Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Luke turned into the driveway and pulled alongside Hannah’s silver sedan, his heart in his throat. This was not at all how he had imagined their next meeting. He had driven like a madman the whole way there, breaking every law imaginable in his need to see her.
He still wasn’t entirely sure why she had called him of all people, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
She had sounded terrified on the phone, her voice vibrating with fear even as she had tried to remain calm.
Throwing the truck in park, he hopped out and was already jogging toward the front porch before the door fully closed behind him.
Hannah popped up from where she sat on the bottom step, and he froze. His eyes raked over her from head to toe, taking in the tension in her body, the way her arms were wrapped protectively around her waist. “Thanks for coming,” she said.
“Of course.” He ached with the need to pull her into his arms but stopped himself just in time. He flexed his hands at his sides. “Want to tell me what happened?”
She glanced off to the side. “It sounds silly, but I got home and things just felt… wrong.”
He ambled closer, keeping his steps slow and measured as he closed the distance between them. “Is anything missing or out of place?”
“I… I’m not sure. I mean, I don’t think anything is missing, but it feels like someone went through my stuff, like it’s not exactly the way I left it.”
He examined her for a moment before responding, watching as she rubbed her hands briskly over her arms as if to dispel a chill. Considering it was almost eighty-five degrees outside, he seriously doubted it was the weather. She had been through a lot lately, and he understood her discomfort.
“I’m going to clear the house. Do you have your keys?
” She automatically extended her hand toward him to pass them over, but he wrapped his hand around hers and curled her fingers closed over the keyring.
“I want you to get in the car and lock the doors. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come in. ”
Her eyes flared wide. “I’m not leaving you in there alone.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I’m going with you.”
He studied her for a second. “If you’re sure.”
He held out his hand, and she slipped her palm into his. A sense of déjà vu swept over him, reminding him of the events that had transpired just twenty-four hours ago. With Hannah on his heels, he cautiously made his way up the porch to the small house. Ears and eyes alert, he stepped inside.
Parallel to the hallway leading to the back of the house, a set of stairs lay directly in front of them, and he glanced up to the second level. Seeing nothing amiss, he turned to the right and passed through the large archway to the living room.
He canvassed the room and moved on to the kitchen, dining room, and downstairs office. Although everyday clutter dotted the surfaces, nothing appeared to be out of place. Moving upstairs, he checked each bedroom and bathroom, every closet and possible hiding place.
He paused at the top of the stairs and gave Hannah’s hand a reassuring squeeze. In the fading light of the evening, her face looked drawn and haunted. “Everything looks good to me. How about you?”
Her mouth twisted, and her cheeks were tinted red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry I wasted your time. It was silly and—”
He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “If it means making sure you feel safe, it’s not a waste of time.”
She resisted for a moment before relaxing against him, then tucking her head against his chest. He breathed her in, loving the way she felt in his arms. He had lied to Knox.
He wouldn’t—couldn’t—stay away from her.
There was some indefinable quality that connected them, and though he had only known her for a week-and-a-half, he wanted more—more of her sweet kisses, more of her shy little looks. He wanted to know everything about her.
He pushed her gently in the direction of her room. “Why don’t you go change and I’ll start some dinner?”
She threw a bemused look his way but went willingly.
He jogged back downstairs, checking to make sure the front door was locked as he passed before heading toward the kitchen.
He rooted through the pantry and fridge for ingredients and had just added everything to the skillet when a soft sound drew his attention.
He met Hannah’s eyes across the room and gestured to the small table situated in the corner breakfast nook. “Have a seat, it’ll be ready in just a few minutes.”
He served up the food and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, then placed everything on the table in front of Hannah. Expression bewildered and a bit disturbed, she picked up her fork and began to eat. After several moments, she finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
“This is nice, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ve never eaten here before.”
He glanced at her. “At home?”
She shook her head. “At this table.” Her words were soft, like she was afraid of revealing too much. “I don’t cook much. Even when I do, I usually just eat in the living room on the couch.”
She traced a finger over a dark woodgrain running through the table. “It’s just me, so… there’s not usually much reason to cook.”
