Berkley whispered to Sunshine, who was currently lying on a giant throw pillow next to her, just smiling at her as they lounged in front of the crackling fire.
Nick’s place was impressive, even if it hurt to admit. He hadn’t been kidding about it being secure.
His place wasn’t in the country exactly, but it was on the outskirts of Sanctuary Falls in a neighborhood where each home sat on a three-acre spread.
And since he had a ridiculous amount of cameras set up (he’d shown her) there was no way anyone was getting close to his house without being seen.
His place was set back from the street with a privacy hedge, and just like he’d said, he had a three-car garage.
He’d left out that he also had a gorgeous sparkling, heated pool.
She wouldn’t be getting in it tonight, but this was the kind of place made for entertaining.
He was currently putting something in the oven for dinner—he hadn’t been kidding about having someone cook for him. She could get used to that.
As she continued rubbing Sunshine’s belly, she called Silvia.
“Um, who is that sweet girl in the picture you just sent?”
Oh yeah, she might have texted selfies of her and Sunshine to everyone she knew. She needed to lay the groundwork for when she kidnapped this good girl. Dog-napped? Because Nick who? Sunshine had always been hers.
“My new dog.”
“What!”
“I’m kidding. Mostly. Sunshine is Nick’s golden retriever. You know, if I don’t kidnap her.” She raised her voice, hoping it would carry from the living room to the kitchen where she could hear him moving around.
“Oh my god, I’ll help you. She’s soooo cute and fluffy I want to bury my face in her fur.”
“Get in line,” she said on a laugh before recapping to Silvia everything that had happened.
“Holy shit, B. That’s…not good. And yeah, I know that’s an understatement, but wow.”
“I know. It’s a lot to handle.”
“My number one suspect would be Henry but he’s…” Silvia cleared her throat. “Anyway, maybe it’s, I don’t know, one of the nurses he slept with?”
“That’s a thought… But why would they do this to me?”
“Yeah. I don’t know. I’m just trying to imagine anyone who would want to hurt you like this and I literally can’t come up with someone that makes sense. Maybe an ex-boyfriend from long ago, but why now?”
“I thought about that too.” She had one ex in particular who’d been a born loser.
And that wasn’t something she said lightly.
But everything he touched turned to shit.
She also hadn’t had anything to do with said loser in nine long years.
It would make no sense for him to come after her now.
Also, she couldn’t see him having any patience to drug her and move her to a different location.
Or the brains to plant drugs in her vehicle and call in a tip.
No, he’d be more likely to smash in her windows or something equally destructive.
“I hate that I’m heading out of town… You know what, I can cancel my trip. You should be staying with me, not Nick Storm.”
“No. Thank you, but no. Seriously. I’m actually glad you’re leaving town. It means that whoever is trying to hurt me can’t go after you. How long are you gone anyway?”
“Ah, only a couple days, but I don’t like the thought of—”
“The detectives have things under control. They’re actually trying to find the real killer now instead of focusing on me. And you’re one of my closest friends, something that’s not a secret. Everyone knows I love you and Kendall. It’s better if you’re gone for a while.”
“I…hate that you’re right. Are you sure you’re okay at Nick’s house? I mean, after the way he’s been with you?”
“Yeah.” She lowered her voice. “He’s been a lot different than I expected. I think he’s trying to atone or something for being a jerk.”
Silvia snorted.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just…be smart.”
“Always. Oh, if you get hold of Kendall before me, will you fill her in on everything? I’ve been calling her but she’s not responding. And this is too much to text.”
“I will. She’s been working doubles though and you know how they are with their new cell phone rule.”
Yeah, she did. They were sticklers about the nurses leaving their cell phones in their lockers. Which was bullshit, but also not her problem. “I’ll text her a brief outline just to let her know to be safe.”
“Good. She’s smart about walking to her car with a buddy.”
“I know.” It still didn’t make Berkley feel that much better. Not when some faceless lunatic was out there wanting to hurt her. The next step would be to target people she loved. At least her brothers were all badasses and her sister was the scariest of them all.
By the time they got off the phone, Nick had stepped into the living room, looking gorgeous in the casual clothes he’d changed into. His hair was also still a little damp and he had no shoes on. Seeing him in his home, his element, so relaxed was…making her see him as human.
Which of course he was, but everything about the last few days was a lot to handle. And having Nick treating her so differently, protecting her, was the most shocking of all.
“If you’re hungry, everything’s ready. Or I can bring you food while you lounge with Sunshine.” He raised an eyebrow, looking at the two of them in amusement.
“What do you think, girl?” she asked Sunshine.
Who licked her face in response.
“For the record, I don’t recommend eating on the rug next to her—she’s shameless and will try to steal your food.”
“It’s not stealing if I give it to her, but you’re probably right.” As she got to her feet, her phone rang again, this time her sister. “I need to take this really quick.”
He nodded and headed back into the kitchen where she had the perfect view of him walking away—with the perfect ass—and being all domestic.
Watching him move around in the kitchen was way sexier than it should have been. And the fact that he’d lied to the cops for her today… She was pretty sure she was falling for him without meaning to.