Page 13 of Counter Attack

“Just don’t rush it.” He waited while Alexis took her key from her pocket and unlocked the wooden door. “Can I help?”

She shook her head. “I won’t be long.”

He took in the tiny living room of the older house while he waited. Several boxes sat along one wall. A photo of her grandparents sat on a table that held her TV. When a thud sounded from the bedroom, he rushed down the hall to find her putting clothes in a suitcase on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I was just getting my suitcase down.”

“You could’ve let me get it.”

“And here I thought you’d be proud of me for not trying to lift it.”

Nathan stared at her. Was that a tiny smile? “You get points for that.”

He glanced at the closet as she tossed in a pair of sneakers. Except for a small section of what looked like skimpy dresses and short skirts—tools of her trade, so to speak—itwas empty. Had she put every piece of clothing she owned in one suitcase? Maybe there was another closet. “Get everything you need?”

“Not quite. I’d like to put a few personal items in. I’ll call you when I need you.”

Nathan gave her a thumbs-up. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

A few minutes later, he pulled the suitcase toward the living room. “How long have you lived here?”

“Is next week the first of October?”

Nathan frowned. “You don’t know?”

An exasperated breath came from Alexis. “I’ve been in the hospital for what seems like a month. I lost track of time.”

He could see how that could happen. “It’s just past the middle of September—the twenty-third, so yes, next week is the first.”

“Then I’ve lived here almost a year.”

“And you haven’t had time to decorate?” He pointed toward the boxes. “Or unpack?”

“I...” Alexis stopped and put her hand on the back of the sofa while she glanced around the room, a frown on her face. Then she turned toward him and shrugged. “I don’t spend a lot of time here.”

“Where do you spend your time?”

“Work. The gym. I mostly only sleep here.”

Judging from the way she’d looked in the skimpy outfit she’d worn at the bar, she worked out a lot. “So you don’t attend all those cultural events you would miss if you lived in Pearl Springs?”

Her lips twitched. “No. But the opportunity is there if I want to catch one. Are you ready to take me to your precious town?”

Nathan stiffened. The sarcasm he’d witnessed the past week hadn’t been part of Alexis’s personality in the past.

Then her shoulders slumped, and she pressed her hand to her forehead. “I’m sorry. That was totally uncalled for.”

Alexis swayed, and he jumped to steady her. “Let me help you to the sofa.”

Once she was seated, she leaned her head against the back and closed her eyes. He’d like to know what was going on in that stubborn head of hers. Or maybe not, given their conversations lately.

“Don’t say it.” Defeat rang in her voice.

“Say what?”

“I told you so—I know you’re thinking it.”

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