Page 38 of Vinny

“Yes, yes, I’m glad to hear from you,” he parroted. “But it’s not as though you were lost…just traveling around with that security man.”

“Traveling around? You and Erica sound alike. We traveled by car after our harrowing experience with the first flight. I just wasn’t comfortable flying again and he was nice enough to suggest that we drive.”

“Now, let’s not get temperamental on me. I’m the one trying to get things back on track. Now, about that soiree?—”

“I can’t,” she interrupted. “I don’t have Easnadh back yet. Someone is delivering her to me today,” she lied.

“You don’t have her?” Todd asked. “Where is your harp? I assumed it was with you at your apartment.” When she did not answer right away, he continued, “I know you prefer her, but any harp will do. Just meet me at the?—”

“I can’t,” she interrupted once more. “I have to stay here and um…rest today.”

“Who says? And where are you staying?” he bit out.

Sighing, she answered. “Todd, I appreciate all you do for me, but I’m staying with a friend and will spend the day resting. I cannot possibly do the Governor’s wife’s soiree today, but I will call you tomorrow and we can see what events I feel like I can do.”

With that, she hung up, smiling.I hung up on him first. I don’t think I’ve ever done that.Giggling to herself asshe stood up and walked back to the kitchen, she admitted,that felt great!

Early in the afternoon, Vinny called. “I wanted to let you know that Jobe will be bringing a surprise for you. I wish it could have been me but I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

When Annalissa heard the doorbell she opened the door, hoping she knew what the surprise was going to be. She was not disappointed. Jobe stood there, a harp case in his hand. Clapping her hands she screamed joyfully, ushering him in.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” she exclaimed, showing him where to set the case down.

“I thought it would be larger,” Jobe said, watching as she opened the case and pulled the instrument out.

“You’re thinking of the large concert harps. Easnadh is a Celtic Harp and in particular, she is a much smaller one.”

She sat down on one of the dining room chairs, immediately plucking the strings, tuning as she went. He watched, entranced by the music, before moving to leave. She looked up, her fingers stilling on the strings. “Do you need to leave now?”

Jobe smiled, shaking his head. “No, is there something that you need?”

Laughing, she replied, “Not really. I’m just...well, it feels weird…being here. Alone.”

“Are you scared?”

Rushing to assure him, she said, “No. Not afraid. It just seems like I should be in my own apartment. Have you seen it?”

He saw the concerned look on her face. Sitting down on another chair, he faced her. “Well…” he started slowly. “The door did not look damaged, but there were marks around your lock so someone had worked to get in. I can’t say what might have been taken, but things were tossed around as though someone was looking for something.”

He watched her carefully, wanting to gauge his words by her reaction. The only outward expression of concern was her lips tucking in. “Your drawers were pulled out and dumped and your books were all on the floor where someone must have been looking behind them.”

The silence hung between them for a minute as she thought of her apartment. Her safe haven. Away from her father and her manager.

“Do you think they were looking for the drugs before they knew I never left Kansas City?”

“I don’t know, but I think it’s a real possibility,” he answered honestly.

She nodded slowly, her mind still churning. Sighing, she turned back to him and smiled. “Thank you so much for this,” she said, patting her harp. “I was going crazy not having her with me for the past few days. And to be honest, being here with nothing to do was making me a little nuts too.”

Jobe stood and walked toward the door, Annalissa right behind him. He turned and looked down, sayingsoftly, “You’re safe here, you know. Not just from someone from the outside, but with Vinny as well.”

She peered at him, trying to understand the meaning of his words.

“He’s never, and I mean never, brought a woman here to his home.”

At that, she could not hide her surprise. And pleasure. “Thank you for that, Jobe,” she whispered, smiling.

After he left, she walked back to the windows to look out over the city.A man like Vinny would have had women. Probably lots of women. But never brought one here.Sucking in a huge breath, she wondered what that meant.Does he just think of me as someone to save and keep safe?As she pondered, she realized that he was too honorable to lead her on.So what does he think of me?

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