“I wish we knew, Steff. I really do,” Fox sympathized.
“What about the driver? Has Cass been able to get a hit on the image we got from the security camera?” Jag wasn’t holding his breath that anything positive would come out of Fox’s mouth.
“Nothing yet.” Fox didn’t need to add that Cass was continuing to work on it, Jag was well aware she wouldn’t stop until she got an answer.
“What do we do?” Cynthia questioned. “I’m not going to let them win. I’ve worked too hard and for too long to let some faceless person take my peace from me.”
Jag admired the hell out of her for her stance, and he didn’t miss the hint of admiration, or…interest in Fox’s eye either.
“We won’t let that happen,” Jag assured both women.
Chapter Nineteen
Steff pouredherself a cup of coffee, needing the caffeine fix. After all that happened the previous evening, sleep had been elusive. She’d tossed and turned, aware that Dalton was in the other room. He stayed in her guest room this time instead of on the couch.
Part of her wanted to seek him out. Have his strong arms hold her tight for the rest of the night. Yet, she stayed where she was–in her bed amongst her tangled sheets, staring at the ceiling, willing sleep to come.
Sleepless nights weren’t unusual for her. She’d had plenty over the last couple of years. Whenever that had happened, she’d spent the next day lazing in bed, napping throughout the day.
Today she couldn’t do that, though. The days of spending time alone were gone—at least for the time being. No way would Dalton let her be alone in her place, and, if she was being truthful with herself, she didn’t want to be. Her apartment wasn’t as safe as it had once been.
Would she ever be free of this threat?
Hadn’t she gone through enough?
Why did she have to suffer through more?
Steff groaned, could she be anymore pathetic? Or self-serving? It wasn’t just her going through this now—Cynthia was part of it too. The fact that everything had been directed toward her didn’t mean squat. Having her friend back in her life put the spotlight back on Cynthia as well.
Steff would hate for anything to happen to Cynthia, as much as she would hate it happening to her.
Would it be best to cut contact with her friend again? That was the last thing Steff wanted to do. Perhaps it would be for the best though?
“Whatever you’re worried about, stop. You’re not alone.” Dalton’s voice startled her out of her thoughts.
“You can’t tell a person to stop worrying. It’s impossible not to worry, especially when someone is clearly after you again.” Steff took another sip of her coffee.
Dalton stepped into her personal space. Not long ago having someone that close to her would’ve freaked her out. Now, though, she was getting used to his presence. In fact, part of her craved his closeness. It was the same part that she’d battled with during her sleepless night. The part that wanted to creep into Dalton’s bed and have him hold her.
“I know.” He took her mug from her and placed it on the counter. He rested his hands loosely on her hips. “You’ve got me though. I’m going to keep you safe.”
“That’s another promise you shouldn’t be making, because you can’t be with me every moment of every day.” She pulled away from him, grabbing her mug and emptying the contents down the sink. “Are you going to give up your job to do that, Dalton? Because if that’s what you’re thinking, then you need to stop. I don’t want or need a keeper.”
Dalton leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over his impressive chest—a bare one at that.
How had she not noticed he wasn’t wearing a shirt?
She’d been so lost in her head, even after he spoke to her, that she hadn’t taken in everything around her. Considering he’d rushed off the other morning to put a shirt on, she was surprised he hadn’t done the same thing this time.
It would be so easy to give in and rest her head on his chest. Have him do exactly what she said she didn’t want him to do—take care of her all the time.
A few days ago, she might have done that, but she’d started making headway into regaining her life, and she wasn’t going to take steps back.
“I don’t want to be your keeper, Steff. I want to be more, but I know that it’s not possible at the moment. I have to give you the time you need to become the person you want to be.”
She scoffed at that, while tucking away the knowledge that he wanted something more with her. “I don’t even know who that person is.”
Dalton moved closer again, back into her personal space. He didn’t touch her, and she wished that he would. “You’ll find who you are. It may not look like the person you were before all the stuff happened to you, but you will be a better version of yourself.”
