“I leave it open so Bathsheba can roam at night.”
“Okay.” And with that, he was gone.
She went into her bathroom and got ready for bed, putting the events of the day out of her mind the best she could.
CHAPTER 4
Quinn wasup before Grimm the next day, sipping her second cup of coffee and working on her laptop when he entered the kitchen.
“I was certain I’d be the first one in here,” he said.
“I was too, but then Bathsheba had a hairball attack in my bed, and I couldn’t get back to sleep after that. I decided to shower and get a start on my article while my mind was fresh and the sheets washed,” she said. “I have two kinds of cereal if you’re interested, or we can try the diner in town.”
“The third option is I can cook,” he said.
She arched a brow. “Cook?”
“I do know how,” he said. “I live alone. My mother taught me the essentials, so I’d be able to support myself growing up. I cook, do my own laundry, and keep a tidy apartment. No maid service for this bachelor is required. And when I decided to join the Navy, she said they’d teach me the rest.”
“And did they?”
“Yes.”
Quinn nodded. “Okay. Have at it.”
She ducked her head and bit back a smile as she delved back into her article. Fine attributes for a retired Navy man. He’d make some girl a fine husband one day.
Her fingers hovered over the keys on her laptop, but they didn’t move. She found herself distracted and stealing peeks at Grimm in her kitchen as if he owned the place. Damn, but as much as she had protested him being here, he sure had moved right into her life as if he belonged. And she didn’t regret one moment of him being with her last night when that car came barreling toward them, otherwise, she’d be on a slab in the morgue for sure.
She shook herself and dispelled that gruesome image from her mind. She’d reported on enough murders to know it wasn’t a pleasant experience to have to identify a body. And since her grandmother had passed, she didn’t have anyone but Sheraton left to do it. Well…maybe Shelby, but she’d hate to put that burden on her friend.
“Breakfast is ready,” Grimm called, carrying two plates over to the table.
She saved her document and closed the lid on the laptop, moving it aside. He’d whipped up omelets for them and sliced up strawberries while her mind had wandered.
“Would you like your coffee topped off?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He brought over the carafe and refilled her mug, then sat it on a trivet in the middle of the table. “I didn’t hear the keys tapping away. Were you deep in thought or stuck? I hope my coming into the kitchen didn’t interrupt your train of thought.”
“No. Just reliving last night’s attempt on my life and feeling grateful that you were there.”
“Not the most pleasant thoughts to have so early in the morning.” He picked up his fork but didn’t start eating. “And for the record, I’m glad I was there too.”
“I also realized since I have no immediate next of kin, I need to get my affairs in order and ask Sheraton to handle things if something does happen to me. I can’t expect my best friend Shelby to do it. That isn’t a burden I should dump on her. She runs a bakery in town. The last thing she needs is to deal with my stuff.”
“I don’t think it’s going to come to you needing to do that,” he said. “Not if I do my job.”
“We don’t know what will happen, and I think it will give me peace of mind taking care of it.”
“Suit yourself then, but I think you are preparing for something that isn’t going to happen,” he said, cutting into his omelet.
She sipped her coffee before finally digging into her food. “This is good,” she said. “I appreciate your confidence, and I’m not doubting your ability. But the unexpected can happen.”
“I like to prevent the unexpected,” he replied as a hurried knock sounded at the front door. “Who would be coming by this early?”
“Maybe it’s Sheraton checking on us. He was reluctant to leave last night.”
