Chapter 3
With close to an hour before sunrise, Eve gave up on the idea of sleep. She’d tossed and turned throughout the night, stealing a few minutes of slumber here and there. But every time she closed her eyes, the memory of the way her attacker’s beard scratched her chin and his foul odor flooded back.
She’d rather prepare for a full day on very little rest than replay one of the scariest moments of her life over and over.
Being alone in her empty house had been much harder than she’d anticipated. She should have asked Reid to spend the night.
Hell, her entire being had screamed at her to stop being so stubborn and admit she wanted him to stay with her. But if she admitted she wanted him in her home, then she would have been forced to admit to herself she wanted a whole lot more from him. And that was something she couldn’t do.
Needing to shut off her mind, Eve wrapped herself in her plush robe and shuffled into the kitchen. She scooped flour and sugar, losing herself in the mundane task of mixing and stirring until the mouthwatering scent of homemade banana bread hung in the air.
She glanced at the time flashing on the oven. Becca would be awake with Suzy. She could stop over and tell her what happened while they stuffed their faces with sugar. Decision made, she hurried to dress for the day, gathered her baked goods and headed out the door.
Outside, the cool morning air promised fall would be there soon.
She was ready for summer to vanish, taking with it the hot weather and stream of tourists.
After the business of the past few weeks, she was ready for things to slow down a little.
Ready to take some time off to enjoy the things she loved outside of work.
A shiver raced down her spine, and she hurried to her car. The back of her neck tingled as if she was being watched.
Relax. Just your mind and lack of sleep messing with you.
She opened the passenger door to place the still-warm pan on the front seat before heading to the driver’s side. Her foot slid on something lying among the pebbles. Bending for a closer look, her heart dropped to the ground.
A wooden flower like the one from the bar.
She snatched it up and stood. Her breath quickened, and she glanced around as if someone would charge forward any second.
Stop it. You’re being paranoid. You must have put it in your pocket, and it fell out.
Yes. That was it. With all the craziness of the night before, she’d forgotten to place it on the plate and took it home by accident. Or at least that’s what she told herself as she made the short drive to Becca’s cabin at the edge of town.
Lights blazed inside the two-story home, confirming her friend was awake. Eve secured the pan of banana bread and half jogged up the brick sidewalk to the front door. After she rang the bell, she tapped the toe of her tennis shoe on the wooden planks of the porch.
She hated this—hated feeling exposed. Hated how every snapping twig or rustling of the bushes around the house made her nerves jump.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Becca said, answering the door. “When you told me you’d make time, I didn’t expect it to be first thing in the morning before I head to work.”
The sound of her best friend’s voice crumbled the last wall of resistance keeping her from falling apart. She sniffed, but it did nothing to keep tears from streaming down her face.
“Oh my goodness, what’s wrong? Come in.” Becca looped an arm over Eve’s shoulders and led her into kitchen. “Set down whatever you brought that smells so dang good and tell me what happened.”
Eve slid the bread onto the island that dominated the center of the spacious kitchen and slumped onto the stool. She dropped her head in her hands as all her emotions leaked from her still-shocked system.
“Honey, please. Tell me what’s wrong.” Becca took the seat beside her and rubbed circles between her shoulder blades with her palm.
Letting her hands fall, Eve drew in a shuddering breath. “Last night, after you left, the man who was at the bar attacked me.”
Becca gasped and her hand stilled. “He what? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” Eve winced, remembering her sleepless night.
“At least, I’m mostly fine. Reid came by the bar and walked in on the attack.
He scared the guy off before things took an even worse turn.
I’m not hurt, but I can’t stop replaying everything in my mind.
When I close my eyes, I see this guy’s face.
I smell him. I swear, on my way here, I could feel him near me. Watching me.”
“That’s horrible. I can’t believe that happened.” Becca pulled her into a fierce hug. “Did the police catch him?”