He studied her for a moment before scooping up another forkful of food. “Your boyfriend hasn’t stayed for dinner?”
Her cheeks flared pink. “I don’t have… I’ve never…”
He couldn’t have been more shocked if she had tried. “Really? You’ve never invited a man over for dinner?”
She didn’t answer, just dropped her embarrassed gaze to her plate, and a strange surge of pleasure washed over him.
“Well, this is a first for me, too, then. I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed dinner this much.
I was in the field so long that I haven’t had much chance to spend time with a beautiful woman. ”
A delicate red flush made its way up her neck and across her cheeks, and the sight brought a smile to his face. He loved it when she blushed like that. “I mean, I go home to see my mom when I have a chance. I love her and all, but it’s just not the same.”
He winked at her, and Hannah chuckled, a soft, sultry sound that sent sparks of awareness straight to his heart.
“Now I know you’re lying. A guy like you would have no problem getting any woman you want.”
He tipped his head. “Just one.”
Hannah’s brows drew together, and he almost laughed.
After the kiss in her office last week, he was certain she knew where he stood.
She, however, was a mystery. He had seen her exit a car that morning that clearly wasn’t hers, and the driver had looked suspiciously male.
Was it the same guy from last night? And was he just a friend, or was he…
more? She had just admitted that she didn’t have a boyfriend and that a man had never stayed over.
Deciding not to press for the moment, he changed the subject. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “A little sore from my tumble down the stairs, but I’ll be fine.”
“Did you get to see Dr. Stanton?”
“I stopped by the hospital today.” Hannah forked up some chicken. “Everything’s good, but the cut required a ton of stitches.”
He grimaced at the memory of the injury. “I’m sure. It looked awful.”
He could sense the change in her as they spoke of the incident, and he didn’t want her to draw away again. He needed to keep her there in that moment, with him. “Tell me about yourself, Doc.”
Her posture stiffened and her eyes dropped to her plate. “Not much to tell. What about you? How long were you in the military?”
He took another bite of food to cover his surprise at her abrupt deflection. Swallowing, he cleared his throat. “Sixteen years.”
Her eyes flared with surprise. “That’s a long time. Couldn’t you have retired soon?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m getting old and I decided it was time to get out. My body can’t handle that stuff anymore.”
“So you moved home?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “My parents are back in Wisconsin. A buddy of mine from the Marines had this idea to start a private security firm, so I jumped on board. I didn’t know what I was going to do once I was discharged, so his offer came at the perfect time.”
She tipped her head, studying him with those perceptive gray eyes. “Have you been adjusting well?”
Was that her only interest—to see him as a patient rather than a prospective lover? He lifted a shoulder. “Yes and no. We all have our demons; it’s just a matter of not allowing them to control us.”
She tensed, fork suspended in midair, an array of emotions passing over her face. Curious about her reaction but not wanting to pry, he leaned back in his seat and studied her. “Did you grow up here?”
She met his eyes and shook her head. “I’m originally from Ohio.”
“So, what brought you to Florida?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “I needed a change. My grandparents live near Ft. Myers, so I moved down here about ten years ago, went to school at FGCU, and I’ve stayed ever since.”
Her story was succinct, and he instinctively knew she had left out a lot of very important details. Determined to win her trust, he teased, “Couldn’t have picked somewhere a little cooler?”
At that, she smiled. “It can get really cold in Ohio in the wintertime, so it’s kind of a welcome change to have warm weather all year round. On the other hand, I do miss having a white Christmas.”
“I can imagine. Winter in Wisconsin lasts about six months, or so it seems. I’ve only been here for a few weeks, so we’ll see how I feel a year from now.”
She smiled. “I had no idea you’d just moved here.”
“Yep. Just over a month now. Knox—my buddy—and I met down here to check out a building he’d bought in the Industrial District. It pretty much had to be gutted, but he hired a construction company to come in and renovate the place. It’s almost ready to go.”
“Are you finding your way around okay?”
“So far. Although I really don’t have much reason to go out. Maybe once I settle in more.” He smiled at her. “Are you offering to show me around?”