Repeat - Kylie Scott Page 0,53
this? Really?”
“Clem—”
“How many coincidences do you need?”
He grimaces.
Fair enough. My voice sounds shrill to my own ears. I take a deep breath and let it out slow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. But it’s a message, Ed, and it means that me being here is probably not safe. We don’t know what they might do next. What if they come back? What if they get violent again and someone gets hurt?”
The expression on Iris’s face is somewhere between concern and dismay. So I’m not being completely crazy. Some of this is making sense. That’s even more concerning.
Ed, however, is shaking his head. “You need to calm down.”
“No, I’m serious. What if next time you get hurt? I’d never forgive myself.” I take a step back, putting myself out of reach. It’s better for everyone. If whatever this is spills over onto the people I care about I’ll never forgive myself. “This . . . this isn’t good.”
“Don’t you dare,” he says, grabbing my arms. His grip is strong. “I agree; this is a worry. I get why you’re freaking out. But don’t you dare use it as an excuse to disappear on me again.”
“But maybe it would be best if I left for just a—”
“No.”
One of us is probably being unreasonable. With fear making my heart pound and mind race, I’m not sure which of us it is, however.
“Do you hear me?” he asks, leaning in close. “Absolutely fucking not. We’ll deal with this together, okay?”
I don’t know what to say or do.
“Nod your head, Clem.”
After a moment, I do as I’m told. “Fine.”
“Now breathe,” he orders, arms coming around me, pulling me in against his hard body. The scent and heat of him all helps. For me, he’s a living and breathing sanctuary and being wrapped up in him this way is heaven. It’s a bit scary to need him this much. No, I only want him. Lots. But if he left, if he changed his mind, I’d manage. I just really fucking hope he doesn’t. “Just breathe. It’ll be okay.”
“Why don’t you take her home, Ed?” suggests Iris.
“Thank you, Iris. But I’m fine now and I’d rather stay and help.” The worst thought occurred to me. “Unless you’d rather me not be here?”
“Of course not.” She clicks her tongue in disapproval. “In that case, stop hanging off your lovely man and get to work.”
“I’ll cancel my appointments for today, stay here with you,” says Ed.
I look up. “No, don’t do that.”
Some people make those appointments months in advance. Ed’s tattooing talents are in high demand. Plus, I’m already complicating his home life. I’d rather not screw with his work life too.
“I’m not leaving you like this,” he says.
“I’m okay. Really, Ed, it’s broad daylight. Everything that’s happened so far has all been at night.”
Doubt fills his gaze.
“You’re right; it’s just paint. Whatever it does or doesn’t mean, they’ve probably done all they’re going to do for now. I’ll be fine.”
“Promise me you won’t go off on your own.”
“I promise I’ll be safety conscious, yes.” Up on tippy-toes, I give him a kiss. “Go to work. I’ll be okay. If it is the same person, at least they seem to be sort of de-escalating. Perhaps next time they’ll just send me a sternly worded letter.”
“Glad you’ve still got your sense of humor, but I’m not ready to laugh about this yet.”
Iris, however, is good to go. “A sonnet expressing their displeasure, perhaps?”
“Maybe a cutting limerick?”
She grins with glee. “How about an abrasive haiku?”
“A bad fortune cookie?”
“All right.” Ed shakes his head. “If you need me, call me. You’ve got your cell?”
“Yes, and I will.”
“I’ll be back at six. On the dot. You better let Frances know about this as well or she’ll lose her shit.”
“True.”
“And you’re definitely not going off wandering on your own.” His gaze is so serious. “I’ve got your word on that, right, Clem?”
“You make me sound like some out of control toddler,” I half-joke. “What’s wrong, don’t you trust me?”
It’s the sudden lack of expression on his face that clues me in. The careful blankness with which I’m now being regarded.
Beside us, Iris is suddenly occupied with the window.
“Hey,” I say, attempting a smile. “You can trust me. If I say I’ll do something, I’ll do it.”
He does not look convinced, though he’s doing his best to hide it. “Sure. If you’re okay here, I better get moving.”
“See you tonight.”
With a final kiss to my forehead and one final murmured “just be careful, baby”