She sat at an empty table, her knee bouncing up and down, broadcasting her nerves brighter than the neon signs above the bar.
He listened to every detail, biting his tongue so as not to jump in. As much as he wanted to be helpful, he didn’t want to give her any reason to tell him to leave.
Tia sat next to Celine, eyes wide with worry.
Spencer scribbled in the same notepad he’d used the night before. “So no one saw anything and there are no cameras pointed at the back lot?”
Sighing, Tia shook her head. “We’ve never had a reason to be concerned over security issues, and even if I’d wanted to, there’s no place in town to sell what I’d need.”
Duke snorted. “Tell me about it. We had to drive over an hour to get a system for residential use. Can’t imagine where someone around here’d find something professional enough for a business.”
Spencer hooked up one light eyebrow. “And who are you?”
“Oh, sorry, I keep forgetting to introduce myself. I’m Duke, Lane’s buddy.”
Apparently satisfied with that response, Spencer refocused on Celine. “You’ve been targeted twice now. Any ideas who could be behind this?”
Tears welled in Celine’s eyes. “No, I swear I have no idea who it could be. I haven’t had issues with anyone. Nothing unusual has happened until last night. I can’t believe someone is out there tormenting me and no one has caught even a glimpse of him.”
“What about surrounding businesses?” Lane asked, unable to help himself. “Any of them have cameras? Even if they aren’t pointed directly in the lot here, they could show people coming and going. Maybe give us something useful.”
“I’ll take a look,” Spencer said. “Until we figure out what’s going on, Celine, you need to be on high alert. Deputies are still searching for this guy from last night, and the sheriff will want to be filled in on this asap. This case just climbed to the top of our priority list.”
Lane bit back a comment about how finding Celine’s attacker should have been at the top of the list all along.
“I’m going to see about those other cameras,” Spencer said. “Call me if you think of anything that could be useful.”
Lane walked Spencer to the front door, stopping him before the deputy made it outside. “Besides installing the security system at her place, is there anything else she should do to stay safe? Can a deputy be stationed outside her home to ensure this guy doesn’t go after her again?”
Spencer twisted his facial features into a grimace. “I wish we could, man, but the department is short-staffed right now. We can’t afford to just keep someone stationary to watch one civilian when we have a whole county to patrol.”
“Damn, I get it, but I hate the idea of her and the baby all alone.”
Spencer glanced past him toward where Celine sat with Tia, Duke still standing guard. “I don’t like it either, but my hands are tied. Yours aren’t. I know you’re probably not planning on sticking around town, but you could stay long enough to make sure she’s okay. But that’s between the two of you.”
The idea took root inside Lane as he watched Spencer head outside. He’d love nothing more than guarding Celine until her attacker was behind bars. Not only would it keep her safe, but it could give him a chance to get to know his son—maybe even prove to Celine how much he meant what he said about being around for his child.
He made his way back to the center of the room where Celine and Tia sat. Celine wiped tears from her cheeks, the scent of fear wafting off her in waves.
She stared up at him with wide eyes. “What did he say?”
He blew out a long breath. “I asked if the department could station a deputy outside your house for the time being, but he said they’re too short staffed. But at least you’ll have the security system. That will keep anyone out, or at last alert you and the police if someone tries to get in again.”
“I can’t even get back to my house,” she said, snorting out a humorless laugh. “My car’s a mess. No way I can drive it.”
“I’ll take you,” Tia said. “I’ll close down for the night.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Celine said. “I’ll call my mom.”
“I’ll drive you,” Lane said. “My truck’s out front. Grab the car seat, and we’ll pick up Parker. Then we can go over everything you need to know about the new system. Make sure it all works before I take off.”
He wouldn’t bring up the idea of him sticking around. At least not yet.
The way she clenched her hands in her lap relayed her uncertainty, but she nodded. “Okay.”
“Looks like we got ourselves a plan,” Duke said, rubbing his palms together. “Let’s get goin’.”
Lane bit back a groan. Before he could focus on Celine and what he needed to do to win her over, he had to get rid of the most unwanted houseguest ever.
