Chapter Three #2
Summer lifted her chin and looked M?rten straight in the eye. “I’m not friends with any of my neighbors.” Why did that sound a little sad, like she was some kind of lonely hermit who had no one special in her life and lived an isolated existence?
“Okay, so not a single person available you can stay with then?” M?rten asked, as if finding it hard to believe she had nobody she could call on.
Summer shook her head defiantly. “I’ll be fine, really,” she said again.
“Hmm.” M?rten closed his eyes and tapped a finger to his forehead. Lifting his head, he fixed her with his silver gaze.
“No pets we should worry about?”
“No.” Summer hated to think what the lunatic might’ve done to any animal she had in her care. “I travel too much,” she added, then immediately regretted her words. He didn’t need to know that about her. Didn’t have to know anything more about her private life than she’d divulged so far.
“Right then, there’s one other alternative. You can come and stay with my friends tonight. Jacob and Nikki would be more than happy to have you.”
“Nope, not going to happen. No,” she repeated more firmly. “I will not impose on you and your friends. You’ve already helped enough.” The idea of staying with strangers wasn’t appealing in the slightest.
M?rten placed his feet squarely on the floor, standing up to his full height, looking suddenly imposing.
Until now, M?rten had been compassionate and helpful.
But in that second she glimpsed M?rten, the hardened cop.
And he wasn’t a man who was used to being trifled with.
“You either come with me, or I’m staying here with you. It’s your choice.”
“What? No!” she declared, more loudly this time.
He said nothing, merely stood his ground staring down at her, eyes glinting dangerously, his generous lips thinned into a firm line of determination.
He looked like he could stand there all night, as if he were made of stone.
Oh blast, what a frustrating man. The urge to stamp her foot was overwhelming, but she knew her childish gesture would get her nowhere while he was in police mode. Instead, she tried to reason with him.
“There’s no place for you to sleep,” she said, indicating the ruined couch. And even if she managed to remake her bed with clean sheets, there was no way she was sharing it with him.
He considered her for a few heartbeats. “I’ll have to sleep standing up then,” he replied, a wicked smile spreading slowly over his face.
Wow, that smile. He could light up a room from fifty feet with that smile, and it set her stupid heart to thumping in her chest. It showed off a set of straight, white teeth and lit up lots of gorgeous crinkles around his eyes. She was so enamored of his smile she almost forgot to be angry at him.
She stared back at him, hands on hips, her mouth forming an unconscious pout as she considered her options. Perhaps she should call Mayte. Even though she hated the idea, it might be better than going with this annoying cop. But then—
“Well. What is it to be? I can stand here all night,” he said, interrupting her train of thought. In that moment, she believed him. She wouldn’t get any peace until she did what he wanted.
“Fine,” she spat. “I’ll come with you. Give me a second to pack a few things.
She stomped off down the hallway toward the bedroom, hoping to make it clear how unhappy she was with his ultimatum.
“As long as you phone and make sure it’s okay with your friends,” she retorted.
There was no way she was turning up unannounced on a stranger’s doorstep.
It was bad enough admitting she needed someone else’s help, but she’d at least do it with a bit of decorum; her mother would never let her live it down.
A few minutes later she returned with her computer backpack slung over her shoulder, into which she had stuffed a change of clothes, her running shoes and shorts, and her toothbrush.
At the last second, she’d also grabbed her precious Hasselblad camera and put that in as well.
It was the one item she couldn’t bear to lose.
M?rten was talking on his cell as she came into the kitchen.
“See you soon,” he said, and returned his phone to his back pocket. “They’re expecting us,” he added, tilting his head to the side as if daring her to argue.
“Let’s go then.” She knew he was doing her a favor, and she knew she was being ungrateful in the face of his help, but she hated to be forced to do anything.
The way he’d railroaded her into accepting his aid made her blood boil, anger simmering just below the surface, and she couldn’t even raise a smile for him, let alone any agreeable words.
