Helping her into the passenger seat, he closed the door with another reassuring smile, and then went around to the driver’s side. ‘Okay?’ he asked, climbing in.
Twisting towards him, she nodded. But she guessed from Adam’s furious expression as he swept his gaze over her that she looked anything but. She noted him looking again at her torn top, the flecks of blood on her breasts.
An agitated tic playing at his cheek, he pulled his gaze back to her face. ‘Did he…?’ He stopped, his hands going to the steering wheel, his fingers tightening around it.
Kim got the gist. ‘No. He…’ she wavered, ‘assaulted me, but he didn’t… He ran off when I managed to scream. He took my bag. My purse was inside it. That’s why I called you. I… wasn’t sure what else to do.’
Adam clutched the steering wheel hard. ‘Bastard!’
‘I’m all right.’ She reached to place a hand over his. ‘Honestly, Adam, I’m okay, I promise.’
He emitted a short incredulous laugh. ‘Have you called the police?’ he asked, his voice choked as he glanced at the phone she was clutching.
Kim shook her head. ‘I tried when I was running, but my phone was off. I couldn’t turn it on. The panic, I think.’ She looked at him uncertainly. ‘I’ve been in this kind of situation before,’ she said, her voice tremulous. ‘That’s why I was so terrified.’
His face paling, Adam eyed her questioningly.
‘This guy…’ she dropped her gaze, ‘he stalked me. I got away from him eventually, but… something similar happened.’
Adam sucked in a terse breath, held it. Then cursed again, half under his breath. ‘You should report it, Kim,’ he said, sounding sick to his soul – for her. ‘This bastard shouldn’t get away with what he’s done. Then there are the other women he might prey on, possibly already has.’
Kim looked back at him. ‘I will,’ she said, nodding. ‘Just… not now. All I want is to go home to my baby.’
Adam blew out a sigh, but nodded understandingly. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ he asked her cautiously. ‘What happened before?’
Kim’s eyes flickered down again. ‘I would love to. I’ve never really spoken about it before, but I actually think I could, to you. Maybe not here, though,’ she added, with the tiniest of smiles. ‘Right now, I think I just need someone to hold me; no agenda, you know?’
Adam hesitated for a second, and then placed an arm around her, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. He held her for a while, until her sniffles subsided, and then eased gently away. ‘We should get back,’ he said, his eyes searching hers. ‘Are you sure you’re okay? Would you like me to take you to the hospital?’
‘I’d rather not. I’m okay. Just shaken,’ Kim assured him. ‘I really would rather get back to Samuel.’
Adam nodded, but didn’t look convinced.
‘You know, I’ve never met anyone like you, someone so genuinely caring,’ she said as he started the car. ‘Whatever happens in the future, between you and Cassie, I mean, I want you to know that I’m always there for you, Adam.’
Forty-One
Cassandra
Sitting in the garden with Samuel nestled against her shoulder, finally contentedly sleeping, Cassie was surprised to see Adam come through the patio doors.
‘You didn’t mention you’d be back early,’ she said, careful not to wake Samuel as she got to her feet. He’d tested his lungs mightily after she’d fed him and tried to put him down. The little man had ideas of his own, a strong personality, undoubtedly. Strength of character was no bad thing, though. God knew he would need it to survive in today’s world.
‘No, I wasn’t planning to be.’ Adam stepped out onto the patio as she laid Samuel carefully in his pram. He didn’t stir; he was obviously all cried out, poor mite.
Walking across to the pram, Adam smiled fondly down at him. Cassie felt a stab of sorrow that she hadn’t been able to give him his own child. God really did move in mysterious ways, though. After Josh had gone, this child had come miraculously into their lives. She’d hoped that he might help them to find a way through the grief that shrouded them and find some contentment again. She was realising now that might not be possible. Adam had been growing increasingly irritated, simply because she’d forced herself onwards rather than give in to the dark depression that had wrapped itself around her like a cloying grey blanket; unable to allow the dirt to build up around her, which would only depress her further. He’d never really seemed open to discussing the shoplifting incident, seeming to believe that she was guilty, presumably because of the previous incident. She’d wondered, as she lay awake in the small hours wishing she could reach out to him, if he hadn’t been content for a while. They’d had no common bond once Josh had gone, after all. And then Kim had crash-landed into their lives. No doubt she’d reminded him he could still have a family, if only he were with a younger woman.
‘Kim called me,’ he said. Cassie smiled ironically. ‘She, er, had a problem in town. I went to fetch her.’
‘Oh?’ Raising an eyebrow, Cassie glanced back to the house. There was no sign of Kim. She wondered whether she was in the downstairs toilet, repairing her make-up. Cassie had noticed she’d been titivating a lot lately.
‘And she called you?’ she enquired casually, and started to tidy up the paraphernalia on the patio table. It was growing chilly. She would have to take Samuel inside.
‘She lost her purse,’ Adam said, his expression distracted as he turned to face her.
‘I see. That’s unfortunate.’ Cassie frowned. She’d spilled some juice on the table, she noticed, moving her glass. She would have to clean that up. It would attract wasps. ‘How on earth did she manage to do that?’
‘It was in her sports bag. The bag was stolen.’ Adam was watching her carefully now, baffled by her apparent indifference. But Cassie wasn’t indifferent, far from it. If Adam was oblivious to the attention Kim paid him, her subtle manipulations, Cassie’s radar was on red alert.
