radar.”
Oh, sweetie. He was focusing on the big monster so he wouldn’t see the one sneaking up on him. Even I could see it. My chest grew warm. “But it is.”
He licked his lips and swallowed hard. “It shouldn’t be.”
“Miles.” Something in his gaze made my words freeze in my throat.
“Could … could I just hold you for a while?” he whispered.
My throat tightened at the need in his voice. I nodded before settling back down into his embrace, relaxing in the warmth and scent of wintergreen as his arms tightened around me.
Chapter 2
The bed dipped as something shifted. Groaning, I managed to crack open one eye as Miles got to his feet and headed to his closet. I rolled over and looked at the clock on the nightstand on my side of his bed.
He hadn’t come to bed until four a.m., and that was only after I went down and made him come to bed with me. He couldn’t seriously be getting up now, it was only ten in the morning. “Miles?” I rasped.
Shirtless, he turned away from the closet to find me awake. His ears tinted pink. “I slept.”
I frowned at him. I doubted it was formidable given the fact that I was still half asleep. “Miles … you promised eight hours of rest.”
His fingers began tapping on his thigh. “I know, I just … I can’t sleep anymore. And being here, doing nothing, when there is still so much that needs to be worked on …” He crossed the room and sat back on the bed, facing me.
Those emerald eyes met mine. “Would it upset you if I went back to work?”
I sighed. “You really can’t sleep?”
He shook his head.
“You have to promise to go to bed at a decent hour tonight,” I said. “And no putting the phone down somewhere again, you have to keep it on you at all times.”
“I will.” He reached over and took my fingers in his warm hand. “How are we doing?”
“I was irritated that you came to bed so late, but I understand time just got away from you.”
“I am sorry about that.” He squeezed my hand gently. “Next time, I won’t set my phone down. And I’ll set another alarm.”
“Tonight? For your bedtime?” I asked, just to make sure.
“Yes. I promise.” His eyes softened. “You should go back to sleep.”
My phone chose that moment for my alarm to go off. Groaning, I rolled over and shut off the annoying beeping. “I’ve got to go to work today.”
“I’ll see you tonight at dinner?” Miles pulled a shirt on over his lean muscled frame.
He slipped out the door as I yawned and nodded my response.
Using Miles’ bathroom, I got dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Coffee. Needed coffee.
I was about to take my first glorious sip when my phone rang. Cursing, I pulled it out of my pocket. So help me, if it was that stupid blocked number again they were going to get an earful.
“Hey, Rory.” I blew on my coffee as some of my annoyance melted away.
“Ordin is missing.” Rory’s hard voice froze me down to the bone.
“What do you mean he’s missing?” I set the coffee mug down and quickly looked out the back window, half expecting Ordin to be there coming toward the house.
“I mean he’s gone missing from his room at the psychiatric hospital,” Rory reiterated.
Heart pounding, I hurried to the back door and checked the lock. “How the hell is that possible? Isn’t that place locked down?”
“It is, but somehow he got out,” Rory said.
I rushed through the house to the front door and threw the lock with shaking fingers.
“Lexie, you need to calm down.”
“Calm down, my ass.”
“The police are all over it, combing the area around the hospital. We’ll find him,” Rory promised.
I went to the house alarm and found it off. I jabbed my fingers over the buttons, turning it back on. Who the hell went to bed last night without turning on the alarm? This couldn’t be fucking happening. Not again.
“They’re calling all officers in along with borrowing a few officers from the next county for the search,” Rory said, gaining my attention again. “We’ll find him.”
“Call me when you do.” I hung up the phone then leaned back against the wall beside the alarm panel and sunk to the floor, my insides shaking as memories washed through my head. The abduction, the beating, his touch … No! No! I wasn’t going to hide from this fucker. But I sure as hell