Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He let her go, sensing nothing he said would help her now. She started for the bathroom, leaving him feeling useless and uneasy at her withdrawal. The door shut behind her, and he left her alone, knowing she needed time. He kicked back on her bed, bracing his hands behind his head, determined to ignore the sound of running water. The thought of the water sluicing down her back and over her skin. Naked skin.
She finally opened the door. Steam billowed out of the bathroom with her enticing warm scent, which only served to arouse him more. She stepped into the room with a fluffy white towel wrapped around her, her damp hair falling over her shoulders.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey.”
“Sorry I took it out on you.” Her somber expression offered all the apology he needed.
He held out his hand. “Come here.”
She eased into his arms and curled up against him. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “I’m afraid that when Daniella’s ex sees her again, he won’t welcome her with open arms but closed fists.”
He brushed her hair off her face and tucked her beneath his chin. “You can’t take on the world’s problems. No matter how much you want to.”
She let out a heartfelt sigh. They sat that way together in a silence that was . . . easy and right.
“Thank you,” she said quietly but with real meaning.
“You’re welcome.”
She blew out a long exhale and curled more tightly into him, her guilt and fear painfully obvious. He wished he could take it away, but he couldn’t. Instead, he’d be here for her now and if Daniella surfaced.
His biggest fear wasn’t that she’d come to rely on him. No, his worry was that when he finally faced the fallout from Simon and Rex Bransom’s past, he’d be the one needing and relying on her.
* * *
After the call from the shelter, Cara arrived at work in a bad mood, one that remained for the rest of the week. Though she still volunteered at the shelter, Daniella’s absence gave her a stomachache, and she couldn’t help but worry about her. Mike began instituting changes in their schedules, so she was on her own for daytime shifts. Not having a partner made her more aware of everything going on around her, and though the downtime was harder, the job became more challenging because all the decisions were her own.
Neither Mike nor Cara behaved any differently when they were at the station. He didn’t pay extra attention to her, and she didn’t go seeking any. And even if people had seen or heard about what went on between them at Joe’s, nobody commented. There was no fallout from their relationship from anyone.
Except Sam, who decided it was his job to warn her daily about his brother’s bachelor tendencies and lack of staying power. As much as Cara appreciated his concern, she was tired of hearing something she already knew, accepted, and didn’t want to think about until she had to.
Cara drove past Daniella’s last known address several times during the week, hoping for a glimpse but not getting one. She had to suppress the urge to ring the doorbell to the apartment, even during the day, afraid if Daniella’s ex-boyfriend saw her, in uniform or not, she might inadvertently set the man off. She knew how her father’s temper spiked when her mother spoke about enjoying other people’s company, and how he’d then crack down to prevent her from expanding her social circle or having interests outside him.
Finally, what felt like an endless workweek ended, and Cara came home, changed into sweat clothes, poured herself a large glass of cranberry juice, plopped down in her favorite chair, and took deep breaths. With nothing to do for two whole days, the timing couldn’t be better since she needed a break from everything.
She hadn’t seen Mike alone, and she pondered calling him. Would it seem like a booty call? Or would it seem like she was too clingy if she didn’t wait to hear from him? Hmm. Why did she care what it seemed like when she wanted to be with him? The worst he could do was say no, and based on some of the covert looks he’d given her when he thought no one was looking, she didn’t think that would be the case.
She was just about to go looking for her cell phone when the doorbell rang. Putting her glass down on a coaster, she rose and headed to see who had stopped by. Sometimes her neighbor went away for the weekend and asked Cara to watch her cat while she was gone. Cara loved animals, but her work hours didn’t make it fair to have a pet, so she wouldn’t mind a little time with a fur baby.
She peeked out the window beside the door and blinked in surprise. Mike stood waiting, dressed in faded denim and his leather jacket, one arm braced on the molding outside.