“Not that I know of, which is terrifying. If the police can’t find him, hopefully he was a tourist in town for the rodeo and he went back to where he came from.
” The thought that he could hurt someone else if he wasn’t detained turned her stomach, but she couldn’t handle the idea that he was still in Cloud Valley.
Becca released her then gripped her hands. “I shouldn’t have left you there alone. If I had stayed, this wouldn’t have happened. I’m so sor—”
Eve shook her head. “Nope. Stop that. I won’t let you take an ounce of blame. You did nothing wrong, and neither did I. Some creep attacked me because he’s an asshole. Plain and simple.” She couldn’t help but think back on Reid’s words.
“What’s that look?” Becca asked, eyes narrowed.
“I did the same thing last night. I placed blame on myself, and Reid put a stop to it right away. He told me almost the exact same thing when he walked me home.”
“He’s a good friend.” Becca bumped her shoulder to Eve’s. “Maybe more if you pursued him a little.”
“I don’t have time for more than a friend.
Hell, I hardly have time for you and Suzy.
My life revolves around Tilly’s. Besides, you should have seen him jump up, wanting to leave as soon as things got a little too personal.
Everyone in town knows Reid isn’t the type of guy to want anything more than casual and short-lived with a woman.
We’re the perfect combination of no chance in hell.
Best to keep everything platonic.” She had to remind herself of that.
Seeing him in her home had awakened a desire to have him there more.
To see him outside of her job. To know him deeper than their surface-level banter.
But that was nonsense. A silly fantasy she used to entertain herself on long, lonely nights. Reid was a friend, and that’s all he’d ever be.
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Becca said, bringing her back to the conversation. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
Eve opened her mouth to tell Becca how ridiculous she was, when a pint-size toddler with messy blond curls and wearing adorable footie pajamas padded into the room.
“Ebe!” Suzy said, holding up her pudgy arms.
Needing one of the little girl’s hugs more than she needed her next breath, Eve rose and scooped Suzy into her arms. “Good morning, Suzy Q.”
Suzy planted slobbery kisses on Eve’s cheek.
“No one looks at me the way she does, and that’s good enough for me.” With the child squeezing her tight, most of her worries melted away. She savored the innocent and pure love heaped on her.
Or at least that’s the lie she told herself. Because if she didn’t have time for romance before, she definitely didn’t now. Not when a criminal who’d tried to hurt her was on the loose and she was barely holding herself together.
Not even the punch of black coffee could chase away the lingering bits of fatigue in Reid’s brain. He shuffled forward in the line at Cloud 9 Café like a zombie to wait for his pastry and second cup of the day.
“Here ya go, Reid.” Tiffany, the owner’s granddaughter, handed over a brown bag and a carrier with two to-go cups. “Black for you, and one coffee with cream and sugar for Madden. Have a great day.”
Dipping his chin, he took his purchases and headed for the door. Temptation to sit and finish his drink before heading to work slowed his footsteps. Sunrise Security’s office was only three doors down, but as tired as he was, it might as well be miles.
Sleep hadn’t come easy. He’d even climbed into his car in the middle of the night to drive to Eve’s house, idling on the side of the road to make sure everything was all right. Once he was positive she was safe, he’d driven back home just to toss and turn until the sun came up.
It’d taken every ounce of self-control not to call and check on her. He’d wait until he settled into work and talked to Madden before casually swinging by the restaurant. Knowing Eve, she wouldn’t take the day off after her ordeal. She’d be back behind the bar, serving her customers with a smile.
The bell chimed above the entrance and gained his attention. Deputy Luke Hill strolled inside, his cowboy hat in his hands. His face was clean-shaven and dark hair a little disheveled.
Reid lifted his hand in greeting. “Hey, Luke. Any news about last night? I’d love to hear that son of a bitch who went after Eve is behind bars this morning.”
Luke winced. “I wish I could tell you that, but the guy’s vanished.”
The news was like a fist in the gut. “Damn it.”
