“Last week, while I was at work, someone broke into my house.”
Chapter 3
“What?”Jake’s eyes bugged out, and he shot up from his chair so quickly, it nearly tipped backward.
“Calm down, Jake. Nothing was taken or damaged or anything like that.”
“So, how did you know someone was here?”
Breaking eye contact, she said, “Whoever it was...they left me flowers.”
“Flowers?”
Olivia nodded. “Daisies.”
His expression softened only slightly. “Your favorite.”
Her gaze found his again. “You remember.”
She absolutely wouldnottell him how she’d run through her house looking for him, thinking he was back and had brought her the flowers to surprise her.
Staring deep into her eyes, he spoke low. “Of course, I remember.” Then, he blinked, and Warrior Jake was back. “And quit trying to change the subject. Someone broke in and left you your favorite flowers. Please tell me the police acted onthat.”
“They did what they could. Came out and took pictures. Jotted down some notes. The deputies on duty suggested I get a security system, so I had that one installed, the next day.”
Jake began to pace the length of her tiny kitchen. Just when Olivia was sure he was going to wear the finish off her hardwood floor, he stopped next to the room’s edge and swung around to face her again.
So much anger flashed in his eyes that she actually recoiled in her chair. With his strong hands resting low on his hips, Jake was just this side of yelling when he asked, “Why am I just now hearing about this? Goddammit, Olivia.I should have known about this shit theminuteit started. Why didn’t you...”
Olivia’s shoulders stiffened at his absurd outburst. Did he even hear what he was saying?
“Are you kidding me?”
Jake obviously didn’t realize how unbelievable his comments were, because he kept his rant going.
“Fuck, no, I’m not kidding. I want to know why I didn’t know someone wasstalkingyou.”
