He ran over and dug it out, bringing it back for Logan to tip the dustpan into. Sheraton had swept the floor one more time and filled the pan again with remnants of glass before Logan put the lid back on the container and tossed it in the trash.
“All done.”
“So are we,” Grimm announced, smoothing the last piece of tape into place. He turned the lock on the patio door and checked the knob to make sure it was secure. “At least that part of the door still works.”
“Good.”
“We’re heading out for the night. I don’t want to see you before lunch tomorrow, Quinn. Take some time for yourself.”
“I don’t need—”
“No excuses. Go shopping. Go to the shelter and get a new cat, but don’t come into the Observer before noon and that is an order. You hear me, Grimm?”
“I hear you,” he said.
“This is ridiculous. I don’t need to be treated like I’m fragile and will break.”
“You may feel differently tomorrow,” Sheraton said. “Get some rest.”
With that, he left the kitchen and Logan winked at her before he followed him out.
“Those two have become pretty fast pals,” she said. “That’s good for Sher. He didn’t have too many people to do things with outside of the paper.”
“Like you,” Grimm said.
“I have friends. Plenty of them.”
“I know. They have been flocking by here all week.”
“Just because we don’t get together every single night doesn’t mean they are non-existent,” she said, planting her hands on her hips. “What about you? You work for the Lone Wolf Agency. You show up here alone. I have a feeling that is how you prefer it.”
“I do. And yes, the name means something. All the men prefer to work alone, but we get the job done just the same.”
She headed out of the kitchen, and he followed behind her, turning out the light.
“Are you going to be okay sleeping alone?” he asked.
She swiveled around fast. “Of course.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that we…I only meant since Bathsheba always slept in your room.”
“I know.”
“If you need anything, I’m just down the hall.”
She nodded “I won’t, but I appreciate your saying so just the same. Good night.”
“Let’s go to the diner tomorrow for breakfast since we don’t have to go into the newspaper until noon. We can sleep in and then go for a late breakfast.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He pulled her into a hug, which totally caught her off guard, and she went all stiff for a moment before finally relaxing and wrapping her arms around him. It felt nice to be held by someone so strong.
She sighed and breathed in the woodsy scent of him. And then she felt herself begin to cry and tremble, an elicited reaction that she never would have imagined coming after all of this was over.
He didn’t say a word. He only held her, rubbing his hand up and down her back until she stopped crying, soaking his shirt with her spent tears.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”
