Safe Haven Read online

  He nodded. “So noted.”

  Her arms were now empty. She crossed them in front of her chest to give them something to do. “It’s just, I won’t be able to sleep at all tonight if I think you’re freezing out here.”

  He adjusted the blanket in his arms and it covered the flashlight, bouncing them into darkness. But not before she saw the slow smile playing at his corner of his lips as he gazed down at her.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  Kevin lifted his shoulder in a slight shrug. “Nothing. It was just a really nice thing for you to do, giving me a blanket. And the hot chocolate, too. I’m sure it’s good. Even if it’s not, it’ll keep me warm.”

  His eyes never left hers and Daria didn’t know what to say to him. He was wearing her down. And although she had to admit that seeing that bird on her door had shaken her to the core, she didn’t want to live like this forever. Having Kevin here was a constant reminder that her life was in jeopardy, if in fact, it still was. Who could live like that?

  She’d always wanted—no needed—to feel grounded. With this house, she’d achieved that. But her parents’ lifestyle had rubbed off on her to some degree. She’d learned long ago that it was important to live in the moment. And right now, she was having a hard time moving away from this moment with Kevin.

  “Then you should also note for the record that I think you’re insane if you think you can possibly keep this up for long.”

  “You’re worried about me?”

  “Don’t change the subject.”

  “I thought I was the subject a few seconds ago. You’re worried about how I’m holding up? Well, I’ll tell you. You’re ex-husband is no saint, Daria. He may have become a sleeping giant, but I know all too well that all giants wake up eventually. And usually in a bad mood. And when he does, that giant is going to come after you. And I’ll be here.”

  She trembled with a gust of wind and she pulled her robe tighter. “This whole thing is insane.”

  “I can’t really argue with that. It would make it much easier if you just took me up on my suggestion that you leave town. Like now.”

  “Now? In the middle of the night?”

  “I’ll give you until morning.”

  She shook her head. “No can do.

  “Sure you can. You can pack up your bags tonight and head to your parents place until you figure out where you can go on a permanent basis. I’ll even help you pack.”

  A fingernail of regret scraped up her spine. “I’ve already told you how I feel. This is my home. Even if leaving was an option, it would take me weeks to save up enough money to be able to leave. I…

  “I’d have to stop working on the house. I’d need to do as much overtime as my boss would allow. And then, I don’t know, maybe I could leave for a little while. But then what?”

  “You’d be safe.”

  “I’d be homeless. This is my home. I’d have to eventually come back here.”

  His expression softened to something warm and caring and did loads to disintegrate her frustration.

  “At least think about visiting your parents for a while. They’re in Mexico, aren’t they?”

  Surprised, she cocked her head. “And how did you know that?”

  “Never mind. I just know.”

  It was evident, Kevin was a man who prided himself on doing the job right. He’d checked into her past thoroughly. He’d have had to in order to know where her parents lived now. It made her wonder just how much he knew about her.

  “I supposed you even have my SAT scores on file?”

  He smiled. “You did real good at math. It’s no wonder you went into accounting.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  “I’m kidding,” he said quickly, with a chuckle.

  She laughed, too.

  It was a good thing they were standing in the dark. In some ways, the darkness made it easier for her to be brave. And yet, it masked the crazy emotions she felt inside. Emotions she was sure Kevin could read on her face.

  Daria didn’t want to delve into the significance of his words. Beyond this sense of responsibility he seemed to thrust upon himself where she was concerned, she didn’t mean anything to him. And yet, when he looked at her, his fiery gaze was so intense, so filled with desire at times that it stole her breath away.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” she finally said. “You’re not responsible for what happened. George did this. Not you.”

  He made a small grunt. “That’s not the way I work, Daria. I don’t turn my back on my mistakes.”

  Daria sighed softly, defeat settling on her back. Was she really his mistake? Just an obligation that he felt compelled to fulfill because of an error in judgment?

  “Goodnight, Kevin,” she said, and then turned away.

  He wouldn’t sleep tonight because he was a man on a mission. She wouldn’t sleep tonight either, but for entirely different reasons. And that reason would be the man, not the cop, staring at her window.

  *

  The next morning as she fried an extra egg and slapped it on a toasted bagel with a few slices of bacon, Daria tried to convince herself she was not trying to impress Kevin. She’d cooked for men before. Well, okay, it was only her father and her ex, but that still counted, didn’t it? It was only a stupid breakfast sandwich. And it wasn’t like she was going out of her way to make it either. She was making one for herself too. What was one more egg and a few slices of bacon? It was the least she could do for the man who was protecting her.

  The problem was, none of her convincing seemed to sway her into believing it herself. She’d spent the better part of the night thinking about the meeting with Kevin the night before. Each way she looked at her predicament, she came around to the same conclusion.

  It really had been a cold night. Frost had grown on the windowpane sometime in the early morning, stretching finger crystals that made it hard to look outside. By mid-morning the sun would thaw her windows and the frost would be gone. It was going to be a beautiful day. She could already feel it.

