Chapter 35 Burning Into His Heart
BURNING INTO HIS HEART
Rory stretched his arms over his head, turned and looked next to him and saw that he was alone in bed.
Still naked under the covers and missing Gale’s body next to his.
There was no clock in her room and he had no idea what time it was, but the sun was bright through the window so he was guessing noon or later.
He threw the covers back, grabbed his clothes off the floor and went to the bathroom to shower and wake his butt up.
“Hey there, sleepyhead. Guess I wore you out.”
“You did,” he said, moving closer to get a kiss. The time on the microwave caught his attention. It was close to one. “Jesus, I’ve been sleeping for almost three hours.”
She brushed her knuckles across her chest. “Yes, you have. I slept about an hour myself and didn’t expect that. I’ve been doing some work while you snoozed away.”
“That’s good,” he said. “I should unpack.”
“Let me get some lunch for us. What are you in the mood for?”
“Something easy,” he said. “I can eat a sandwich and be good if you’ve got anything.”
“Tuna?” she asked. “I don’t have sandwich meat.”
“That works,” he said. “I can do it.”
“No, sit. I’m supposed to be off today but am just taking care of a few things. I’ll make room for your stuff when we are done.”
“We can do that,” he said. “Or you can show me around the grounds if you don’t mind? Maybe the water.”
“Sure. There are chairs out there and some umbrellas. Maybe you’ll get some writing done.”
His head went back and forth. “I could. I’m trying to put the story together in my head. I’ve got some notes.”
“You do? Can you talk about it?”
She had the tuna in a bowl, added the mayo, then some salt and pepper.
“Where is the bread?” he asked. She pointed to a drawer, so he got it out. “I was thinking about having the small town be here. I haven’t decided fully. It’s going to depend on the outcome of things in the next few weeks.”
She turned to look at him, her hand stilling as she mixed the tuna. “What does that mean?”
“It means a few things,” he said. “We don’t know if or when this is going to end or how it will. I won’t be forced out, I can tell you that much.”
“Good,” she said.
“But if it ends soon, maybe you’ll want me to leave. I mean, I can rent another place easily enough.”
“I’d like you to stay as long as you want, but if you get sick of me, the cabin on the farm is available.”
As if her family would let him stay there if he and Gale went south.
The thing was, he didn’t want that to happen.
What they had was so foreign to him, but he was trying to learn the language as quickly as possible.
“I’m good here,” he said. “It’s just whether or not you’ll be. You know, having someone in your space.”
He had the bread on plates, and she was spreading the salad, then found chips and grabbed two bottles of water.
They sat at the island and ate. She still hadn’t made a comment about having someone in her space.
He was just ready to tell her not to feel pressured when she said, “You’re the first person I’m living with for more than a vacation.”
“The same. I have bad habits when I’m writing. Normally late nights. But I’m not in that headspace right yet. Maybe soon.”
He had to be more focused on Rene’s case and keeping Gale safe before he could let his guard down enough to truly write the way he was used to.
“I’m sure you’ll get there when you’re ready.”
They ate their lunch in silence. It felt as if she had more to say but was struggling to get the words out.
Maybe what they had experienced in her room was too much for her.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“You’re quiet. From what I know of you, it’s not normal. If having me here is too much, I can go back to the cabin next to Clay.”
“Then I’d have to go with you, so no, thank you.”
If she weren’t smiling he’d think she felt trapped by having him here. As if it were the lesser of the two evils, here or there.
It didn’t make him believe she wanted to spend the time with him though.
“I can sleep in the spare room if you want.”
She stopped chewing. “Why would I want you to do that?”
Her confusion was almost comical. Her mouth was open, her chewed food showing, her eyes wide.
“I’m trying to figure out what is going through your mind,” he said, shrugging.
She closed her mouth, swallowed, then grabbed her water and took a long drink of it. “I don’t normally drop my guard much. I did and now you’re confused.”
He put his hand up. “Wait. I don’t want you to regret doing that. I’m sorry if it’s coming off that way. I think we are both out of our element, add in what’s going on around us, then my head injury.”
She rolled her eyes at his smirk. “Now you’re trying to be cute and make me feel guilty throwing the last one in there. I get it. You’re right. We are both out of sorts. This is unfamiliar territory on top of it.”
“It is. I know this isn’t the case, but I’ll say it anyway. Don’t be afraid to tell me how you feel about something.”
Her eyes shifted over his face and held his stare. He could see she was struggling, then said, “The same for you.”
Guess that didn’t go the way he wanted.
He thought for sure she’d want to talk more about what happened in the bedroom, but maybe he was the only one who felt as if their time together was burning into his heart.
It could have just been a release she needed. What were her words—that she wanted to feel something more? Something different?
They had and it was over and she moved on.
