Chapter 8
Izzy woke to a soft humming sound. For a moment, she didn’t remember where she was.
Then the scent of Mitch’s place hit her: clean linens, a faint trace of his soap, and the rich, earthy aroma of coffee brewing somewhere close by.
The window shades were pulled, but there were motion sensors on them, which is what helped her fall asleep last night.
More than once, she considered snuggling up against Mitch's strong, firm body, but she thought that was far too forward.
He'd think she was slutty. And she didn't want him to think anything like that about her.
Mostly because she was not a slut. But his opinion meant a lot.
She sat up slowly. The events of the night before came rushing back: someone trying to break into Sadie's place, the terror, Mitch’s arms around her, his promise that she’d be safe here. The feeling that she was safe. The security he had set up more than compensated for any fear she had.
And she believed he meant it. He wanted her to be safe.
She looked around the room. It was simple but comfortable.
Pale gray walls and soft lighting. Lifting the window shade, she saw the window framed the tree line outside like a painting.
Her suitcase sat by the closet where she had left it.
Mitch had even placed a small glass of water and a packet of pain relievers on the nightstand, just in case.
The gesture made her chest ache in the best way.
He cared. She hadn't had anyone in her life who'd really cared about her in such a long time. She’d been engaged once, to a man she admired and loved with her whole heart. But he’d broken their engagement and moved to London for his job, without asking her to join him.
He just moved on. She was devastated. Then she heard through the grapevine that he’d married about six months after arriving in London, and his new wife worked at the same company as he had.
Things started coming together in her mind.
Late nights, secret phone calls. He’d been having an affair with this woman, and their company offered them a fresh, clean place to make their relationship permanent.
That was five years ago now and Izzy had avoided dating or getting tangled up with anyone since then.
When she stepped into her father’s place at Petal Pushers, it offered her the diversion she needed to not dwell on her heartache.
And she’d fallen in love again, but this time with her flowers and her business.
She became happy again on her own. She’d done it for herself.
That’s why this was so devastating; she’d grown here as an adult.
As a woman who’d been broken and cheated on and she’d thrived.
No way was she going to let someone take this away from her.
She stretched as she padded around the bed and opened her suitcase on the floor.
She pulled on a clean pair of leggings and one of her oversized shirts, then stepped into the hall.
The condo was quiet except for the steady tick of the wall clock and the occasional sound of traffic far off in the distance.
She padded toward the kitchen and found Mitch at the table, laptop open, phone to his ear.
He had donned a clean gray t-shirt and dark blue sweatpants, and he looked as comfortable as someone with cracked ribs possibly could.
His posture told her he wore the rib band he was instructed to wear, and that made her smile.
His hair was tousled, and he looked like he hadn’t slept much.
But he was so handsome. Not only did she feel safe around him, but she liked looking at him.
His hair was dark, but there were grays at his temples and stippled throughout.
That added to his handsomeness. He looked like a man who had lived a lot of life, but it didn't destroy him.
She looked into his eyes, and he nodded to her, still listening to whoever he was on the phone with.
“Yes, this morning,” he said into the phone. “Three cameras, two motion sensors. I’ll install the rest myself.”
A pause.
“It has to be first thing. She’s going back into her shop, and I don’t want her there without coverage. Thanks.”
He ended the call and set the phone aside. “Morning.”
“Morning,” she replied, unsure where to stand. She hovered near the table, twisting her fingers. “You didn’t have to sleep on high alert all night for me.”
“I didn’t. I slept.” He raised a brow. “You didn’t hear me snore?”
A soft laugh escaped her. “No, thankfully.”
He closed the laptop and leaned back in the chair. “How’d you sleep?”
“Better than I expected. Your place… it feels safe.”
He nodded once, serious again. “That’s the point.”
She moved toward the kitchen counter. “Can I make breakfast?”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. It’s the least I can do.”
Mitch hesitated, then nodded toward the fridge. “Help yourself. Eggs, bacon, make whatever you want. Coffee's made and ready for you. There’s bread, too.”
She opened the fridge and scanned the contents. “Are you one of those weird people who keeps ketchup next to the eggs?”
“Guilty.”
She laughed again and pulled out ingredients, her nerves easing with the rhythm of a simple task. As the bacon sizzled and the smell filled the room, she glanced back at him.
“You weren’t kidding about security,” she said, nodding toward the tablet propped up next to his laptop. It showed several camera feeds, including the front door, parking lot, and interior hallway.
“I take it seriously,” he said. “I’ve seen what happens when people don’t.”
The weight behind his words made her pause.
She turned back to the stove. “Mitch... last night. When you said I’d become important to you, did you mean that?”
He didn’t answer right away. His chair creaked, and his footfalls, though soft, sounded close to her. She turned as he neared. “I don’t say things I don’t mean,” he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
“Me neither,” she managed.
They stood there for a beat, the tension thick, but not uncomfortable. Electric, yes, but safe. Honest.
Then the bacon popped and broke the moment. She smiled and shrugged.
She turned back to cooking breakfast, her heart fluttering like she was sixteen again, and her cheeks heated and likely pink. When they sat down to eat a few minutes later, it felt oddly domestic. Like a routine they’d done a dozen times.
Halfway through breakfast, Mitch’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and his expression hardened.
She set her fork on her plate and waited, trying to remember to breathe.
It wasn't any of her business what this message was about, but curiosity coursed through her.
And of course, since he was heavily ingrained in her protection, and the scowl on his face, she worried it wasn't good news, and it affected her.
He looked up at her. “Rayburn was spotted in Summerville this morning. Near the edge of town. He matches the build of the man who came to the house last night.”
Her spine stiffened, and she sat up straighter. “He’s still nearby?”
“Which means we’re close,” Mitch said. “And he’s getting desperate.”
She swallowed hard. “I don't know how to feel about that. What should I do with this knowledge?”
Mitch reached across the table and took her hand. His grip was warm, steady, and strong.
“We stay smart. We stay alert. And we don’t let him win.”
Her heartbeat increased, and she had a hard time swallowing. She was safe here, but that man, a man she didn't even know, was after her for some reason. It seemed so implausible that Delilah Parker would stoop to something so dirty for property.
Mitch stared at her for a long time. "You're safe here."
"I know. I just can't get past the fact that Delilah would be willing to kill me for my shop. If I die, she won't have the chance to get it. It goes to my sister, Iris, who lives in Georgia. And Delilah doesn't have the money to buy it from her. So I honestly don't understand the game plan."
"Sometimes these things don't have a reasonable explanation. And we aren't sure it's Delilah, though no other suspect has shown themselves yet."
"Right." She took a deep breath and stood from the table. Setting her plate in the dishwasher, she busied herself with kitchen tasks. Clearing the table, rinsing the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher, all things to keep her busy.
Mitch stiffly stood from the table. "I'm going in to take a shower and get ready to meet, Jayson, my employee, to help me out with the installation of your security system. You're welcome to stay here while we install."
"No. I'd like to go and begin cleaning things up."
He nodded. Then he smiled at her, and her heartbeat went wild. Handsome. He was incredibly handsome. And her cheeks heated as she stared at his lips and wondered what they'd feel like against hers.