  Slipping her feet into her pumps, Daria tossed her sweater over her shoulder, just in case the weather turned warmer and she could shed her jacket. Then she picked up the sandwich she’d wrapped in waxed paper and put in a bag and stepped outside, locking the front door securely behind her. Normally she’d leave through the back door, but she hadn’t quite erased the image of the bird hanging on her door. Even though she knew the bird was gone, she’d probably avoid using that door until the memory was gone.

  It was irrational. Daria knew that. She also knew she’d get over it in time. But for right now, it felt too raw.

  Kevin rolled down the window as she approached.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” he said with a smile that instantly warmed her insides despite the frosty morning.

  Feeling flattered, Daria smiled stupidly and held out the bag with the sandwich. As she did, she saw the plate of muffins on the seat next to him and her spirits fell. Broom Hilda had beaten her to the punch.

  Suddenly annoyed, she huffed, and pulled back her hand.

  Kevin just gave her a sleepy grin. “What’s that? Did you make something for me?”

  “I thought you might be hungry, but I guess you’re all set.”

  “No way. I can smell what’s in that bag and it smells great.”

  Kevin reached his arm out through the open window to grab the bag. Daria tossed it to him. “If you keep eating all the baked goodies Mrs. Hildebrand gives you, you’re going to get crumbs all over your seats.”

  A slow smile crept into the corner of his mouth. “Climb in. We can eat our breakfast together.”

  “I can’t. I have to get to work early. But if you want to warm up in the house while you’re eating, you’re free to do so.”

  “Nah, it’s okay. I don’t want to get in your way.” He opened the bag and breathed in the scent of the breakfast she’d made with
longing. “My sister would be appalled. Judy tells me just one of these breakfast sandwiches has about three days’ worth of fat, and that eating it clogs your arteries in a matter of minutes.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “It’s what she says.”

  “Since you’re so concerned with your health I guess I’ll toss it in the garbage.”

  He pulled the bag out of Daria’s way as she reached in to grab it. “My sister is the health nut of the family. Not me.”

  “I’m surprised you’re even still hungry. Mrs. Hildebrand seems to be keeping you well fed.”

  “I’m a guy. We’re always hungry. Besides, Mrs. H. found my weakness. I lived my whole life having to eat my sister’s granola biscuits and wheat-germ cookies just to please my mother. Who ever heard of putting wheat germ in cookies? Mrs. Hildebrand’s muffins are amazing. It’s tragic.”

  Terrific. Upstaged by muffins.

  It was a distressing start to what stood to be a very frustrating day. Trying to obtain an unsecured personal loan without any real equity in her house, stocks or other assets was going to be tough. But if she was going to be able to get away from George for any length of time and stop all this nonsense, she’d have to break down and at least try to get a loan. If she was really careful, she might be able to stay in a room somewhere and still be able to pay her mortgage for a couple of months until she could think of a way out of this mess.

  Daria shifted uncomfortably in place, glancing down her short road to the intersection. “Look, I need to get to work early so I can take care of paperwork. I’m…trying to work on something that will enable me to leave here for a while.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know if it will come together or not, so I don’t want to say much.”

  Kevin’s expression changed and he stared down at his breakfast and back at her. Shame flamed her cheeks.

  “You can’t go on like this, Kevin.”

  “No?”

  “And your friends. How long are they going to be able to keep watching George?”

  “As long as the funds hold.”

  Her eyes widened. “You mean, you ‘re paying them? From your money?”

  He shrugged. “The department’s budget isn’t what it used to be.”

  He tried to make a joke of it, and yet, knowing Kevin was paying for her protection out of his funds and time made matters worse.

  Kevin pushed the SUV door open and stepped out. As if reading her mind, he said, “Look, it’s not that big a deal.”

  “Oh, really? It is to me. Money is not just something you throw around. Especially when you don’t have it.”

  “I’m not.”

  She swallowed hard. “I don’t have the money to pay you back.”

  “I don’t expect you to. It was my decision to do it. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t have.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t understand. A few days ago you didn’t even know me and now you’re paying other police officers to do work on my behalf? And you expected nothing for it?”

  “If it keeps you from getting killed by your ex, it’s money well spent.”

  She didn’t know what to say. And it was a rare thing for her to be speechless.

  He took a bite of his breakfast sandwich and smiled his pleasure. It did things…she didn’t want to acknowledge. At least not while she was standing right there in front of him. The man didn’t even have the decency to look like a mess in the morning.

  “You know, you’re spoiling me,” he said, unwrapping the wax paper. “Not that I mind. You give me a blanket, hot chocolate, which I might say really hit the spot last night. I may never leave.”

  “Not if I can help it.”

  He took another bite of the sandwich and made a face of ecstasy. “Did you say something?”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake, it’s just a breakfast sandwich.”

  “It’s the best thing I’ve had to eat in days.”

