Chapter 18 #2
Scarlet nodded and turned her gaze to the window. She wanted to trust the man, but two people that day had insinuated that the only person worth trusting was herself.
Even under the watchful eye of others, stay sharp, Armand has said.
The words dug at Scarlet. Her instincts were doing battle. Her urge to be close to Alex was undeniable. She wanted him more and more with every passing second, but the encounter with Isobelle began to plague her thoughts as well.
As the SUV pulled up to the house, she spied a police cruiser stationed outside. Two officers sat inside, drinking from disposable coffee cups.
Police, she noted. Not the usual night guy.
“What happened to Uly?” Scarlet asked, pointing at the police car.
Alex regarded the car a moment before giving her a shrug. “I had to assign him to another job. He’s gathering some information for me.”
Scarlet frowned. “So… now it’s just cops?”
“They’re just as good as any,” Alex responded.
Scarlet realized Alex hadn’t turned off the car, so she let herself out, then turned to Alex. “I take it you don’t want dinner?”
“Can’t. Thanks for the offer, but I’m tired, I still have some paperwork to get to Lance, I have an early morning, and Edward is being … Edward.”
Scarlet lingered with the door open. “Can I ask you something?”
Alex nodded.
Scarlet fidgeted for a moment before gesturing between them. “What’s going on here?”
Her eyes searched his face, wondering what he thought and wouldn’t say. “I don’t know.”
Scarlet cringed. “Not exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Things are complicated.”
“Ah. I really hate that word.”
“I just need to focus on keeping you safe,” Alex said. “What happened the other night…”
Scarlet let out a slow breath. “Yeah … bad timing.”
Alex shifted in his seat as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Edward isn’t happy with me,” Alex admitted. “He’s under a lot of stress. I overstepped his boundaries, and yours. I’m sorry.”
Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “Ouch.”
Alex threw her a look. “I’m not going to deny I have feelings for you, Scarlet. I just… If I get out of this car, I’ll kiss you again. I want to. It just can’t happen right now. Everything…”
Scarlet tilted her head. “Is complicated.”
“Yeah.” Alex tore his gaze away. “I need to focus on the job I was hired to do.”
“I understand.” She forced a smile. “Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Scarlet wanted to tell him how she felt, but it appeared he’d already checked out. With everything happening, she just needed one night to not think about anything.
She closed the door, then walked quickly up the stairs. She watched the SUV drive off and stood there a moment, wishing she’d said something different. Maybe she should have just told Alex how she felt. She could have told him to get out of the car and kiss her. To hell with what Edward said.
Too late.
Scarlet walked into the house and immediately smelled the familiar scent of her mother’s cooking. She inhaled the air, taking in the different spices.
“Mom,” she called. “I’m home.”
“In the kitchen,” her mother responded.
Scarlet walked down the hall to the living room and into the open kitchen, where Elena was taking a pan out of the oven.
Scarlet hugged her mom tightly, making her laugh and put the pan down on the stove. “Thanks for cooking.”
“Whatever it is, it smells good,” Nora said from the living room archway.
“Banitsa.” Elena pointed at the pan she set down. “Phyllo dough with cheese and egg. Breakfast in my country.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Nora said.
“And waffles,” Elena pointed. “Scarlet’s favorite.”
Scarlet walked to her friend and gave her a hug as well. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” Nora answered. “I’m not even supposed to watch TV … something about giving my mind a rest as well. So, I’ve just been sleeping, and taking baths with those bath bombs you buy but never use.”
Scarlet nodded distractedly.
Nora pushed her playfully. “You didn’t invite Alex in for dinner?”
Scarlet tried not to look as disappointed as she felt. “I invited him. He declined.”
“He’s playing hard to get.” Nora closed her eyes and made kissing noises.
Scarlet sighed. “I never should have told you what happened.”
Nora walked to the kitchen table and sat down. “I think it’s romantic that you’re falling for your bodyguard,” she chirped. “Even if he’s an emotionless fence post.”
Scarlet cast a quick glance to her mother. Elena placed a glass of water in front of her and patted her shoulder. Nora gave her a smile of appreciation.
“You like this man?” Elena asked.
“Sort of.” Scarlet shrugged. “I mean, yes, but…”
“Oh please,” Nora said. “Why hide it? The man shows up, flashes some mystery, you spend an evening at the club, he kisses you under the stars, and now you’re wandering aimlessly with this love-struck look in your eyes.”
“Nora!” Scarlet’s cheeks flushed a deep red.
Her mother watched her closely, her lips pursing.
Elena let out a sigh. “Please be careful. You’ve been through a lot recently. There’s certainly more important things to focus on than a man’s attention.”
Scarlet clenched her jaw, trying hard not to snap at her mother.
“Oh, don’t you start.” Scarlet folded her arms across her chest. “I have to deal with the overprotectiveness from Dad. I don’t need it from you, too.”
Nora took a long drink of water to avoid eye contact. Elena bagged the kitchen trash, a troubled look on her face.
“Please take this out,” she said. “It smells.”
Scarlet sighed, grabbing the bag. She was somewhat relieved the conversation stalled there. She didn’t want to talk about Alex or the ballet, or her weird run-in with Isobelle.
Maybe I should just go to bed, she thought sourly.
She walked down the back kitchen stairs to the side door leading out. She switched on the dim porch light, and looked both ways down the narrow alley between the houses. Suddenly the trashcan seemed too far away.
Scarlet hurried over and threw the bag into the larger bin. The next-door neighbor’s dog barked from their backyard.
The wind picked up, sending a chill through the late August evening. She hurried back to the door, and as she was about to retreat inside, she heard a voice.
“Evening, Ms. Rush.”
Scarlet tensed, turning to the voice down the alley. It belonged to the sneaky reporter from the gala. He had curly brown hair, a cherubic face, and a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
He held up a hand in surrender. “Didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m sure you must be jumpy.”
Scarlet frowned. “And yet, here you are.”
“Barry White.” He took a few steps forward. “San Francisco Chronicle. I was at your big party, but we weren’t introduced.”
Scarlet looked him up and down. “Your name’s Barry White?”
The man smiled. “I know. My mother always had a lot of unrealistic expectations where I’m concerned.”
Scarlet didn’t laugh, but she took a step away from the door. “What do you want?”
“I want what reporters usually wants.” Barry smiled. “A good story.”
Scarlet pursed her lips, looking down the alley. She wondered where the cops were, and if she should yell for them.
“I’m not a good story,” she said. “So, I’d appreciate you leaving me alone. I don’t have anything else to say about my attempted kidnapping.” Scarlet turned to the door once more, reaching for the doorknob.
“I don’t want to talk about the kidnapping, Miss Rush,” he said, tentatively stepping forward.
“I want to talk about Alex Sterling’s involvement in the death of your friend, Lena Pace.”
Scarlet’s hand froze in place and a chill crept up her spine. His words didn’t make any sense, yet they still made her entire body shudder with emotion.
“What did you say?”
Barry stepped closer. “Your father and Charles Pace headed up a counterterrorism campaign in Istanbul three years ago to report rising tension between the US and Turkey. There was an attack on the consulate by a group of Russian soldiers?—”