Page 17 of A Soldier's Pledge
“So, is this your way of saying you want me to go home so you can get your stuff done?”
Did she want that? Just a bit ago she was ready to show him the door, but now after telling him about Mr. Creepy Pants, she would rather he stayed.
***
He had to fight the urge to strangle her, not really. But dammit, why hadn’t she told him? He wanted to go off on a rant, but he knew better. She would have closed up like a night-blooming jasmine in the morning, and that would have been that. But he’d kept his cool. Fuck. He deserved a freaking Oscar for that performance. Now he was just waiting to see if she wanted him to stay or not. With all of her “excuses,” he figured any minute she was going to ask him to go home. Not that he could blame her either, she’d had a hell of a weekend, and he still didn’t have any clothes or toiletries. On the other hand, he didn’t want to leave her alone in this house, alarm or not. She carried his heart, and he would give up his life to protect her, whether she fully realized it or not.
“It’s been great having you here, but I do think I need some time to myself to wrap my head around everything. I know you think I’m not safe, but I am. I will set the alarm as soon as you walk out the door, you can even double check all the doors and windows before you leave.”
She was trying to placate him, but it wasn’t working. Until he knew more about the dirt bag who’d been following her, he wanted her under his protection. “Are you sure you won’t feel safer if I stay? And there’s the added bonus nookie-time.”
“I know what you’re doing, honey, I do. But I really think I need some time to myself before I have to take off running for another week. I promise I’ll come by the station at some point tomorrow to work with the sketch artist, I’ll keep the phone by the bed with your number primed for the call. I’ll be safe and careful.”
She was stubborn but so was he, and this was one time he wasn’t backing down. He was not leaving his woman alone even if it meant he’d be sleeping in his car on her driveway. “I don’t doubt that you believe that. But I’m not going to give in on this. Until we know more about this guy, I don’t want you to be alone.”
“But…”
“Nope. If I have to, I’ll stay in my car, but I’m not leaving the grounds.” She crossed her arms, and the storm clouds were back in her eyes, but he didn’t care. He was waiting for the explosion, but instead, the storm passed.
“You’d really do that for me? Sleep in your car?”
“Of course. How many different ways do I need to show you how much I love you before you start to believe it? Has no one in your life ever put your well-being first?” He expected a quick retort, but tears welled in her eyes, hovered on her lower lids and threatened to fall.
The tears were his undoing. Before she could say another word, he was on his knees next to her chair and pulling her into his arms. She didn’t make a sound just tucked her head under his chin. He wouldn’t even have known she was crying except his t-shirt got wet from her tears. He rocked her and let her cry, and he wondered how long she’d held it in.
Chapter Seven
Monday morning arrived way too early. Usually, Anna woke refreshed and ready to tackle the new week, this morning not so much. For the first time in forever, she hadn’t done her prep work for the week. Instead, she cried herself a river in Ethan’s arms before he led her to the bedroom and made love to her most of the night. She’d never felt so loved and cherished in her entire life. But she was paying the price this morning. There wasn’t going to be enough coffee on the planet to make her perky.
“We’re agreed, right? You’re going to be hyper-vigilant until we catch this guy. Any sign of him or the truck and you’re going to call me. Or Steele if you can’t reach me. Which won’t happen. Oh, and I programmed Steele’s number into your phone.”
“Yes, boss,” she answered with a yawn. Two cups of coffee down and they’d had no effect whatsoever. Ethan smacked her on the butt as he grabbed an apple and then dropped a kiss on her lips.
“I mean it, baby. No risks is your motto. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah. And what about your motto? You take more risks than I ever have.”
“I’m a man. I’m equipped.” That was ballsy, but she knew he was trying to lighten the mood, and it worked. She laughed and tossed a banana at his head.
“Hey, that’s gonna leave a bruise.”
“Awww, did I hurt the big bad police detective?” She knew she was in trouble before the sound of her words dissipated. Ethan grabbed her by the waist and swung her around so fast she thought her coffee was going make a speedy return.
“If we had more time, I’d show you just how big and bad I am. Although, after last night, I am surprised you need a reminder.” The mischief in his eyes should have warned her, but she was either too slow or too tired, and next thing she knew she was laying on the kitchen island, and he’d lifted her shirt and blew raspberries on her stomach. Then he stood her on the floor, kissed her soundly and was gone.
“Holy crap. That man is full of surprises.”
“I heard that, and don’t you forget it,” he called from the front room before she heard the click of the door closing. Then the alarm dinged when the door was reopened. “And don’t forget to set the alarm. Later, my sex goddess.”
After he was gone, the house was way too quiet. It seemed like every time he left, whether he was there for ten minutes or in this case almost thirty-six hours, he took all the happiness with him. Was her life really that dull? Had she let all the happiness drain away to keep herself insulated from hurt? It sure seemed like it, and she was more than ready to live again. Exhaustion be damned, today was the first day of the rest of her life, even if it meant lots of stress and worry, it was okay. She felt alive, really alive for the first time in years.
It didn’t look like she’d have time to stop by the police station before work, Ethan would just have to get over it. She’d see if she could make it at lunch or after work it would have to be. Monday’s were usually her busiest days, and she’d be swimming upstream all day.
Instead of being the first one in, she was the last one in to work. Greeting everyone as she headed into her office she smiled at the look of surprise on their faces. She had a half hour before the Monday morning staff meeting, and a shitload of listings to go through, or not. Maybe it was time to start delegating. It’s not like it was complicated. That decided, she opened their in-house program, and she checked the status of everyone’s listings. Two sales on Saturday, excellent. Noting the information to discuss at the meeting, she still needed to figure out what if anything she was going to say about the rash of break-ins. Chances were if she’d seen it on the news so had at least a few of her employees.
A knock at her door distracted her train of thought. “Morning, Anna. You looked like you could use this,” Jenny said as she put a steaming mug of coffee on her desk.
“Oh yeah. Thank you.”