  She felt a blush creep up her cheeks with his compliment. “If that’s true, that’s pretty sad. It’s kind of crazy for you to be sitting out here eating munchies, stale pretzels, and whatever Mrs. Hildebrand and I throw at you instead of a good meal. And I’ve been thinking about what you said last night.” She’d been thinking about a lot of things last night where Kevin Gordon was concerned.

  He swallowed his bite and then said, “I’m listening.”

  “It’s just this whole thing is so insane.”

  “You said that last night. But none of that will change unless you start listening to what I’ve been telling you. Despite what you think, you’re still in a lot of danger. The beast has just grown quiet for a while.”

  Not the beast in her.

  Seeing that bird hanging from her door had shaken her to the core. Kevin had said the detective that was watching George was tailing him at the time. It wasn’t the first time she’d been wrong. She’d been scared. Her imagination ran wild. Maybe the bird hanging from her door really was a light colored crow, not the female Bird of Paradise as she’d immediately suspected. The two were very similar and easy to mistaken if you didn’t know the differences, which she did. But only because the Bird of Paradise had once held some meaning to her and George.

  Kevin hadn’t known the difference and didn’t even question that the bird was just a light colored crow.

  “Nothing’s changed about my staying,” she said resolutely.

  Kevin sighed, nodding his head. Then offered up a weak smile. “Then you and me are going to be greeting each other every morning for a long time.”

  Something inside her did a funny flip. Much as she didn’t like it, she realized she really did look forward to seeing Kevin. It had only taken a few days, but they’d fallen into somewhat of a routine. There was something about him. Something…

  “Look, maybe we can continue this discussion over dinner,” he said.

  “Dinner?”

  “Yeah. I’ll treat this time. You can tell me whatever it is you have planned and then I can convince you to get out of town.”

  She wouldn’t need too much convincing. Last night had sealed the deal for her.

  “It’d have to be here though,” he said, crumpling the wax paper and putting it back in the paper bag. “I don’t want to risk having you out in public any more than you need to be. I’ll bring some takeout with me after my shift. Do you like Chinese?”

  “Are you sick of me checking the window every fifteen minutes to see if you’re still out here by the curb?

  His eyes deepened in color, turning smoky. A smile touched his lips as amusement danced in his eyes. “You’ve been watching me?”

  She made a face. “Don’t say you haven’t noticed me at the window.”

  He was quiet a second, just staring at her eyes. “Oh, I’ve noticed a lot about you, Daria. I’ve noticed that you squint when you’re thinking intensely about something. Your nose crinkles just before you smile. I like that, by the way. That’s definitely appealing.”

  Her cheeks flamed. “I’ll try to remember that. And my nose does not crinkle.”

  “Fine. Have it your way.”

  She huffed. “I’ll be home around sixish. And I’m cooking. Chinese food? Really?”

  He laughed. “You try living your whole life with my sister. She’d make a junk food junkie out of anyone.”

  It was only dinner, Daria told herself. She had a solid plan. They could sit down over a meal and talk rationally as adults about how stupid this idea of his was to watch over her like this. There had to be a way for her to stay in her house without him spending every free moment watching over her. And if that loan came through… She wasn’t going to get ahead of herself. Giving her debt, it would be a major hurdle to clear.

  She’d already spent more days than she cared to admit tossing in her bed imagi
ning Kevin Gordon less than fifty feet from her bedroom. She’d even imagined him there with her in the dark. And the things he would do if he were holding her close in bed.

  And that, she realized, was at the core of her unrest. She’d spent more time thinking about the way Kevin’s blue eyes penetrated her, the way he stood and commanded his presence, and the way her heart pounded whenever he was near. She had plenty of reasons to feel unsettled. But the main reason was Kevin.

  Before she could make a bigger fool of herself, she spun on her heels and started to walk back to lock up the house. Before she got too far, Kevin stopped her with a light hand on her arm.

  “I want you to think about something today.”

  She peered up at his serious expression. “What?”

  “I was thinking last night that we may have to pull an Al Capone to get your ex-husband behind bars.”

  She chuckled, but then frowned in confusion. “Wait, an Al Capone? What’s that?”

  “You know, Al Capone wasn’t taken down for bootlegging alcohol. He was convicted on tax evasion. I know George had some business with a loan shark, but there’s nothing illegal we can pin on him. I want you to think about his dealings and tonight, you can tell me what you remember. Even if you think it’s insignificant. It might lead us somewhere.”

  “I don’t know anything about his business dealings. He never ready talked about them because he knew I was sensitive about the money he spent.”

  “Just think about it.”

  She nodded, uncomfortable with the notion of having to revisit her relationship with her ex-husband yet again. She wanted that to be the past, but George clearly was making himself part of her present.

  Daria walked the length of the driveway back to the house. After locking up and braving her exit through the back door, she climbed into her truck. Kevin was still sitting at the curb, his engine warmed and exhaust from his tailpipe making a cloud into the street.

  She started her truck, then pulled out of the driveway carefully. When she got to the intersection, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Kevin had pulled his SUV behind her truck, put his signal lights on to indicate he was going in her direction.