Chapter 10
“Tracker, it doesn’t make sense. What she told me earlier this morning isn’t here in the file you sent me.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Cap. That’s everything I could find on Emma Sullivan of Bell Ridge, Texas. It’s all laid out there for you.”
“We’re missing something.” How could her background check only mention her mother? Not a divorce, or a new marriage. Just Emma Sullivan and Mary Sullivan. Sebastian had a sinking feeling the woman in his bed was hiding something. Just how big of a something was still to be determined.
“You know, it struck me as a little weird that most of the information I could find on her was when she got to Bell Ridge.”
“What does that mean?”
“I hate to say it, but it’s almost like her record is too clean, too ordinary, before she landed there. I’m sure there are people out there who don’t start living until after college, but it’s rare Seb. Most people have a parking ticket, or a traffic violation. Even an infraction from partying at school. But she has nothing.”
“So you think, what? She’s using an assumed identity?”
“I don’t know. But if she is, she just messed up by telling you about her stepfather. I can easily search his name, and any marriage records associated with him will give you her mother’s name, and then boom. You’ve got her real identity.”
“Shit.” Sebastian scrubbed his hand over his chin. “I have a feeling that if she had to change her identity to get away, it’s a really big deal that she told me. I’m not going to press her right now, Gage, but I need you to get me all the information you can about him. And I guess that means giving me any information you find out about her mom and Emma, too.”
“Yeah, absolutely can do, Cap. Might take me a few days, but I’ll send everything I find as soon as I can.”
“Good. And listen, I need you guys to wrap up what you are doing in D.C. in the next two days and get your asses down here.”
“Agent Wilson won’t like that,” Gage sighed into the phone.
“I don’t give a fuck. The priority right now is protecting Emma. You can still work on Agent Wilson’s pet project from here, and if he needs you guys in the field, we can rotate through who goes and who stays. But like I said, she is my only concern right now.”
* * *
“Good morning, Sprinkles.” Emma cracked open one eye and groaned.
“What time is it?” She was thoroughly trying to ignore Sebastian standing in front of her in nothing but his pajama bottoms and failing miserably.
“Just before ten.”
Her eyes flew open.
“TEN IN THE MORNING? Sebastian!” Emma jumped out of bed, swaying as her blood rushed from her head and pain throbbed in her leg.
“Whoa.” He grabbed her arms before pushing her back down onto the bed. “Yes, ten in the morning. Why does that matter?” He scooped her legs from the side of the bed and made sure she was lying down.
“You shouldn’t have let me sleep so late. I swear I set my alarm for seven.”
“You did. I turned it off.”
“You did what?”
“I turned off your alarm. You heard what the doctor said. Rest, and stay off your leg for at least the day. You barely slept for five hours, Em. There’s no reason for you to be awake right now. Just close your eyes and get back to sleeping. ”
“Jake just has to say things like that. I’m perfectly fine. I need to be at the bakery. What if that man comes back and hurts Melissa?”
“First, I’ve had an associate of mine sitting over at the bakery since it opened monitoring things, and Hank’s had a deputy stationed out front all morning.”
“Oh, well, thank you.”
“Now, there is the minor matter of the new security system we need to install. As the property owner, I’ll need you to sign off on some paperwork before we can legally get started installing the new surveillance system and upgraded locks.”
“Sebastian, is that all really necessary? I have a super tight budget already, I’m not sure I can afford what you are thinking of installing.”
“You’re going to sit here and tell me it’s not?” She didn’t move a muscle, even when he sighed. “Someone broke into your apartment last night, waited for you, and told you they were going to take you to whoever hired them after assaulting you. Don’t worry about the cost, I’m covering it all. I just need you to sign off on the installation.”
Her arms wrapped around her body as her gaze hit the floor.
“You don’t have to do that for me. I don’t want to owe you anything.”
“Sprinkles, you don’t owe me a damn thing. Although, I wouldn’t say no to a second date.”
She smiled. “Still thinking you were charming enough on our first date to win me over?”
“Well, that, and I didn’t hear you complaining about our cuddling once we were in bed.”
“We cuddled? I didn’t know that.” She was lying with everything in her, and the tiny crease that appeared in between Seb’s eyebrows made her want to take it back. Emma knew she never would have been able to sleep if she hadn’t been wrapped in his arms. Why was it so hard to admit that to him?
“If that’s the case, I’m looking forward to making that memory with you, again. In the meantime, I really would like for you to say yes to the new security.”
“I know you’re right,” she sighed. “I just don’t want to live in fear.”
The mattress sank down as Sebastian sat next to her. His thumb lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.
“Then don’t. The measures I’m proposing will give you a buffer. But you need to be smart.”
“You’re right. I’ll sign whatever you need me to.”
