“She died a few years ago from cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” He felt his throat closing up. He didn’t often talk about it with anyone. Not even his friends. He rather keep those things to himself. He didn’t know why he was telling her now except he wanted her to know about him. To trust him.
That guarded look was still in her eyes. He noticed she hardly touched the food either, as if she thought he poisoned her.
“Do you want me to make you something else?” He asked changing the subject.
Shay stared down at her plate that she had only taken a few bites from and pushed the rest around her plate. “No, thank you. I’m just not very hungry.” She stood taking her plate with her.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll clean up.”
“It’s no trouble.” She assured him.
Drew watched her a moment in the kitchen. Hating himself for thinking how good she looked in there. She’d ditched the heels and was barefoot. Her red toenails peeking out from the bottom of his sweats.
She glanced over at him, sensing his gaze upon her. She quickly averted her gaze, as if afraid to be caught looking at him. A wall was erected between them and he didn’t know how to tear it down. That pull between them from earlier was gone as if it had never been.
After she finished with her plate she came back into the dining room, her arms crossed over her chest as if trying to protect herself. He didn’t know if from himself or something else. “Can I go home now please?”
There was no point in delaying the inevitable. He never should have insisted she stay and eat. He opened his mouth totell her sure when his phone rang. The ID showed Jackson’s name. “Right after I take this call.”
He grabbed his phone and went down the hall to the privacy of his bedroom. It was only a two bedroom house. The other room was used as an office across from the bathroom. His room was farthest down the hall.
“Did you find anything?” He asked without preamble. His team was used to his directness.
“Not a lot but something. The security cameras on the second floor were turned off thirty minutes before the fire.”
“About the same time the text went out for the buy.”
That wasn’t a coincidence.
“Dig up anything you can on the owner. We obviously knows who was there for the buy. Check in with the others and see if they saw anyone when every ran out. Crews are still at the site so I’ll go in the morning after they finish up. Maybe there were some clues there.”
“Sounds good. I’ll keep you posted if I find anything.”
Drew walked with leaden steps back to Shay even while is mind already plotted the next steps in his investigation. Something told him Shay knew more than she was letting on but wouldn’t say anything until she was comfortable with him. He’d give her time. If nothing came about his own investigation, he’d seek her out.
He found her in the living room curled up on the couch. Her arms were wrapped around her knees pulling herself into a tight ball. Always defensive. When she didn’t look at him when he came into the room, he realized she was asleep.
His fingers twitched wanting to run through her hair. Stroke over her soft skin again. He debated waking her. She had seemed adamant that she wanted to go home.
“Shay,” He called softy and finally gave into temptation and ran his hand over her hair. She didn’t even twitch. Poor thing must be exhausted.
Drew didn’t hesitate after that. He lifted her off the couch, ignoring how perfect once again she fit in his arms and carried her to his bed. He set her down and wrapped the covers around her.
He’d take her home in the morning.
He stood over her watching her sleep for several minutes, reluctant to leave. How could he get attached to someone so quickly he hardly knew? It didn’t make sense and right now he didn’t try to figure it out.
She looked so soft and innocent in sleep. No sign of wariness.
Finally he managed to tear himself away. If he didn’t leave now, he feared he’d never want to let her go. Which was even more dangerous.
Chapter 6
“It’s gone. Everything’s gone.” Kent wasn’t telling Sykes anything he didn’t know. That little bitch had ruined everything. Not only his plans to sell her to the highest bidder but his club. His business. His livelihood.
