Page 67 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“Is he still hanging around?”

“No. He left. I think. I’m hiding under the desk, so I don’t actually know.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.” His voice became gentle, causing me to feel as if I would melt.

I tried to keep my voice firm. “No, really, I’m okay, but you’d better tell him not to come back and scare me again. I’ll call the cops next time.”

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure. I’m sorry this happened.”

“Yeah.”

“You know, if you ever need a weapon, there are a million choices out in the shop.”

“You’re assuming I’d be able to run. My feet were frozen in place. He looked like a crazy person with his hat pulled down, banging on the door. Don’t you have a wrench or something that we could keep in the desk, you know, close by?”

He chuckled, and the rest of the fear seemed to dissipate as a rush of goosebumps covered my skin. “Yeah. I’ll get you a wrench.”

“Get me some apology chocolate while you’re at it.”

“Done.”

“One more thing before I sign off. Do you have a full understanding of the trauma I experienced tonight?”

“I do.”

“Do you validate my feelings?”

He laughed and I could see his face in my mind’s eye. Only a few short months ago it had been the face of a highly judged stranger. Now it was something different. I knew the colors of his hair and eyes, the way his mouth crooked up on one side when he was amused, the set of his shoulders when he was annoyed. It caused dual rushes of ice and heat to course through me. Connor both terrified and intrigued me.

“I do,” he said.

“That’s all I need then.”

“Good night, Liv.”

I had to swallow before I could reply. This conversation had started to feel close and cozy somehow. I found it all highly confusing. “Good night.”

By the time I talked myself out of the office and into my car it was almost eleven. I was grateful for the warming temperatures as I hustled to my car. Before getting in I checked the back seats and even popped open the trunk. I didn’t necessarily think Levi was a lunatic serial killer, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

When I arrived home, I was surprised to find Mom and Sadie sitting close on the couch and laughing at a show they were watching. The scene was just so darn relaxed and cheery it made my throat feel thick. A quick glance around showed that the living room was tidy. I felt a little off kilter.

Mom turned at the sound of the door closing behind me. “Hi, honey.” She smiled. “Come sit down. I know it’s late, but we’re watching a movie.”

Sadie’s head popped around Mom. “I ate all the popcorn.”

I grinned and set my purse on the stairs before joining them on the couch. “What are we watching?”

“Clueless,” Mom replied. “It’s a classic and Sadie said she’d never seen it.”

“You’ve really never seen this?” I asked my sister. Her cheeks were full of munchies, so she shook her head and shrugged. “How does that happen?”

“I dunno,” she mumbled.

“If we’re doing movie catch up, I have a whole list.” I snuggled in close to Mom like I’d done when I was younger. She patted me lightly on the leg.

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