* * *
“What has you glued to your phone over there?” They’d spent the whole day on Sebastian’s couch, movie marathon running in the background. Emma wanted to stare out the window at her bakery to see how everything was going, but Sebastian refused to let her walk on her leg. He’d even taken to carrying her to the bathroom and waiting just outside the door for her to be done. Talk about earth-shattering embarrassment.
At least she’d been able to finally look around and see what he had done to the top story of the beautiful brick building. Honestly, his renovations were stunning. The ceilings in his apartment were exposed, lending to the industrial feeling of the building, but the fixtures and finishes he’d chosen were warm and cozy. She hated to admit it, but she could easily fall in love with the space.
“Sorry, just business things.”
“I’ve taken up too much of your time. Why did you have me stay here all day if you had things you needed to take care of?”
“You are more important than anything on this stupid piece of technology. And besides, I’m just answering emails and moving meetings around. It’s nothing.”
“I should go.” Emma grabbed her dinner off the coffee table and walked to the kitchen sink. As soon as she started washing it, the hot water from the faucet splashed onto her shirt and she swore under her breath.
“What are you doing?” Sebastian pressed his body into hers, gently removing the plate from her hand. “You need to stay off your leg.”
She turned, still stuck in the cage his arms made around her. “You’ve made sure I’ve stayed off my leg all day, Seb. It’s okay, I promise. I need to get back to my place and sort through the wreckage.”
He stepped back, dropping the plate into the sink. “Okay, Sprinkles. If that’s what you need, let’s get you home.”
She busied herself with gathering up her phone and purse from the coffee table in the living room. When she looked up, she saw Sebastian standing with his arms extended towards her.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to carry you back to your place.”
“You are not carrying me across the street.” Emma glared at Seb as she stood next to the elevator.
“You want to go home? This is the only way you’re getting there.” His arms extended out like he wanted her to climb on him.
“If this is your way of trying to feel me up after I spent the night in your bed, you better think again.”
“I was a perfect gentleman all night. I think you can trust me to carry you across the street without trying anything.”
“You are impossible. Fine. If it gets me back home, you can carry me.”
“See, now was that so hard?”
“Extremely.”
Emma buried her face into Seb’s chest for the short walk between his building and hers. It was a mixture of being horrifically embarrassed at needing his help, and also the need to soak him up before they said goodbye. Maybe if she could memorize the way he smelled, the way his warmth felt against her, she could recall it later if she was nervous or scared. Her apartment was going to be a mess, and take a ton of time to clean. She just hoped she could find some clean sheets to put on her bed before she fell asleep.
Sebastian pulled a new set of keys out from his pocket in the alleyway next to the bakery, carrying her upstairs and into her apartment. When he set her down on the sofa, she finally pulled her head away from his chest and gasped.
“Did you do this?” Her heart was in her throat as she looked around her sparkling apartment.
“I knew it would be tough coming back and I just wanted you to feel comfortable.”
“I can’t…I mean, I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
The place was spotless. It even smelled like new paint, and she had a growing suspicion that if she touched her walls, she might come away with a messy hand. Sebastian set her down on the sofa, his eyes never moving away from her face.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I feel fine. I’m just a little nervous to be back.” She swallowed down her fears and smiled. “I’m going to take a shower and settle in for the night. Thank you for everything, Seb.”
“Are you sure? Do you need me to stay and help you wrap your stitches? You know Jake said they shouldn’t get wet.”
Emma shook her head. “I can manage. Besides, I’ve held you up from your work all day. Go, it’s okay. I know you’ve got things you need to take care of.”
“I’m just a text or phone call away, okay? If anything comes up, you call me right away.”
“Nothing is going to come up. Look at my door! I think five deadbolts is a bit of an overkill, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t. That’s why I hired that security company out of Dallas to install your new security system tomorrow.” He looked around her apartment and then back into her eyes. “I really want you to stay with me tonight, Em. This is killing me.”
“Sebastian, I’m okay. I will be okay. Hank has a deputy watching the building, so nothing is going to happen tonight. Go. I’ll see you in the morning for your obnoxious coffee order.”
“Fine. I’ll go. But I mean it Em, you call me if anything happens. If you have a bad dream, or if you can’t sleep. If you need help because of your leg. Anything. Promise me.”
“I promise,” she whispered, the anxiety of being alone in her apartment crawling up her spine.
“Good.” Sebastian took two steps towards her and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. He kissed her cheek, setting her skin on fire. Maybe she should invite him to stay…
“Sweet dreams, Sprinkles.”
Too late. She needed to let him go.
Her hand raised to her face, and her fingers lightly dusted across the place where his lips had just been. Emma was sure she looked stunned. The gesture had been so sweet, and filled with such tenderness it was hard not to allow the tears stinging the back of her eyes to fall.
“Goodnight, Suits,” she whispered as he closed the door to her apartment.
