Ward turned to look at his deputy. “Cross-check that with the others.”
“That’s when someone hit me,” Maggie finished.
Ward nodded. “Do you know who might have done it?”
“No. But…there have been other things that have happened. I’ve reported some of it. A couple of items went missing in the apartment over Polly’s garage while I was staying there. And before coming back here, things like that happened in LA.”
“You reportedsomeof what happened?” Ward asked.
“Yes. And I also told Ethan and his team.”
Ward visibly tensed. “Ethan and his teamare notlaw enforcement.”
“Hey.” Ethan stepped toward Ward. “Not here. She’s just been assaulted—have some bedside manners. Is there anything else you need?”
Ward took the book from his deputy and snapped it shut. “No. We’ll look into it.” He looked back at Maggie. “Next time something happens, you tell me first. If you’ve brought trouble to this town, I need to know about it.”
Then he left. And Maggie absolutely would not be holding her breath for him to solve what had happened to her tonight.
27
Maggie watched the soft orange-blue of the setting sun poke through the trees outside the car. Ethan was quiet behind the wheel. Had been quiet the entire drive.
She shot him a glance beneath her lashes before looking back out the window. They’d spent the entire day at the hospital, yet neither of them had brought up Jay or the bar or the kiss. Not once. She’d expected him to mention it last night. Then this morning. Then this afternoon.
Nope. Was he waiting for them to get to his house?
Sure, they’d talked. About everythingbutJay. And God, he’d been great. Sitting with her. Getting her food and drinks and making sure she was okay. Polly had spent a chunk of the day with them as well, and the guys from Ethan’s team had filtered in and out. Maybe that was why neither of them had brought it up—because there’d been a constant barrage of people.
When they reached his house and stepped inside, it felt so quiet, especially compared to the busy, loud hospital.
He kissed her temple before setting her bag in the bedroom. When he returned, he went straight into the kitchen. “What doyou feel like for dinner? We could do tacos? Or make a couple of pizzas?”
Was he avoiding the conversation as much as she was? “Anything’s fine. I might have a shower, if that’s okay. Get rid of the smell of the hospital.”
He turned to frown at her. “Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Absolutely fine.” She didn’t even have a headache anymore. Thank you, Tylenol.
In the bathroom, she closed the door with a softthudand leaned her back against the wood.
Just do it, Maggie. Stop avoiding. Talk to him about the kiss.
She straightened and opened the door—only to gasp at the sight of Ethan. He was right there, hand up like he was about to knock.
“Hi.” Her voice was breathless.
“I didn’t kiss her.”
Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat.
He inched closer, his hand going to her hip. “She confirmed what you already knew. That she had feelings for me. Apparently, my entire team knew.”
It wasn’t in her head. The idea of Jay caring about him hadn’t been built on her insecurities.
“Shekissedme,” Ethan continued. “I was caught off guard.”
The sight of her lips on Ethan’s flashed through her mind for what had to be the hundredth time in the last twenty-four hours.
