Prologue #2
Genevieve winked. "I just thought you should know who you're dealing with."
"Point taken." Abe stood and announced his departure. The woman was too damned engaging and just his type, if he had a type. He'd better get going before his professional decorum went out the window.
At the front door, he said, "Sleep well. You'll be safe." He hesitated. "Do you mind if I check on you tomorrow?"
Genevieve nodded and gave him a heart-melting smile. He turned to leave before he changed his mind and stayed.
*****
When the door shut, Genevieve leaned against it and closed her eyes. Oh, God. Surely she'd made a fool of herself. She'd only wanted to talk with Abe a bit, as it had been a distressing evening. She must have been drawn to him, because she was shaken up.
But she was kidding herself. The electricity between them was impossible to deny. Abe had been a gentleman, and that didn't surprise her, yet she'd done everything short of throwing herself at him.
Genevieve took a hot shower before bed. It was very late, but it was her habit to sleep in. Hopefully, when she woke up her life would be back to normal. The hot water flowed over her, but her mind wouldn't cooperate and settle down.
She was forty-two and had no stable relationship. Two failed marriages didn't count. And dating was rough. She just couldn't find the right man.
Abe couldn't be the one. He was a respectable police officer.
And what she'd learned about him in a few minutes of conversation confirmed that he was off-limits. Certainly, she'd clash with him. She couldn't seem to get along in any relationship. The idea of hooking up with a cop made her realize how tired she must be.
She was tired of dating, tired of being alone, and just plain tired. She needed to get some sleep.
Once beneath her comforter with her face buried in the pillow, she realized her interest in Abe had to be a result of the trauma.
She'd been attacked and could have been injured or even abducted. It made sense that she'd crave the presence of Abe, her strong, capable protector. She was human, after all. And a woman. Thoughts of him filled her mind and made sleep difficult.
Hours drifted by, but Genevieve only dozed. She gave up when light peeked through the blinds. She couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability, the fear for Brooke and what might happen before the case could be resolved.
And then there was Abe.
It was all too much. She got up and slipped on her jogging clothes, hoping a run would burn off the excess energy. After a cup of coffee, she headed for the door.
****
Abe hadn't slept all night. He'd left the condo intending to post an officer on duty to guard Genevieve. It hadn't happened.
He knew that he wouldn't entrust her protection to anyone else. Although Genevieve had handled the situation well, it was a serious matter. The Russan mob's heavy-handed tactics were well known.
The fact that she had escaped harm was to her credit, but Abe wasn't going to leave her alone. Barely knowing her, it would be inappropriate to ask to sleep on her sofa. So he'd settled in his police vehicle with a clear view of the main entrance to the condo building.
No one would go in or out without Abe noticing. That was his guarantee that Genevieve was safe. That was worth losing a night's sleep.
He reflected on his years as a Navy SEAL, before he joined the NOPD. Sitting in his vehicle in the middle of the city was comfortable. Or, at least, it wasn't horribly un comfortable.
He flashed on a few nights on deployment that he didn't wish to relive. In comparison, the current circumstances were luxurious.
It wasn't that cold out, and the cup of coffee would sustain him for a while. Years of training had prepared him for much more extreme circumstances. It was a skill to stay awake all night, and one he had perfected.
The one problem was boredom, but he wouldn't allow any distractions. It would be a harebrained move to listen to the radio and miss any action. As it turned out, he had plenty to fill his mind. Genevieve was a pleasure to think about.
His one earlier memory was hearing her sing. Abe planned to hear more of her music. She sang New Orleans blues, fast paced and influenced by jazz. It was a strong, soulful sound.
He wanted to get to know her better but didn't see that happening. It didn't hurt to imagine, though, which he had no trouble doing. She was not only beautiful but an impressive woman. In his short encounter with her, Abe had figured that out.
Since Geneveive had performed in the evening before going to Jasper's, it was quite late. It was even later, since she had talked with him over coffee. He wouldn't have accepted the invitation, but she seemed to want to chat a bit. After what she'd been through, Abe was glad to let her talk.
He assumed that she'd sleep late, which was likely her regular schedule. He informed the station of his activity for the night, so he wouldn't be expected to report that morning.
Abe tried different positions, leaning the seat back or up, to stay reasonably comfortable. He was prepared to continue watching her place until later in the day, whenever she came out.
Much to Abe's surprise, he didn't have to wait that long. He stared at the condo entrance, watching Genevieve exit in a pale blue jogging outfit.
She did a few stretches on the stairs then took a breath and looked around. When she spotted Abe, she smiled and strode over to his car. He rolled down the window and she leaned down.
"I thought you called the station to post an officer for the night."
"You're looking at him," Abe said. "No better man for the job."
"I certainly won't argue," Genevieve said. "I couldn't sleep well, so I thought I'd go for a jog. I'm foggy-headed, though." She smiled, melting his heart again. "How does breakfast sound?"
"I can't think of anything better."
Genevieve got into the passenger seat. "I know a great place just up the street. My treat. It's the least I can do to repay you for guarding me all night."
Abe pulled away from the curb. "The night was half over before I came out here. But I accept. I'm hungry."
"It's Molly's Café, four blocks up," Genevieve said. "Good coffee and a list of breakfast items."
Abe found parking not far from the place, and Genevieve led the way. "I'd probably have stopped here anyway for coffee. Molly makes a mean latte."
Inside was warm and inviting, lifting the night's fatigue almost instantly. Genevieve picked a table near the window and Abe sat across from her, grateful for the opportunity to be with her for a while longer.
The waitress greeted them and took their orders.
"I'll have two eggs over easy on salad greens with the sourdough toast and fruit," Genevieve said. "And a hot latte."
The waitress looked at Abe. "Make it pancakes and sausage. Coffee, black." When the waitress glided away, he said, "You eat light, after being up most of the night."
Genevieve took a sip of water. "It goes with the territory. I must stay fit and work out hard. Being on stage might seem easy, but it is physically demanding."
"I don't doubt it." The black coffee arrived promptly, and he took a swig. "That's another reason you are able to defend yourself."
"Yep." Genevieve looked at him, a bit too intently. "What about you? Clearly you're in shape."
"I have to stay sharp," Abe said. "And old habits from my Navy SEAL days have stayed with me."
"Ah, I can see that. You seem like the type."
Abe wasn't sure what that meant but accepted it as a compliment. "Tell me about performing. You've done well in a very competitive arena."
"It's my passion," Genevieve said. "It's the only way to survive. To go at it lukewarm wouldn't work. Too many challenges."
The food arrived and they ate for a few minutes. Then Genevieve told him more about her rise to fame. It turned out she'd started playing the guitar at age ten and shortly after began singing the blues. She also played the piano and the ukelele.
"It's a fun instrument. I should incorporate it in my shows more often."
"Do you stick to blues?"
"For the most part. I perform my own songs and some others," Genevieve said, "but blues is my favorite."
Abe didn't bring up Brooke's case, as it didn't really involve Genevieve. But when the food was gone and they sipped the last of their coffee, he couldn't let it go.
"I want to make sure you're safe," Abe said.
"You did." Genevieve smiled. "And you have a sleepless night to show for it." She paused. "But don't worry. I'll spend a couple of nights with a friend. I'll be fine."
"That's fine, but it pays to be cautious." Abe wished he could think of a way to spend more time with her, but he was out of options. He slid his card across the table. "Call if you need anything."
Genevieve accepted his card then said, "For now, do all you can to help Gabriel resolve my sister's case."