A voice crackled from the radio clipped to Luke’s shoulder. “Sorry, I’ve got to see what’s up.”
Reid waited for the young deputy to leave then followed him outside, peeling off in the opposite direction. The sun was already warm, but a faint breeze stirred the air. People milled about, popping into stores or sitting outside on benches to enjoy the morning.
He waved at a happy couple strolling hand in hand then stepped into Sunrise Security.
Peggy Reynolds sat behind her desk. Her straight, gray hair skimmed the top of her shoulders and her ever-present pink lipstick showcased a mouth that always smiled. “Good morning.”
Her singsong voice usually lifted his spirits, but it wasn’t enough to shove aside the heavy cloud hanging over him. “Hi, Peg. Madden in?”
She twisted her chair to face the filing cabinet behind her and pulled out some paperwork. “Yep. In his office.”
“Grabbed your favorite.” He tossed the pastry bag on her desk on the way down the hall.
“Thanks,” she called out. “Chocolate. You always know my weakness.”
Stopping outside Madden’s open door, he tapped on the door frame then stepped inside. “Got your usual.”
Madden accepted the coffee and gestured toward the chair across his desk. “You’re bringing in all kinds of treats today. I could hear Peggy hollering about chocolate all the way down the hall. Have a seat.”
Grunting, Reid sat and took a sip of his drink. The hot, bitter liquid burned his tongue before sliding down his throat. He closed his eyes for a brief second, willing the caffeine to work.
“Get any sleep last night?” Madden asked.
Reid shook his head. After he’d left Eve’s place, he’d called his friend to fill him in on what had happened. Talking it over had helped process everything, as well as made him realize there wasn’t anything else he could have done to find the guy who’d hurt Eve.
“That explains the early trip to the café. Appreciate it. You talk to Eve this morning?”
Again, he shook his head. “Figured I’d stop by when I know she’s at Tilly’s. Don’t want to overwhelm her. I’m sure she’d rather just forget the whole thing. No need to drag it all up again as soon as she wakes up.”
Madden snorted and leaned back in his seat. “You think she’s not running it through her mind over and over? Chances are you got more sleep than she did last night. I’m still shocked you didn’t stay at her place. She had to be terrified.”
Reid scrubbed a hand over his face. His friend was right. He should have stayed—hell, he’d wanted to stay. But sitting with her in her home, sharing a drink, had held the type of intimacy he hadn’t experienced with a woman in a very long time.
Was the type of intimacy he’d avoided at all costs most his life.
“You know Eve. She’s tough as nails. Swore she was okay and couldn’t keep her eyes open. I didn’t want to keep her up any longer, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t check and make sure she was all right.”
Madden’s dark brows shot up. “And how did you do that if you haven’t spoken with her?”
Well, hell. He hadn’t meant to confess his late-night drive-by. “Nothing. Forget about it. I planned to stop by Tilly’s this morning. Give her a little time before checking in.”
The widening of Madden’s green eyes told Reid he’d noticed the defensiveness in his tone. He opened his mouth, but the ringing phone on his desk kept him from saying anything.
Reid hunched low in the leather chair and took another sip of coffee.
The temperature had gone from scalding to hot, allowing him to take a longer drink.
An internal war waged, blocking out Madden’s voice as he talked to whoever was on the other end of the line.
The complicated feelings he had for Eve combated with a lifetime of not wanting to become his father and twisted him up inside.
Because of that, he’d left a woman alone all night after she’d experienced a traumatic event. What a dick move.
He’d make it up to Eve. As soon as Madden got off the phone, he’d track her down and let her know he was around for anything she needed.
Frowning, Madden ended his call.
Reid rose to his feet. “You’re right. I’ll get a hold of Eve right away and see if there’s anything else I can do.”
“Sorry, but that’s going to have to wait. That was the sheriff. A woman was found dead down at the rodeo. Sheriff’s department has requested our assistance. We need to go now.”