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“A joke and a smile. Wow, it’s a stellar day.”

He considered himself a loner, but he had to admit he was enjoying the conversation with her. “It’s going to be time for lunch soon. Are ham sandwiches okay?”

“That’s fine. I’ll pay you for the extra groceries you’re using to feed me.”

“I’ve got it, Monique. I don’t need your money.”

“I pay my own way, Jacque.”

“We’ll argue about it on another day,” he replied. “Don’t make me get out the wet paper bag.”

She laughed once again. “Okay, no more arguing.”

There was no way he intended to take any money from her. He had plenty of his own, and he knew how hard she worked at her job.

The day passed pleasantly. They ate lunch and continued to talk. She shared with him her experiences growing up in the swamp and told funny stories about her and her sisters. In turn, he told her some stories of his childhood as an only child with a doting father and mother.

Daniel showed up just after lunch and asked Monique again about the attack, but she had nothing new to add. She couldn’t give any kind of an identification and had no other information. He told them that he and his men had searched all around her porch and the surrounding area, but they had found nothing that could be used as evidence.

“What can you tell me about the note that was in the box on your porch? I asked Jacque about it last night, but he said I’d need to talk to you,” Daniel said.

She looked down at her lap and then back at the lawman. “I can’t tell you anything about it,” she replied. “I have no idea what it means or who could have left it.” Her cheeks flushed lightly with the lie.

Minutes later Daniel left after promising to stay in touch. The fact that she hadn’t come clean to Daniel concerned Jacque. What was the point in keeping it all a secret now? Unless at some point she thought she might go back to investigating again. Over my dead body, he thought.

At three Jacque gave her another pain pill, and after that she napped off and on. It was just after six when he went into the kitchen to fix dinner. He decided to fry up some fish and make some cheesy rice and corn to go with it.

She was napping, and as he thought of the day, he was pleased it had gone as smoothly as it had. He had a feeling she was going to be a very easy houseguest.

The only difficulty he might have was fighting against the simmering sexual tension she evoked in him. There was something about her that made him think of hot kisses and tangled bed sheets during lovemaking. But he told himself he was a strong man and the last thing he wanted was a relationship of any kind. His sole job right now was to keep her safe from a killer and that was it.

She awoke again as he was ready to plate the food. She went into the bathroom and then came to sit at the table. “It looks great,” she said as he placed her plate before her.

“It’s nothing special,” he replied.

“It’s special because you cooked it,” she replied with one of her generous smiles that warmed him up inside.

“Oh, you’re really on your best behavior,” he replied dryly.

“Don’t make me laugh.” Her eyes sparkled merrily. “And of course I’m on my best behavior. I don’t want you to kick me out of here just yet.”

“Yet? Are you expecting a time will come when I will kick you out?” he asked.

“Maybe, but hopefully I won’t be here long enough for that time to come. I intend to be out of here before I wear out my welcome.” She took a bite of her fish. “Realistically, I can’t impose on you until Daniel and his men make an arrest.”

“Right now, we’ll just take things day by day,” he replied. He didn’t want to argue with her about how long he intended her to stay with him. He wanted…he absolutely needed to keep her safe. Any other option was completely abhorrent and wasn’t to be considered. He didn’t care how long she had to stay here.

They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate. He welcomed the quiet. He had talked more today than he had in the past few months.

Once they were finished with the meal, he sent her back to the sofa and then he cleaned up the kitchen. He then went outside to shut off his generator and lit the lanterns. After, he returned to his chair across from her.

“It feels like I slept half the day away. I’m surprised I feel a little sleepy now,” she said.

“That’s your body trying to heal itself,” he replied.

“When I’m sleeping, it’s the only time I’m not in pain.”

“Monique, I’m so damned sorry this happened to you,” he said intently.