I’m irritated that he now knows more about her than I do. That isn’t supposed to be how this works.Mine.My mind yells. Rubbing my head to quiet the caveman inside, I try to focus on the task at hand.
“Focus Carter, can you get on the text and email situation tonight? I can get a list of her clients past and current to you in the morning. She is asleep now,” I explain to him.
“Did you tire her out already, I figured you hadn’t even got started yet,” he ribs me in a lighthearted way. I am not in a lighthearted mood.
“Listen asshole, it isn’t like that,” I start to explain. “We haven’t—we aren’t, we aren’t there yet,” I finally get out.
“Ohhhh, wow— man, never thought I’d see the day,” he states as if in awe. “I always figured you would be a lone wolf forever.”
“Shut up, okay—I don’t need this shit from you either. I’ve already had enough from Holt. I’ll get it out of the way right now. She is different okay, I’ve decided to just go with it,” I explain plainly. My hope is to end this conversation.
“Jesus, don’t get yourself all worked up about it,” he responds. But his tone shifts and I know he is moving on, for now anyway. I sigh silently in relief. “Look, text me the number that the text came through from. I can see if I can get anything from that tonight.”
Realizing that she left her phone on the kitchen counter, I text him the number while he is still on the line. “I may need that phone and it would be helpful for me to have her laptop. I’ll come by. In the morning and see what I can do. If you and Holtneed help putting up the cameras or putting in new locks, I can be an extra set of hands too,” he offers almost apologetically.
I know Carter though, he isn’t done. Part of tomorrow is going to be him observing my interactions with Meg. Then he will have ammunition to really give me hell later.
“See you tomorrow,” I say and then hang up before he has a chance to respond. He has given me enough information for the night anyway. I set the phone back on the counter, knowing she will be searching for it at some point.
I check the front door one more time and the door to the deck. They are locked. I notice that the house has strings of twinkle lights that are along the fireplace mantle and other shelves sprinkled around. They must be on a timer. It is cute.Cute.Listen to me. What the hell, I’m losing my mind. Heading into the bedroom that I have taken up as my temporary residence, I unzip my duffle bag. I pull out a pair of sweatpants. Normally, I sleep in nothing. I figured I would need to work my way up to that here.
Chuckling to myself, I imagine the look on her face if I walked around her house in nothing. She may have a coronary. While it was tempting to see that reaction in person, this situation probably required a bit more finesse.
I shut the door for a second to strip down and pull on my sweats. I forgo a shirt. I want to be somewhat comfortable. Once I finish, I open the door again. I want to be able to hear anything if something were to happen. I doubt tonight would be the night. A different vehicle is in the carport, and there has been a lot of traffic in and out. Shaking my head I pull back the flannel plaid sheet and slide in. I have had to sleep in worse places. As far as security details go, this one is turning out to be the most interesting one yet.
Chapter 17
Meg
I tossed and turned most of the night. I think I finally dozed off at about 2:00 am. At one point I realized I left my phone on the kitchen counter. I skulked out at 12:30 am, in the hopes of avoiding contact with Sterling to grab it. I laid in bed and scrolled through my phone for a while, and finally was able to relax enough to sleep.
My eyes popped open about 5 hours later, and I was frustrated enough that I decided to get up. The need for coffee was instinctual and overrode the uncomfortable thought of facing Sterling after our—encounter— last night. Pulling on an oversized hoodie, I slid my feet into my slippers and cautiously made my way out to the kitchen.
It occurred to me that this was the second morning in a row that we had shared my house, and while I was embarrassed about last night, I felt oddly safe. I have never loved being in a house alone. Probably all those crime shows I watch. I have always just sucked it up.
But it was more than that. I barely knew Sterling, there was just something about him that made me trust him—with my safety. Not my heart. Sterling was a 10. And I never trusted 10s with my heart. I wasn’t the type to attract a 10, which is why last night really threw me for a loop. I’m shoveling coffee grounds into my percolator again, when I feel someone watching me. Ilook up and out the window and see someone I don’t recognize walking down the street.
It isn’t odd that I don’t recognize him, a couple of the houses in my neighborhood are used for short term rentals. However, it seems odd. I keep watching his back as he walks away, wondering which house he may be renting— if he is at all. I am so focused, I don’t hear Sterling come up behind me until he speaks.
“Is that a neighbor,” he asks gruffly. I jump a half a foot and manage not to spill coffee grounds all over the counter. Clearing my throat and taking a deep breath I turn around and respond.
“I don’t know who he is, actually. He may be renting one of the vacation homes in the neighborhood though,” I elaborate. Sterling looks at me skeptically. As if he thinks the notion is absurd. Honestly, it probably is. The whole not believing in coincidences thing, you know?
“I would go out there and confront him, but I don’t want to leave you alone in the house. That would put you at risk,” he states simply. As if it is everyday that a person can’t be left alone in there home due to some anonymous threat.
It is only now that I notice how unclothed Sterling is. His black sweatpants hang low on trim hips. His upper body mimics the shape of a triangle. Broad defined shoulders and arms, firm pecs, muscular torso all on display. His tattoo sleeves finally bared for my perusal. Colorful swirls and symbols blend together. My mouth is dry.
It is almost like I can see myself frozen from above. Trying to force my mouth closed, I clear my throat. Sterling is smirking. He folds his arms across his chest. Nodding, I turn back around to finish the task at hand. Coffee. It hasn’t let me down yet.
“How’d you sleep,” he asks. The start of small talk shocks me. If we aren’t talking about my truck repair or the threatagainst me, we aren’t really talking at all. I almost don’t know how to respond. I shrug my shoulders.
“I got a few hours,” I say honestly. Plugging in the percolator and opening the cabinet to pull down a couple of cereal options and some microwave oatmeal. I need to make sure I feed my unofficial bodyguard. It is the least I can do. Plus it keeps my busy. When I’m busy I tend to function better. Remembering my manners, I return his question.
“I slept pretty well, the bed in there is comfortable. Have you gotten any other messages from unknown numbers,” he asks.Ah, there we go. Back into familiar conversation territory.
“No text messages, but I haven’t checked my email this morning. I’ll do that now,” I say. Happy for something to do and hoping that he isn’t going to bring up last night, I go into the living room and grab my laptop off the coffee table. Returning back to the kitchen, I notice that Sterling has pulled the table out from the wall, and is putting napkins and spoons out.
I’m not sure how he knew where the spoons were, but I’m quickly realizing he is full of surprises. So I let it go. Sitting at the end of one of the bench seats I pull up my email. I notice I have 15 new messages. Odd for a Sunday morning.
