“You don’t sound happy about that,” he said instead of answering her question. That didn’t give her much hope. She might have to escape after all. And here she was just starting to think she could trust him.
“I’m not in a hurry to go back,” she admitted softly.Fiona was enjoying the freedom and being away from her family. She loved them dearly, but at times they could be a bit much. It was nice being in a quiet house with no one yelling or asking if you’re okay every ten minutes.
“Because of your family?”
“Sort of, but I like being on my own without my family hovering over me. If they knew someone was threatening me, they’d never let me out of my room.”She had enough of that after the Congo. It was stifling.
Vincent’s shoulders dropped. Fiona didn’t dare breathe as she waited for Vincent’s decision. “I won’t force you to go home. I get needing your independence. The only thing I ask is that we get rid of your phone and get you a burner.”
“Why?”
“If the person is stalking you like you think, your cell phone is easy to track.”
Oh. She hadn’t even thought of that. Fiona pulled her phone out of her purse and handed it to him.
“I’ll call your brother and get rid of this on our way to the store.”
“Store?” Why were they going to the store?
“You need clothes, don’t you?” He said as if it should be obvious what they were going to the store for.
Oh yeah, that would be helpful. She couldn’t very well live in the same pair of clothes for the next few days. “Yes, thank you, Vincent, for everything.” She wanted to keep hating him, to hold onto the hurt he’d caused her, but he made it hard when he was helping her like this.
“Vince. Let’s go.” He smiled at her causing her to suck in a breath that hit the wrong tube and made her cough hysterically.
Oh yeah, that was attractive. Way to show him she was all grown up.
“You okay?” he asked with concern, hitting her on the back.
“I’m good.” She choked out, trying to fight the cough making her eyes water. “Let’s go.” Not giving him a choice but to follow, Fiona headed out the front door, straight for the truck parked in the driveway. She wasn’t surprised to see it was a lifted truck. Men liked things big. Usually it was for compensation, but she didn’t think he had any problems in that department.
“We’ll get you some clothes, stop for food and make one last stop at my place to get some clothes,” Vincent announced as he hopped into the truck.
Fiona almost missed the step climbing up and bashed her knee into the running board. “You’re staying here?” She didn’t like that at all.
“Until whoever is after you is caught, I don’t think you should be alone.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” she growled, finally managing to get into the truck and get her seatbelt on.
Vincent started the truck and looked over at her with a lopsided grin. “Think of me as an oversized guard dog.”
“Tomayto,tomahto,it’s all the same. I could go back home if I wanted someone hovering over me.”
“Well, like it or not, baby girl, you’re stuck with me. This person has been harassing you for too long and obviously isn’t giving up. I’m not taking any chances.”
“You’re not taking any chances? With me?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“I care about you, Fi.”
Fiona rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Yeah, I know, as a friend.” What every woman wanted to hear.I like you but only as a friend.
“I always have,” he whispered softly as he put the truck in gear and started backing out. So softly she thought she misheard him. He always cared? This man was so confusing. He called her a child and pushed her away, and now he said it was all a lie and he cared about her.She didn’t know what to believe.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
Vincent gave her a side glance. “One of these days, we’re going to talk about that night.”
Fiona whipped her head around to glare at him. Like hell they were. Personally, she’d rather forget that night ever happened.
