“Okay,” Steff eventually said.
Did that mean she was okay with wearing them, or was she going to take the time to think about it?
“Okay what?” he asked when it looked like she wasn’t going to elaborate.
Steff met his gaze. Her chin lifted a little as if she was daring him to question what she was going to say. “I’ll take them. I know it’s important to you.”
“Nope,” he responded immediately.
“What do you mean ‘nope’?”
“I don’t want you to take them to make me happy. You have to be happy to wear them. This is your decision, Steff. Not mine.”
Of course he wanted her to wear them. After everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, his instincts were screaming for him to be cautious. The decision had to be Steff’s alone.
“But I thought this was what you wanted.” Confusion clear in the way her brow furrowed.
“It is. I also don’t want you to feel like me or the others have pressured you into making this decision, which I know this is what it sounds and looks like.” He took hold of her hands, needing the contact. “I want you to be safe. And if you don’t want the earrings, then we’ll work something else out.”
Steff looked around before meeting his gaze. “I don’t know why I’m so resistant. It’s not like you are the bad guys, and as Cass said, she’s not going to be watching me all the time. It’s just…” She shrugged.
“I get it. You don’t have to make a decision now. How about we go back to your place?” Any thoughts of him suggesting that she stay at his apartment went out the window. It would be too much.
What he would have to do was convince her that he was going to stay at her place again that night.
“I’d like that.” Her relief was palpable, and he was glad.
He grabbed the earrings from Cass and pocketed them. “Thanks, everyone. We’ll see you later.”
The women came and gave Steff a hug, and he was pleased to see her returning them freely. Jag knew that she only had Cynthia as a friend, but now she had more.
“I’ll keep you updated on any information I find,” Cass said as they walked out the door. He lifted his hand acknowledging he heard her.
Chapter Seventeen
Tiredness dragged at Steff,and she leaned back against the head rest, closing her eyes. It had been a draining day, but there had also been some fun parts. Like talking and getting to know Cass, Teresa, and Eveline a little better. She’d definitely seen a different side to her former colleague. Motherhood had softened Teresa’s edges, but beneath it all was still the hard-nosed reporter she’d worked with.
“Do you mind if we drop by my place before we go to yours?” Dalton asked, as he started the car and reversed out of the bay.
Her eyes popped open. “Why?” She didn’t think Jag had any ulterior motive, but all she wanted was to go home and be around her own things.
Although was her place safe anymore?
Steff shut down that thought. She needed to believe it was, because the opposite wasn’t something she could deal with.
Why was this all happening now?
She’d taken steps to reclaim her life, like Cynthia had done. The moment she did, something bad happened.
Or was she and Dalton and everyone else making too much out of it all?
No, they weren’t.
“I need a change of clothes.” Dalton glanced over his shoulder and changed lanes.
She didn’t need to ask why, and there was no point in arguing. “That’s fine.”
“You’re not going to argue or question why?”
