One to Protect (One to Hold Book 3) (5 page)

I shake my head as Patrick hands me a white wine glass filled with light amber soda. “Nothing.”

“He didn’t tell you anything?” Cutting my eyes as I take a sip, she squeals a laugh. “You horny pregnant lady! What exactly were you doing with your mouth all weekend?”

Ginger ale almost comes out my nose. “Shut up!” I pinch her arm and set the glass on the side table.

“Oh, please. You think Patrick’s shocked?

He just laughs, going back to the kitchen. “How is the big guy?”

Chewing my bottom lip, I opt for “Energetic.”

“No wonder you’re so tired. Come on then.” My slender friend hops off the couch and pulls me back to the kitchen. “This beef stew I cooked smells delicious.”

“Does it count as cooking if you buy all the ingredients premade?”

“Don’t be grouchy.”

Elaine pulls down three bowls while Patrick slices French bread. He glances up at me. “How was the drive?”

“Long.” My elbows are bent, and I rest my forehead on my palms, rubbing away my exhaustion. “I had the strangest feeling…” I shake my head with a little laugh. “I’m sure it was just road fatigue, but I kept thinking I saw the same car behind me the whole way.”

Patrick’s hand pauses mid-slice, then without a word, he starts cutting again. Elaine’s suddenly quiet, and I look around to see what just happened.

“That’s silly, right?”

His sunny smile is back in a flash, and Patrick tosses the bread in a bowl. “Yeah. Probably just somebody headed the same direction as you.”

Right when I turn away, I’m certain I catch a look pass between the two of them, but when I glance back, it’s gone. I am seriously exhausted and seeing things.

“You should spend the night here if you’re so tired.” Elaine puts a steaming bowl of stew in front of me then sets hers at the place across from me where she sits.

Taking the large spoon from beside my bowl, I dip out a carrot from the yummy-smelling broth. “Mmm… I want to sleep in my own bed tonight. But thanks.”

Patrick joins us, handing us each a piece of bread before he sits. I rip out the center of mine and dunk it in the dark brown gravy. “This really is delicious. Thanks for making me come over.”

Elaine exhales a little laugh and then falls silent, eating. We’re all three pretty quiet, which is unusual for our group. I’d complain if I weren’t feeling sleep trying to roll over me in giant waves. Instead, I take another warm bite of savory meat.

“At least let me drive you home, then,” Elaine says.

I shake my head. “Then my car would be over here, and you’ve got school—”

“I’ll spend the night.”

“Then I’d have to get up and drive you back in the morning before school.” Shaking my head, I lift my soft-drink-holding wine glass and sip. “I’ll be fine, and I want to sleep in tomorrow.”

Patrick stands and goes briefly into the kitchen before returning with his phone, which he sets on the table between him and Elaine. My bowl is now empty, and I’m just about to announce my departure when it buzzes. Elaine’s head turns, and she snatches it up, springing out of her chair.

“Toni Durango?” Her voice is too loud. “Who the HELL is Toni Durango? Patrick! What the FUCK? Is this a stripper?”

I’m fully awake now, and completely bewildered at both the volume of her voice and what she’s saying.

“Lainey—” Patrick stands, but she cuts him off.

“NO!” She shoves the phone hard into his chest. He tries to catch her but she pushes him again. Elaine is unusually strong, take it from me. “I’m not listening to your bullshit! Fuck you, Patrick!”

She storms to the bedroom, and I’m frozen in my spot. My mouth is open, and I’m sure I look like a guppy.
Would a stripper call Patrick? How would she have his number? Did Patrick give his number to a stripper? Could it be part of a case?

He doesn’t wait for me to intervene. He’s headed to the bedroom after her, just as a heavy, black combat boot flies through the opening. I scream and he ducks, avoiding the headshot.

“Honey… Don’t throw things at my head.” Somehow his voice sounds scolding instead of pleading.

“Don’t touch me!” Elaine’s still yelling, and my heart’s beating too fast. I’ve never liked confrontations like this, but I hesitate before leaving.

