She drew in a large breath, considering her options. “I won’t feel like I’m out of harm’s way until this guy is caught. Until then, I’d rather be in my own home—with Reid.”
Madden nodded then stood. “All right. We’ll get out of your hair. You’ve had a long day, and it’s getting late. Call if you need anything at all. Both of you.”
“I’ll see you out.” Reid stood and waited for Lily to give Eve a quick hug before walking them to the door.
The sound of the security system being armed was like nails on a chalkboard. She cringed, hating how each new ping was another weight placed on her chest, caging her inside her own home.
Reid strolled back into the living room and plunged his hands deep in the front pockets of his jeans. “Madden was right. It’s getting late.”
She sighed and stared up at him. She should take his lead and head to bed, but only nightmares waited to haunt her there.
Frowning, he took a step forward. “Not tired?”
“I am, but I’m not sure I can sleep.”
“Okay,” he said, crossing to sit back down beside her. “I get that. You’ve had a lot thrown at you, and your head’s probably spinning. When I get like that, I like to write down everything clogging up my brain. Make a list of things to do the next day. Anything to help me feel like I’m being proactive.”
She twisted on the couch to face him. “How would being proactive help me sleep? Wouldn’t it just keep repeating everything in my mind?”
“Maybe, maybe not. For me, seeing everything written down helps me process. Helps me know exactly what I have to do, which takes away some of my anxiety. That helps me sleep. It’s worth a shot.”
She wanted to tell him that what would help her sleep was him holding her close until her eyelids finally snapped shut. Instead, she rummaged through the drawer of the end table and found a notepad and pen. She tapped the tip of the pen on the paper.
“Either you have a lot of thoughts or none at all.”
She glanced up to find Reid’s amused smirk. “Fine, smart-ass,” she mumbled and scribbled the only thought that was sure to keep her from getting any rest.
He reached for the pad, and his fingertips brushed against hers.
Sucking in a breath, she stilled, afraid any movement would cause him to take back the soothing feel of his skin on hers.
He lingered for a few more beats before sliding the notepad onto his lap, leaving her deflated. He let out a low whistle. “You led with the big dog, huh?”
She looked down at the words she’d written.Find my attacker.“That’s the only thing I want to do, and the last thing I know how to do. I know what this guy looks like, what he smells like, even the way a creepy light shines in his eyes when he sees my fear, but none of that helps me pinpoint who he is or where he’s hiding.”
“That’s why sheriff’s deputies are scouring the county right now. They’re going to find him. He can’t hide forever.”
“And if they can’t find him? Or it takes days, weeks? Then what? I want to do something to find this creep now. Will you help me?” She might have hired Reid to protect her, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t do more. Sitting in the house for hours, waiting for answers, wasn’t an option. At least not for her. If he wanted her to be proactive, she would be. But she’d do a whole hell of a lot more than writing ideas down on a piece of paper.
Reid pressed his mouth in a firm line, gaze fixed on her messy handwriting. “Are you sure you want to jump down this rabbit hole? It might be safer to lay low and let the professionals do their job.”
“You’re a professional,” she shot back.
A small smile poked through his gruff expression. “I guess I am. And if you want my help to figure out who this guy is so we can take him down, you’ve got it.”
A sliver of excitement wedged itself through her fear. “Where do we start?”
Frowning, he scratched his chin. “Back to the first place your attacker was spotted. Tomorrow morning, we head to the rodeo.”
Sleep eluded Reid as he lay on the bed in the guest room. The bright light of his phone screen intensified the ache in the middle of his forehead. He rubbed his eyes then refocused on the words he’d typed in his notes app.
Talk to Madden about finding Eve’s attacker.
Get more information on the murdered woman.
Secure bar for Eve’s event.
He paused with his thumb hovering above the keyboard. He wished he had more ideas of what to do tomorrow, but this was a start. He might not have a ton of investigative experience—hell, he’d thought Madden crazy when he’d suggested adding PI services to their business—but he’d learned one thing over the last few months.
