Her best friend answered on the first ring. “Nora! Oh my God, where have you been? I’ve been so worried—”
“I’m okay. I’m safe. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.”
“Where are you? What’s going on?”
Nora closed her eyes. “I can’t tell you where I am. But I’m with... I’m somewhere safe. The detective is helping me. He’s keeping me protected until they catch the person who’s been stalking me.”
“Stalking you.” Lila’s voice was tight. “You really think—”
“I know. I know it’s real, Lila. They broke into my apartment. Left a message on my wall. This isn’t in my head.”
Silence. Then, “Oh God. Nora, I’m so sorry. I should have believed you. I should have—”
“It’sokay. You didn’t know.”
“Are you really safe? Is this detective taking care of you?”
Nora thought about Carson. About the fierce protectiveness in his voice. About the way he’d held her gaze and promised to catch Eugene. About the grilled cheese and the quiet companionship and the way he made her feel less alone.
“Yes,” she said softly. “He’s taking care of me.”
They talked for a few more minutes—Lila apologizing, Nora reassuring her—before Nora ended the call.
She sat in the quiet guest room, listening to the muffled sound of the TV in the other room, trying to figure out what she was feeling.
Fear, yes. But also something else. Something warm and dangerous and utterly inappropriate given the circumstances.
She was falling for Carson Black.
The detective who was protecting her. The man who’d believed her when no one else would. The person who made her feel safe and seen and worth fighting for.
And she had no idea if he felt the same way.
Or if this was just another case to him.
A soft knock on her door made her jump.
“Nora?” Carson’s voice, quiet through the door. “Can I come in?”
She opened the door. Carson stood in the hallway, looking uncertain in a way she’d never seen before.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For earlier. You asked a fair question and I...I didn’t handle it well.”
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
“No, you should have.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Because you deserve honesty. And the honest answer is no. This isn’t just another job to me. You’re not just another victim.”
Nora’s breath caught. “I’m not?”
“No.” His voice was rough. Raw. “You’re...more. And that scares the hell out of me. Because I don’t do this. I don’t get attached. I don’t let people in. But somehow you...” He trailed off, looking frustrated with himself. “I can’t give you more than that right now. Not while you’re in danger. Not while I’m supposed to be protecting you.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” Nora stepped closer, her heart hammering. “Because I feel it too. This...whatever this is between us. And it scares me too. But I’m tired of being scared. Tired of not trusting my instincts. And my instincts say you’re someone worth trusting.”
They stood inches apart, the air between them electric. Carson’s eyes dropped to her mouth, then back up.