“Lainey?” My voice is high and soft, and I stand, cautiously going toward the bedroom. I don’t want to be hit by any flying objects either, and my coordination isn’t as good as it was pre-pregnancy. “Are you okay?”

A flash of blonde hair, and she’s out of the bedroom, cheeks pink and a small suitcase in her hand. “I’m staying with you tonight. Let’s go.”

“Uhh…” I’m certain I could win the Most Helpless Award at that moment.

Patrick goes to the fireplace and rubs the back of his neck as he studies the orange flames. I watch as my best friend storms past me and out the door.

“Okay, then.” I shake my head and follow her, picking up my bag. Elaine’s already in my car, sitting with her arms crossed, when I open the driver’s side door.

“Honey?” I have no idea what to say right now. These guys are
not
having problems. It’s impossible.

“Just stop. Patrick was a player before we got together, so what makes me think he’d stop being a player now?”

“Because he loves you? Because he left everything in Princeton behind to be here with you? Is it possible you’re being a little hasty?”

I can’t tell if she’s about to cry or not. Somehow it doesn’t seem like she is. With a deep exhale, I get in and push the key into the ignition. I almost jump out of my skin when she shrieks again.

“Wait!”

“You’re going to send me into premature labor—”

“Forgot my glasses.” She’s out the car and running back inside as I sit in the idling vehicle.

My shoulders drop as she disappears through the door. This whole situation is weird. Elaine isn’t flighty, nor does she jump to conclusions. And from what I’ve observed, she has Patrick whipped pretty well.

I continue waiting, wondering what the hell’s taking so long, when a low throb like heartburn starts in the center of my chest.

What if she is right, and Patrick
is
cheating or whatever? He always seemed so sweet to me. The self-doubt creeping up the back of my neck is even worse than the
déjà vu
of being watched. I think Patrick is a great guy. I also thought Sloan was a great guy. Is my ability to judge character still so warped?

I think Derek’s a great guy…

Elaine’s back, jumping into my car before I can go any further on that crazy-train of mentally exhausted thought. In the brief, dome light, her lips appear pink and slightly swollen… like she’s been kissing someone. Then it’s dark again.

“Let’s go,” she snaps.

That does it. “Don’t be all bossy with me. I don’t know any strippers.” Now I’m frowning.

“I’m sorry.” She drops back against the passenger seat and turns to face me. “Thanks for letting me sleep over. It can be like a girls’ night.”

I shake my head. “I’m going to bed when we get home. You can work out whatever this is on your own.”

I’m asleep before my head meets the pillow. Elaine’s snug in my little guest room, and as yet, she still hasn’t shed a tear. She doesn’t even seem mad anymore.

I’m about to accuse them both of pulling some inexplicable role-playing stunt, but I hesitate. I could be wrong.

Still, I know my friend has a wild side. I’m just too tired to delve into it tonight. Lainey’s like my sister, and if she needs to crash here, that’s fine. We’ll sort it out tomorrow.

Somewhere past midnight, I wake with a jolt. The house is quiet, but I throw back the covers and go to my bedroom door. My heart is beating so fast as I pause and listen, but everything sounds peaceful.
What was it?

I stand a few moments in groggy silence, trying to remember what might’ve woken me. It’s been a while since I’ve slept on edge, sleep so near waking it could hardly qualify as restful, and it often involved clutching that small can of pepper spray under my pillow. It was how I usually slept when I lived in Sloan’s house.

Elaine’s voice comes from the guest room, so I tiptoe down the hall. The yellow-pine floor is soft and warm beneath my feet in spite of the cold, and the cottage is new enough that nothing creaks. I’m quiet as a cat sneaking around.

“I swear I heard something.” Her voice is a shaky whisper. She pauses, listening to whoever’s on the line… I’m pretty certain I know who it is. “Maybe.” Pause. “I guess I was asleep, but come over and spend the night anyway.” More waiting as she listens. “We’ll worry about that tomorrow. I need you here.”

