around herself, and gives her story to Officer Jones, who I called in.
“Anything else?” Jones asks.
“Not that I can think of,” she says softly, wiping her eyes. “It all happened so fast. If Vance hadn’t been here…” Her eyes lift, finding mine.
My heart stops right then. In a different way than it did when I saw her being accosted in the alley. That was fear stopping me in my tracks.
This time it’s something else. Hope.
“I’m glad you’re okay. Do you need a ride home?” Jones asks.
“Actually, I have work in a half-hour, right around the corner.”
I step forward. “Let me walk you.”
She nods, licking her lips. “Thanks, Vance, that would be nice.”
Jones leaves us then, and it’s just Val and me in the alley. Face to face. She can’t seem to stop crying. I want to wrap her in my arms and tell her she is safe now. I can’t decide how professional that is though — I’m in uniform and I don’t want to upset her even more.
“Are you okay?” I ask, seeing the circles under her eyes. The deep worry knit between her brows. This is about more than that man attacking her.
She doesn’t answer with words. Instead she steps toward me and buries her face in my chest. “I’m so glad you were here, Vance. Out of anyone in the world… I’m so glad it was you.”
“You are?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her.
She nods, looking up at me. “Yeah, I’ve always felt safer with you around. I think that is part of the reason I made Georgie become my friend. I knew her big brother was a cop, and that with you around, I’d be okay.”
“I wish I’d been here sooner,” I tell her.
“Why were you here at all?” she asks.
I give her a half-smile, wishing I could give her the whole damn world. “I was coming for breakfast.”
“You were?” Her face brightens. I nod. “Come on, then,” she says, her hand in mine. “Let me thank you properly for saving my life.”
I know she is just being nice… but I keep hold of her hand. Not wanting to let go. Not for a second.
Valerie
When we walk into Hot Spot, I tell Vance to take the corner booth, letting him know I am just going to check in with my boss and let her know what happened.
“Want me to come with you?” he asks. His hand is still in mine. Strong. Secure. Is it wrong that it feels so good? What would Georgie think?
“No,” I assure him, wanting a moment alone in the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”
He squeezes my hand before letting it go and the current of electricity is palpable. In the kitchen, I find Linda, my boss, and tell her about the alley.
“Oh my God, sweetie, that is awful!” She tells me to take the day off, but I tell her I’m just gonna calm down over breakfast with the cop who saved me, and then get to work.
“Honestly,” I tell her. “I can’t afford to skip a shift.”
Linda gives me a hug. “Oh, Val, I’m so sorry. I wish we all had some more money because I’d love to retire, sell this diner to you.”
“Same,” I tell her honestly, knowing she’s been thinking about selling Hot Spot for the last few months. Selfishly I wonder what will happen to my job if she does.
In the bathroom, I splash cold water on my face and try to calm down. Truth is, Vance finding me in the alley was the answer to my deepest, most precious desire. I’ve always been in love with him — a man who is more than funny and handsome. Whenever I am around Vance, I feel like I have someone taking care of me.
And it’s funny because it was me trying to take care of him the last few months after he was shot. I brought him so much soup he was probably sick of seeing me. Yet I kept coming, staying just long enough to drop off the food, never trusting myself to stay any longer. Because I have a habit of staring at him. And seeing him propped up in bed? Gah. It made every inch of my skin prickle with want.
Just being in Vance’s house calmed me though, made me relax, like I didn’t have to keep any of my walls up. Even if it was for only a few minutes, I’d take it. After a lifetime of facing the world alone… it’s a blessing