Page 40 of Out on a Limb
The address popped up on my screen, and it was exactly where I should have expected it to be.
“Hell.” I set the phone in the console and turned out onto the road, following the directions taking me to the nicest part of Sweet Side. By the time we were at the address she’d given me, Collette was slumped over, hair across her face as she quietly snored.
I pulled up in front of the two-car garage and parked my old truck in a spot that would probably result in a 911 call. I’m sure the only time this area saw trucks like mine was when lawns were being mowed or remodeling was being done.
But that was definitely not at midnight and definitely not the circumstances that were about to happen.
I grabbed my phone before getting out and going around to the passenger’s side to open the door. “Collette.”
She blinked, eyes coming open. “Hmmm?”
“We’re home.” I held my hands out, thinking she could use them for balance as she got out of the truck. Instead she fell my way, arms going around my neck as she latched on, leaving me no option but to try to catch her.
Again.
At least this time I succeeded.
I hefted her up against me, one arm going across her back as her thighs circled my hips, pulling her body tight to mine in a way that I couldn’t ignore.
But this time there were no old ladies around to point out the obvious effect she had on me, so I didn’t try to fight it.
Not that I could.
I held her close as I shut the door and walked to the keypad beside the garage door. I flipped the cover open. “I need the code to get in, Collette.”
I was shocked as hell when she offered it up immediately. I’d expected to have to ask at least four times.
And I wouldn’t have minded given our current circumstances.
I waited as the door opened, then ducked inside, going to press the button on the wall unit, making sure it closed fully before opening the door to the house and stepping in.
It had been a long fucking day.
And now a long night.
Which was why I didn’t remember certain things I should have.
Why I didn’t consider that Collette’s house might not be as empty as I expected.
But by the time I realized my mistake it was too late.
The sound of claws scratching across the hard wood floors sent me running, racing through the first floor of Collette’s house as Phillip ran right behind me, screeching at the top of his lungs, managing to gain on me with every step.
He wasn’t carrying his drunk mother.
I darted through an open door, kicking it closed behind me as momentum carried me forward in the complete dark of the space.
Dark enough I didn’t see what was in my path until it was too late. By then I was already going down, falling face first. At the last possible second I realized I was about to drop all my weight onto Collette and I shoved one hand out, catching as much of the force as I could as we hit, bouncing against each other as Phillip’s body smacked the closed door.
My eyes adjusted to the dark of the room, helped along by the glow of a wax warmer in one corner. My stomach dropped as more and more registered around me. The dresser. The full-length mirror propped next to an open closet door.
My attention dragged to the stack of pillows above my head.
I was in Collette’s room.
More specifically, her bed.
Half-naked.
