“Yes. I called her from Andrew’s, waiting in the car. No dice.”
“You’ll stay with me, then.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “Thank you, but no. I like my job.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Staying with a patient would get me fired in an instant. I’m not risking that.”
“But you’ll risk your life?”
“You’re being over the top, Phoenix.”
My jaw ticked. “I’ll book you a hotel room.”
“No.”
This woman.
My patience slipped another notch. She was fearless, reckless, stubborn. A damn sitting duck in a house someone had already broken into.
“What about other friends? Family?”
She shook her head.
Unbelievable.
From the kitchen, she tried to change the subject. “How’re the windows looking?”
I let her pivot. For now.
“Windows two and five need new locks. I’ll get those ordered. We’ll drill peepholes in both front and back doors, reinforce the side entry. You need motion lights and a security camera by the driveway.”
Rattling off security measures grounded me. Gave me something to hold on to—something I couldfix.
Until I walked into her bedroom?—
And saw the flowers.
22
PHOENIX
“Who sent you those flowers?” I snapped.
Silence.
That was all the answer I needed.
My jaw tightened as I spun on my heel, the warning bell in my head screamingcool it, man—but I didn’t listen. I never did.
I stormed across the room, the whole damn day boiling in my blood. “I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend.”
“I don’t.”
“Then who the hell are these orchids from?”
Her eyes locked onto mine, sharp and defiant, a fire sparking behind them.
