“You scared me to death,” she announced. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
Rafe strolled toward her, closing the distance as he studied her from head to toe. She was wearing blue jean shorts and a black T-shirt which clung to her lovely curves. Unfortunately, it clung to her because she was drenched in sweat.
He frowned. “What’re you doin’?”
“I’m walkin’. What does it look like I’m doin’?”
Remembering his manners, he held out the bottle, offering it to her.
She shook her head. “Thanks. I’m good.”
“Tell me you didn’t walk from your house.”
“Why do you care?” She spun away from him and began dragging her suitcase toward the bakery.
“Where are you goin’?”
“To work.”
“At two in the mornin’.”
“It’s a bakery, Rafe. We start early.”
But not this early, he knew.
“Dammit, Bailey. Talk to me.”
This time when she spun around, her suitcase fell over, and the bag she had on top tumbled to the ground. She ignored it, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
“I tried talkin’ to you. All damn day. You obviously don’t want to talk to me.”
“That’s not true,” he told her, refusing to step any closer. “My fuckin’ phone died earlier today. I didn’t have a charger.” He tilted his chin in the direction of his apartment. “It’s up there right now. Plugged up. I just saw your messages a few minutes ago.”
Her chin tipped up slightly. “For real?”
Rafe grinned. She always said that when she believed him but wasn’t sure she should.
“For real,” he assured her.
“So, you’re not mad at me?”
“Of course not.”
Bailey took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“But I will be if you don’t tell me why you’re luggin’ your suitcase through downtown.”
“I moved out of Seth’s house,” she explained. “I’m gonna stay at the bakery tonight, then talk to Rex in the mornin’.”
Rafe knew the gentlemanly thing to do would be to invite her to stay at his apartment for the night. He wanted to. But if he did that, every ounce of gentleman would slip away with the gesture, and he damn sure didn’t want to risk ruining their friendship because he couldn’t control his desire for her.
The other option would be to let her stay at his apartment, and he could sleep in his truck. Then again, she would likely take that as a snub, thinking he didn’t want to be that close to her.
A no-win situation here.
“Anyway,” Bailey said with a sigh before grabbing for the handle of her suitcase to set it upright. “I’m gonna go before Sheriff Endsley gets a call about looters.”
Rafe nodded.