Rolling my eyes at the pleading tone in her voice, I’m fully prepared to find Patrick in my kitchen in the morning. They’re both about to make my shit list for whatever’s going on. Still, I’m smiling as I crawl back into my bed.

Lainey’s not used to being here, and I’m not used to overnight guests in that little room. We most likely disturbed each other, but I’ll sleep better with Patrick here. And the truth is, I’m relieved to know they’re okay, no matter what I witnessed at their condo tonight. I drift back to sleep, my shaky self-confidence restored.

Sure enough, Derek’s business partner is standing in my kitchen when I stagger in for coffee the next morning. He’s in a white tee and the same faded jeans, and he’s cute as ever with his messy bedhead and scruffy cheeks.

“Good morning,” I say with a squint. “I guess we’re all made up again?”

“Hey, babe.” He steps forward and pecks my forehead. “Sleep okay?”

“All except for a few moments after midnight…”

His body goes on visible defense. “Did you hear something?”

I feel like I’m calming a German Shepherd. “I heard Elaine on the phone begging you to come over.”

His broad shoulders drop. “Oh.”

Jamming my hands on my hips, my voice is raised now. “What the hell is going on here? First Derek’s wound so tight, now you and Elaine are acting like… I don’t know what. Like you’re auditioning for community theater—”

“Hang on.” He steps toward me and then looks around.

“She’s still in the guest room, but she’ll be flying in here any minute. She has to be at school in an hour.”

He catches me by the shoulders and pulls me further into the kitchen. “Just between us, okay?”

I nod, unsure what he’s about to say.

“Derek wants to tell you himself. So just be cool.”

He’s quiet again, and it actually appears he’s done. That’s it. All I get.

I push his hands off me. “What! That’s the most… I thought you were about to tell me something I can use.”

“And risk the wrath of Derek? No fucking way. That’s one ass-kicking I’ve somehow managed to avoid, and I plan to keep it that way.” He laughs, and turns to the fridge, pulling out the OJ. “But Elaine’s spending the night with you until he gets here, okay?”

“Which means you are, too?”

He grins and does a little shrug.

I’m frustrated, and my throat feels tight. “This doesn’t make any sense unless he’s afraid of me being alone… which means—”

In that instant it all clicks together. It couldn’t be anything else, and I feel like an idiot for not seeing it sooner. At the same time, my stomach drops as I acknowledge what it means.

Just then Elaine flies into the kitchen, as predicted, whizzing around the room and gathering her things fast. She sees me and freezes, guilt filling her green eyes. “You’re awake.”

“And you two aren’t really fighting.”

Her pink lips twist, but a car horn sounds outside. “Oh, that’s my ride. Sorry, Mel. Have to get to school.” She pecks me on the cheek and Patrick on the mouth—followed by him grabbing her waist and pulling her back for a longer, open-mouthed smooch.

I leave the kitchen, headed for my bedroom with a boulder in my chest. The case that has Derek so tense, Patrick turning into my live-in babysitter… I’m standing by my bedside thinking when it all clicks together.

“You okay?”

I squeal and almost throw my coffee across the bed. “Patrick! Jesus!”

He tries not to laugh, putting a hand on my shoulder. “That’s exactly what he wants to avoid. He doesn’t want you to be afraid.”

My heart’s still flying as I set my coffee cup on the dresser. “So you’re really not going to tell me what’s happening?”

“No.”

Dropping onto the bed, I look up at him. “How long will you two be staying here?”

“Until Derek arrives on Thursday.”

Thursday. Despite it all, knowing he’ll be here so soon makes my heart rise. “That performance last night really wasn’t necessary. You could’ve just insisted I spend the night.”

“It was a last-ditch effort.” He walks over and sits beside me on the bed, patting my knee. “We tried everything to get you to stay at our place. You’re stubborn as a damn mule.”

“I am not!” My eyes widen, and he laughs more.

“Have you met yourself?”

I want to laugh, but my realization kills the levity. “This is about Sloan, isn’t it?”