He’d have to remember that and keep his mixed emotions on lockdown.
“When we are done eating, want to walk to the beach?”
“I’d love to,” she said. “There will be lots of nosy people out asking who you are. It will be interesting to see their reactions.”
“Do you think they will be bold enough to come forward?”
Her brown eyes got wide, her perfectly manicured eyebrows rose and wiggled some, and her smile brightened their conversation. “Oh yeah. They will. And I’m gladly going to tell them.”
“Your version of taking a chainsaw to cut down trees.”
“See,” she said, bumping her shoulder into his. “You know me well.”
And she’d been spot on that they’d run into two people in her building alone that stopped to chat, ask if she was on vacation, and who was with her.
They opened the door to leave when an older couple was walking in. “Gale.”
“Hi, Cindy. How are you doing?”
“Good. And who do we have here? I hadn’t been aware you were dating anyone.”
He found it funny that the woman just assumed since Gale was leaving the building with a man they were together.
“This is my boyfriend, Rory Connors. Rory, Cindy Fryer and her husband, Bill. They’ve lived in the building since it was built. They know just about everything and everyone here and in town.”
Bill snorted when Gale said that tongue in cheek, but Cindy looked proud of the acknowledgment.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Cindy said. “I’m sorry about what happened to your sister all those years ago. I hadn’t realized that you and Gale knew each other.”
Not even funny how this woman slipped that in here. “Stranger things happen in this area, don’t you think? Now if you’ll excuse me, Rory and I are going to the beach. He’ll be staying with me for a bit.”
“Oh, this is one of those long distance things?” Cindy asked, frowning. “So it’s not new?”
“Let’s go, Cindy,” Bill said. Bill pulled her along and he heard whispered loudly, “Stay out of it. You know it will get worse if you’re linked.”
“What was that about?” Rory asked when they were walking toward the water.
“I’m pretty sure Cindy was in Daniel’s pocket at one point, and might still be. Maybe not as blatant as Detective Denning, but you know, having her house bought and a good deal to move in here by the McGregors.”
“Washing each other’s hands,” he said. “Got it.”
They passed more people and were stopped or just waved to.
When they got to the beach, there were multiple docks. Some had boats in slips; others were empty. There were a few areas for seating to the side and Gale moved toward them.
“It’s nice down here. You can lie in the sun if you want, take a boat or jet ski out. You have to pay for those slips, but many do.”
“Not you.”
“Nope. I have no desire for it.”
“Gale.”
They turned when her name was called. “Hey, Jared. How are you doing?”
“Good. Did you get your car fixed?” Jared asked.
“It’s getting fixed now. Thanks again for spotting that.”
“No problem.”
“Jared Peterson, this is Rory Connors. He’s staying with me for a bit.”
He shook hands with the man. “I heard rumors about you and some guy. About time you did more than work. She was just like that in school,” Jared said.
“Funny,” Rory said. “I don’t see her being the one always studying rather than mingling.”
He heard her let out a snort next to him. “I did both,” she said.
“Jared, how much longer are you going to be down there?”
Rory looked behind him to see who had called out to the worker. “Coming now, Rocco. We’ve got to replace some decking soon. I’ll make a list so you can let Kane know,” Jared said sarcastically. “Rather than just letting me fix it now. See you later, Gale.”
Gale waved at Rocco. Rory had heard the name enough and wanted to meet as many as he could.
Did he like the way Jared had eyed his girlfriend? Not really. And because she introduced him as her boyfriend, he was going with the term that had been battling in his brain for days.
“Hi, Gale. I didn’t see your car in the parking lot. It’s not fixed yet?” Rocco asked.
“No,” she said. “There were a few things that needed work so they are keeping it for that. I appreciate you guys watching out for me. I’ve got Clay’s truck for a few days. This is Rory Connors. He’s going to be staying with me for a bit in case you see him on the grounds.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rory said. “I appreciate you watching out for my girlfriend the other day. I’d hate to think of her driving and losing her brakes. Talk about scary. Especially if she was on the highway.”
“Yeah, that’d be horrible,” Rocco said. “Just glad she got it taken care of. Where have I heard your name before?” Gale went to open her mouth, but Rocco said, “Oh, Kane and Daniel were talking about you not that long ago. I hadn’t been aware you knew them.”
“Seems to me everyone knows everyone else in this area, doesn’t it?” Rory said, and Rocco looked between him and Gale, had his name yelled and then turned to return to work. “That’s who you said you feel bad for?” he asked.
“Yeah. I told you, he gets crap from all directions. Even his workers do it to him half the time. I’m not sure why he never stands up for himself, but I like the way you handled that. We know you’re being talked about by Daniel and Kane.”
“We always knew that, but hearing it verified is a plus too. Just wish we could get more than that.”