Page 31

“You wouldn’t have gone within ten miles of that truck if you’d known it was from me, Jamie. We both know that.”

“You’re probably right in that, Fury. I was hurt and wouldn’t have accepted your help.”

“We kept it from as many people as possible. He won’t be so sure of himself anymore, and he knows that you’re not vulnerable in your truck. His choices are getting fewer each time he fails. His options now are one of your houses or the practice. The practice will be too public. He can’t just walk in and do the deed without someone seeing him. You’re only going to be allowed to stay here now. Your main house is off-limits. Too far out to be able to protect you adequately. That means here is where he’ll try again. Here we can catch him and put an end to this shitshow, once and for all.”

“Great, so I can’t even relax now that I’m home, is that what you’re saying?”

“No, you can relax, just don’t get careless, is all.”

“Careless, yeah. Stay away from the windows, don’t silhouette myself against a light, let someone else take the garbage out. Just how am I supposed to get to the practice, and home again, each day? Don’t tell me I can’t leave the house because that is not happening.” I’m starting to get seriously angry with this now, the more I think about it. How dare someone disrupt what little life I have to this extent? “Then we should lure them out into the open. I’m not living my life dancing to someone else's tune.”

“Yeah, and we can’t just hang you out there as a target and let him call the shots. Literally. You’re going to have to be patient and let us do some more digging and…”

“I don’t like that word. It doesn’t fill me with confidence.” I give him a stinky-eyed look.

“What patience? You’ll just have to develop some.”

“No, the other word, digging. It has a certain finality about it that I don’t appreciate.”

“Oh, I see. Well, information gathering, then.” Fury smiles as though this will make me feel better.

“You can’t be here twenty-four-seven, either. You must get to the practice and get checked out. If we’re going to revive this relationship, it’s not going to stay platonic forever. I’m already done with this celibacy lifestyle, mister.”

The rest of the day and evening passes uneventfully. We eat takeout and watch a movie, though we do it from separate spaces. I take the couch and Fury gets a chair. I’m deadly serious about there being no sexual contact between us, not even a cuddle. The hug in the shed doesn’t count. That was just an emotional thing that happened, and in my mind, I’ve decided it didn’t count.

Waking from the sleep of the dead, I feel remarkably fresh. I check that I’m alone and that Fury hasn’t sneaked in during the night. The smell of coffee wafting down the hallway has me almost sleepwalking to the kitchen. I’m only in my boy pants and a t-shirt, but let’s face it, it isn’t as if it’s anything Fury hasn’t seen before. Maybe it will encourage him to get the checkup sooner rather than later. I’m not desperate for sex, but I am a healthy woman with wants and desires.

Walking into the kitchen, I do a double take, let out a squeal, and rush back to my bedroom. Goddamn it. What is a prospect doing here at this time of the morning? Throwing a sweatshirt and some joggers on, I try a more respectful entrance.

“Morning, Doc. You sure look hot first thing in the morning. I thought women were supposed to look like they’d been dragged through a hedge backwards when they woke up!”

“Morning, Mateo. What are you doing here so early? Not that it isn’t good to see you at any time, of course.”

“Fury called me and said I should get my ass over here, pronto. So, here I am.” We both look to Fury for some form of explanation.

“I have a couple of errands to run, and you can’t be left alone, so Mateo is going to be my apprentice for all things security. In fact, he’s going to be my apprentice full-stop, until a business opportunity presents itself for him.”

“Thank fuck. Something to do other than gate duty. I was getting ready to leave the MC if things didn’t change soon.” Mateo positively glows with excitement, but I see Fury turn to him and give him a look.

“You were what? Have you spoken to anyone about how you’re feeling?” Fury questions him and doesn’t look as though he might like the answer.

“Of course. I wouldn’t just up and go without trying to fix things first. What do you think I am?”

“Who did you speak to?”

“I’m not getting anyone into trouble, Fury. They didn’t take me seriously, but they did point me to Vortex. He’s been teaching me knife skills, which filled the void a bit.”

“It isn’t a case of getting anyone into trouble, Mateo, but they should have had your back more than just to pass you on to someone else like that.” Fury is not pleased, and I don’t think we’ve heard the end of this, somehow.

“So, what’s the plan for today, then? Who is escorting me to work and back, sitting outside my office door all day, riding shotgun for any home visits? Hmm?” I look from one to the other and see them side-eyeing each other.

“Well, Jamie, home visits are out the window, certainly until the Ford is repaired. Pres told Molly to remove you from any schedules until further notice, so you don’t need escorting to the practice. I guess that means the two of you are stuck here for the time being. Good luck trying to talk Whack into letting you go back to work. I’ll only be gone a couple of hours, I would think. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Mateo, you treat this place just the same as you would the compound and when I get back, we’ll start your training proper.”

“Well, at least I get better-looking company for this gate duty.” Mateo winks at me, and I see Fury’s eyes flash green with jealousy.

“Maybe you’d better stand by the shower while I’m in there, Mateo. Just in case someone tries to throw a toaster or something in there with me?” I look all innocent as I say this, and Fury bites right away.

“You will stay well away from the shower, Mateo. You hear me?”