Excitement coursed through my blood. Finally we had something to work with. I couldn't wait to put my skills to work and figure out who this fucker was.
"What are you doing?" Vanessa asked when I hunched over and started to get to work.
"Running this asshole through every database I can get my hands on. Now that I have something to work with, nothing is going to stop me from finding him."
"Is that something that can run on its own, or do you need to be here staring at the computer to do it?"
I didn't even bother to look up when I answered her, "It can run on its own, but I want to watch as the programs work."
"Uh, no." Vanessa put her hand on the top of my laptop like she was going to close the damn thing again.
I was able to stop her as my eyes swung up to meet hers. "What are you doing?"
"You said it can run on its own, correct?"
"Well, yeah, but I would prefer to watch." I was looking at her like she had ten heads. I couldn't understand what she was getting at. This was too important for me to not be here.
"And I would prefer you come upstairs with me and fulfill at least a little part of what I told you in the kitchen."
Now I was just downright confused. "What are you talking about?"
Vanessa huffed like I was the one acting strange all of a sudden. "Put the laptop on the coffee table and follow me."
"But…"
"No buts."
I did as she asked but only because the look on her face scared me more than anything else. She looked downright determined, like nothing I said was going to change her mind.
Vanessa took my hand and practically dragged me up the stairs. It wasn't until we entered her bedroom that things startedto click into place and our conversation in the kitchen before the alarm went off became forefront in my mind.
"Vanessa, we can't. Your broken ribs. I don't want to hurt you." My sentences were choppy and barely made any sense, but once again all the blood was rushing south, and my mind was taking a backseat.
"Nolen." Vanessa sounded like she was holding on to her patience by a thread. "One of the many things I love about you is the fact that you always put people first, but right now, I'm starting to hate it."
I stumbled to a stop. Did she just say she loved me?
"Did you just say…?" I couldn't even get the word out.
"That I love you? Yes, I did."
"But?" Suddenly I was a stumbling fool who couldn't speak.
"I know it's sudden, and it doesn't make much sense, but neither does my life some days. I knew the minute I saw you in Valerie's shop that you were different. I couldn't take my eyes off you, and I wanted to know everything I could. Unfortunately life got in the way, and instead of acting on my feelings, I was forced to push everything off, but they never wavered. And having you here has only intensified the maelstrom of emotions."
I walked straight up to her and cradled her face in my hands.
"You don't have to say anything back. I understand it’s too soon, but I needed you to know how I feel."
"It's not that."
Vanessa covered my hands with her own. "Then tell me what it is."
"I'm too old for you to love me. You have so much going for you in life, and I would just slow you down. You probably want things I can never give you."
Her face softened at my words, and I knew even before she said anything that she wasn't going to make this easy on me.
"Like what things?"