Slowly, Emma made her way into her bedroom. Dread filled a pit in her stomach as she thought about seeing the room where she had fought for her life. She wouldn’t back down, she wouldn’t avoid it. If Emma was one thing, it was determined. Determined to not be weak. Determined not to be a scared victim who has to hide away. No. There was no way some masked man was going to take her sanctuary from her. She stood in the doorway and her heart kicked into overdrive.
Her bedroom was completely different. Where her once cozy, yet understated, bed stood was now a beautiful light wood sleigh bed with fluffy blankets and an unruly number of decorative pillows. She had a new dresser, new curtains, even the carpet had been pulled up and replaced with beautiful wood flooring. How had he managed to do this all in one day?
Pulling her phone from her back pocket, Emma typed out her message.
My bedroom is beautiful, but it’s too much. You didn’t need to do all this, Seb. It must have cost a small fortune.
His response was instant.
It’s nothing Em. I just want you to feel safe. Call me if you need anything tonight.
I will. I promise.
And then she quickly added, Thank you for everything Seb. I do feel safe, because of you.
Tossing her phone on her gorgeous new bed, she made her way into the bathroom to shower away the last bits of everything that had happened.
* * *
I do feel safe, because of you…
Those words lit Sebastian’s heart on fire as he sat in the hallway just outside Emma’s door. It might be too much, but even just being across the street from her while there wasn’t a security system installed made him feel sick. He’d spend the night out there in the hallway and just watch over things.
After all, a hallway floor was luxury compared to some of the places his SEAL team had slept over the years.
Folding his arms across his chest as his eyes drifted close, Sebastian listened as the pipes in the building quieted. Emma must be finished with her shower. The idea of her just behind the wall he was leaning on, naked and wet from the shower, with wispy steam tendrils wrapping around her had his blood rushing south at an uncomfortable pace.
What had gotten into him lately? Sebastian was not a man to fall for a woman so easily. In fact, despite what all the gossip magazines would have people think, he was not a playboy at all. Sure, he took a different woman to all his charity events, and that probably appeared to be a player thing to do, but he was actually just never interested in taking any of them on a second date. Winning that auction date with Emma was the smartest thing he’d ever done.
Drifting closer to sleep, he thought about what he could do to make their second date even more memorable than a trip to the west coast for a sunset dinner at a vineyard. Did she have her passport? Maybe he could take her to Mexico for a tequila tasting, or to Scotland to taste some scotch. They had such a nice time at the vineyard, it might be fun to keep that theme going. His mind wandered around the world until the call of sleep pulled him away.
A scream woke him. Where was he? His body ached as he tried to place his surroundings. Emma’s hallway.
Emma!
Jumping to his feet, he slammed his body into the door as another scream pierced the air. How had someone gotten by him? The door was clearly still locked, so they couldn’t be inside..could they?
Sebastian slammed his body into the door again, but it didn’t budge. Damn, maybe Emma was right, the five locks were enough. Sebastian felt the familiar buzz of his cell phone ringing in his pocket.
“Sprinkles?”
Nothing. He could hear her breathing on the line, but she didn’t say anything.
“Emma? Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“I-I can’t…someone…”
“It’s okay. Take a breath and come to your door. I’m standing just outside in the hallway. Come let me in.”
Her shaky breath was quickly followed by the sound of footsteps and the deadbolts sliding into their unlocked position. Emma opened the door, letting her cell phone fall to the floor before jumping into Sebastian’s arms.
He carried her back inside, locking the door before he walked over to her sofa and sat with her snuggled on his lap. There was no way he was letting her out of his arms now.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“It was just a dream. Just a stupid dream. I’m not going to fall apart because of a dream.” It sounded more like she was talking to herself than to him.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t talk about it.”
“How did you get over here so fast?” she asked, face still buried in his chest.
“I was sleeping in the hallway.”
“No, you were not!” She finally looked at him. “Oh my god, Seb! You did not need to do that.”
“I wanted to be right here if you needed me, but I knew how important it was for you to be in here on your own, too.”
“Yeah, a lot of good that did me.” Her head landed back on his chest and she snuggled down into him again. “Since you’re here, and I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to fall back asleep unless I stay cuddled close to you, would you mind…I mean, I feel like you would be more comfortable and I know I would…Oh Jesus, I’m just rambling.”
He placed his thumb under her chin and tipped her face towards his. “Emma, can I stay with you tonight?”
The relief in her eyes was instant. “Yes, Seb. Please, stay with me.”
“You got it, Sprinkles. Let’s get you back to bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“No. Stay in bed with me. I mean, would it be okay if you just held me a little bit longer?”
“I’d hold you for the rest of forever if you let me.” God, where had that come from? He was a goner already, and the light laugh that burst out of Emma made him realize she knew that too.
“Well, hopefully I feel better before then, but if not, life doesn’t sound so bad.”