M?rten followed her out the exit in silence, then fiddled with the handle for a few moments. “We’ll need to call a locksmith in the morning. But there’s not much damage. I think I can get the door to at least stay shut until we return tomorrow.”
Summer was too tired to argue. The odds of anyone else wanting to burgle her apartment would be slim to none tonight. Unless the same thief came back… A prickle of foreboding slid up her spine. Was that why M?rten wouldn’t leave her alone? There wasn’t much she could do about it, so she shrugged.
Glancing around, she noticed the doors to the other three apartments remained firmly shut, telling her everything she needed to know about her neighbors.
Until this moment, she’d liked the fact that there were no nosy tenants on her floor, apart from Tad, who also now snubbed her.
She valued her privacy and had very much kept to herself, rebuffing any attempts by the people who lived next door to start up a conversation.
But in that instant she realized the extent to which she had isolated herself.
Kept herself so aloof that not even Tad cared anymore to find out why the cops had been here late at night.
It was her own fault, but still the knowledge burned deep in her gut.
She led the way down the stairs, then waited outside the front door for M?rten to guide her to his friend’s house.
M?rten must’ve felt her sudden change of mood, because he kept up a light monologue as they proceeded down the dark and quiet streets, not requiring Summer’s input as he told her how much he had enjoyed his stay in Seattle so far, and revealing how Jacob, his ex police partner had moved here to be with the love of his life, Nikki.
And how it was actually a fortuitous move, because now Jacob was working for the FBI, not that M?rten was jealous or anything.
As they walked, her anger faded, but the fatigue returned with a vengeance.
She was tired beyond belief, and just wanted somewhere to lay her head and let sleep take over.
True to his word, they’d only walked two blocks, when M?rten turned a corner and then stopped in front of a gate set into a white picket fence, behind which nestled a cute cottage, painted dove-gray, with white trim, a neat yard, and lots of green grass and soft hedging.
The porch light gleamed with a soft warmth, giving the place an air of welcoming them home.
Summer had passed this way a few times before and been envious of the gorgeous wooden cottages and well-maintained gardens.
The streets here were wide, leafy and cool, and if she could afford to buy a house, this was probably the area she’d choose to stay.
She followed M?rten through the gate, along a pebbled driveway, and up a small set of stairs onto the veranda.
M?rten unlocked the front door and held it open, ushering her into a long hallway before closing it behind them.
Light spilled from a doorway about halfway down a darkened passage, and she could hear the murmur of quiet voices.
Suddenly uncertain, Summer indicated M?rten should go first, then drew in a breath and trailed after him through the door and into a kitchen.
Sitting at a small table were a couple who must be Jacob and Nikki. A tall, dark-haired man with a close-cropped beard rose to greet them.
“You didn’t need to wait up for us,” M?rten admonished lightly. Even in those few words, Summer could tell M?rten was fond of his friend; there was a strong bond between them.
“We were worried about you,” he said, giving M?rten a quick tap on the shoulder in greeting.
“Hi, I’m Jacob. Welcome to our home.” He held out a hand for her to shake.
She was a little taken aback by his chiseled features and broad shoulders.
He was as handsome as M?rten, but in a darker, more dangerous way. Were all Swedish men this good-looking?
“Thank you…for letting me stay. M?rten said it was okay, but I…” she stammered, unsure how to thank these strangers for their kindness.
“Hi, Summer, I’m Nikki.” The blond woman surprised Summer by taking her into a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you…to your apartment. That must’ve been terrible. And very scary. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.”
Summer felt undone in Nikki’s arms. Perhaps it was the human contact, so simple, yet something Summer rarely received, that hit her in the solar-plexus, but she had the feeling she might burst into tears.
“Thank you,” she stammered again, drawing back and ducking her head to hide the unfaithful shimmer of tears glazing her eyes.
“No problem,” Nikki replied with a soft laugh that lit up her face.
“Come and take a seat. I’ll make you a cup of tea.
And are you hungry? I’m going to cook us all grilled cheese.
We all need a bit of food in our bellies,” Nikki chatted as she led Summer to a chair and then turned to put the kettle on.