He stepped toward me and said more gently, “If anyonewasin here, they’re gone now. You don’t need to worry.”
The nearness of him was distracting as I tried to determine if he was just placating me or if he genuinely believed what he said. Finally, I decided on the latter. “I hope you’re right.”
He offered what I figured was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but it didn’t quite seem to fit. But my heartbeat still quickened.
Misreading my hesitation to go back inside the apartment, his brows furrowed in concern. “Is there something else? Do you want us to look around in the apartment as well?”
“No, it’s okay,” I said with a shrug, not even sounding convincing to myself. “I’ll be fine. Like Chase said, old building and all that.”
Whit gave me a curt nod and turned to go, but Chase grasped his upper arm and stopped him before he could take a step. “Hey, here’s an idea,” Chase announced. “Zellie, why don’t you and Henry come hang out in the game room tonight? I’ll order some pizza, see if any of the others want to come meet you all. I’m sure we can even persuade my delightfully loquacious cousin to join us. What y’all think?”
“I don’t know…” I hedged, catching the exasperated look Whit sent his cousin. “We still have a lot to do.”
“It’ll be there tomorrow,” Chase assured me. “Plus, it’ll give you a chance to get to know June and Earl since Henry will be staying with them when you’re working.”
Whit cursed under his breath.
I shook my head, not understanding. “Wait—what? What are you talking about? I haven’t found a job yet, let alone childcare.”
Chase glanced between Whit and me. “Oh. Sorry. I just figured Whit had talked to you about it.”
I sent Whit a pointed look as I replied to Chase, “Your cousin sure likes to make decisions for other people without their input.”
Chase chuckled and smacked Whit on the back. “Yeah, he’s always been a bossy son of a bitch. Thinks he’s quite the fixer of everyone’s problems. But he’s a good guy. Just used to people doing what he says, that’s all. Ain’t that right, Cousin?”
Whit’s dark eyes flashed with annoyance, and he looked like he could murder his outspoken cousin. “Someone has to keep you all in line,Cousin.”
I straightened and raised my chin defiantly. “Well, I’m not most people, Mr. Proffitt.”
Whit’s lips twitched as if he was suppressing a grin and inclined his head in what I took to be an apology. “I’m beginning to see that.”
Something about the way he said it brushed warm across my skin, kicking up my heartbeat another notch.
Chase’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “So, about that pizza?”
I studied them both for a moment before making my decision. “Okay. And thank you. We’ll see you downstairs later.”
“Ms. Dupont—”
I closed the door before Whit could say another word and leaned against it, squeezing my eyes shut. I didn’t know what scared me more—the fact that Whit and Chase hadn’t seen anyone or the fact that Ihad.
I hadn’t imagined it. I knew that for damned sure. That woman had been there, and she’d needed help. She’d either been injured or had injured someone else if the amount of blood on her nightgown was any indication.
In hindsight, I realized I probably should’ve called the police instead of reaching out to Whit. I honestly couldn’t even have said why I’d calledhim, of all people, and hadn’t just called the police. This certainly wasn’t how I’d wanted to meet my new landlord and benefactor for the first time. He probably already thought I was a pain in the ass. Now I’d just confirmed it. But having the police descending on the place when I’d only been there a few hours didn’t seem like the best way to make friends with my neighbors either.
“Mama?”
I started at the sound of Henry’s voice. “Oh, my gosh!” I said with a laugh. “I about jumped outta my skin!”
He laughed. “I got you, Mama!”
I scooped him up and gave him a tight hug. “You sure did! Now, how about we finish unpacking? And later we can go share some pizza with our neighbors.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Henry agreed. “Not the frozen kind of pizza?”
I shook my head. “Nope, not the frozen kind. The pizza place kind.”
Henry wiggled to be put down. “Then I gotta go put away my toys.”
