Cole’s comment caught her off guard.“I was just thinking,” she answered without meeting his eyes.The floor had been cleaned and mopped, the counters scrubbed.The transformation in the small kitchen was dramatic, as was the contrast in the living room where Cole was working.
“What will you do about the furniture?Almost everything will need to be replaced.”
“I’m not sure it would be worth the trouble,” Cole answered her thoughtfully.“I won’t be around here much longer.”
The rest of what he was saying faded into oblivion.Wouldn’t be around here much longer, Lesley’s mind echoed.He was leaving, within a matter of days.He’d pack his bags and without a backward glance be on his way.She meant nothing: a small-town girl who was a convenient distraction.Cole would leave without a thought, without looking back, and with him would go her heart.How could she have been so stupid as to fall inlove with this man?Didn’t she recognize in the library that a man like Cole wouldn’t want anything to do with a nobody like her?
Lesley felt the shock vibrate through her.“Where will you go?”The question was squeezed out through the tight block of pain that formed in her throat.
“More questions?”His look seemed to sear right to her heart.Fresh pain washed through her.
For a moment Lesley stared at him blankly.She felt the blood drain from her face, her breath caught in her lungs, but she answered him with a short shake of her head.“No,” she managed.Her hand was shaking visibly as she replaced the broom and mop in the narrow closet.She made a show of looking at her watch, but couldn’t have guessed at the time.
“It’s getting late.I’ll say good night.”Her eyes refused to meet his.
His hand on her shoulder stopped her as she stepped into the living room.His touch sent shock waves rippling over her skin.She shrugged her shoulder, breaking the contact.“Don’t,” she warned in a wavering voice.“Don’t touch me.”Each word was enunciated plainly so there would be no doubt about her feelings.
“You’re angry.”Cole sounded surprised.
“You know, sometimes your brilliant perceptions astonish even me,” she returned flippantly.“Good night, Cole.”
He looked so shocked that she almost wanted to laugh.With her head held high and her chin angled regally, Lesley marched past him.The short distance that separated their front doors was covered in a matter of seconds.
Lesley opened her front door, looked up and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Chapter Eight
“Lesley.”Cole shot into the apartment, nearly knocking her off her feet as he pulled her into his arms.
He stopped abruptly and looked around at the horrible mess that lay scattered before them.“How could they do this?”he muttered in a low, disbelieving voice.
The room was in shambles.Furniture was overturned.Photos of family and friends had been hurled across the room.Drawers were emptied and their contents spilled onto the floor.Lesley felt like screaming and weeping all at the same moment.But the only sound that came from her throat was an anguished cry like that of an animal caught in a hunter’s trap.Her life lay sprawled before her.She felt vulnerable, as if she’d been violated.
Cole turned her into his arms, his hand at the back of her head holding it against the muscular cushion of his chest.“I’m so sorry,” he murmured over and over again.“I never dreamed they’d do this to you.”
Lesley welcomed the comfort offered in his embrace.It helped lessen the shock.
“Here.”Cole cleared a path for her and righted the chair before sitting her down.“Let me get you something to drink.”
Numbly Lesley shook her head.“No, I’m fine.”This was a nightmare, some horrible dream that would vanish in the morning.She closed and opened her eyes, hoping the scene would miraculously disappear.But reality faced her.She couldn’t sit idle while her home lay in shambles.Yet as hard as she tried to force herself to stand, she couldn’t.
Cole was kneeling at her side, his look troubled and tender.“Are you all right?”He smoothed the hair back from her temple.“You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine,” she murmured and brushed his restraining hands aside as she stood with trembling resolve.The first thing she picked up was the small Bible she used for devotions.Checking the inside flap, she noted that the contents had been undisturbed.It was ironic, since it seemed everything else had been destroyed.
The destruction in her half of the duplex wasn’t nearly as extensive as in Cole’s.It looked as if someone had come through her quarters searching for something.Drawers were opened and left dangling after their contents had been carelessly tossed aside.The scene was the same in the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
Cole set the furniture upright and bent over to pick up the broken pieces of glass that had once been her lamp.
Wordlessly Lesley wandered from room to room, surveying the extent of the damage.Hot color invaded her face at the thought of someone entering her bedroom and sorting through her personal items.With practiced care she carefully folded each piece and returned it to her drawers.Next she straightened the mattress on her bed and pulled back the covers and bedspread.The contents of her closet had been tossed on the floor.After examining each dress, blouse and skirt for damage, she replaced them one by one.
When she returned to the living room, Cole had finished cleaning as best he could and glanced up guiltily.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said with a tight, pinched look about his handsome face.“Scream, yell, do whatever will make you feel better.”
Lesley lowered her eyes and shook her head.What good would screaming do now?
The teakettle whistled, its shrillness piercing the heavy silence that filled the room.Without a word she moved into the kitchen and took the kettle off the burner.The whistle petered out to a soft whine.
