He rushed down the stairs, his feet pounding against the steps. And, surprise, surprise, his assistant was waiting in the foyer. Joshua’s features were pinched. Far too tight.
His assistant was also sweating. “This is a terrible idea,” Joshua proclaimed. “The sheriff took the woman away. Why did you bring her back? You should have gotten a restraining order against her. Not invited her into your home. Why, boss? Why?”
“Because I like her.” Wait. Hell. He did. He did like her.
“You…like her?” Joshua seemed to strangle. “A woman who has been tearing into your life? Boss, that’s not supposed to be your reaction.”
“She didn’t have anything to do with the abduction. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I’m alive because of her. That kind of assistance deserves some payback, don’t you agree? Or, at least, a bit of gratitude.” Instead of showing her gratitude, he’d watched as she was loaded into the back of a patrol car.
Will not happen again. She will not ever ask for my help when I stare at her and do nothing.
Because…
He’d sworn something was breaking within him as she got into that patrol car. As he watched her through the glass of the window.
His chest had ached. Burned. He’d wanted to punch through the glass and get to her.
I will never again stare at her and do nothing while she needs me.
Sloane was…different. He was different with her.
Joshua glanced upstairs. “You’re moving her in here.”
“For the time being, yes.” For the time being and maybe, for longer. Forever. A tempting thought. “She could become a target, and I want to make certain that nothing happens to her.” He’d already briefed Joshua on the shooting at the station. “Any sign of Debra yet? She’s supposed to be coming this way.”
“She’s not going to approve, either.”
No shit. “Don’t recall asking for anyone’s approval.” Mild words.
But Joshua flushed. “I…”
“You were looking out for me. You know I value loyalty.” In fact, he tended to be fanatical about it in his life. “I know what I’m doing with Sloane.”
“Are you sure?” Joshua’s worry was plain. “Because I did some Googling on her, boss, and her parents were murdered by her boyfriend. The guy said she asked him to do it and?—”
A stair creaked.
Preston turned his head at the sound and saw Sloane. She’d already gone halfway down the staircase. He made a mental note that Sloane could get dressed very quickly. She wore jeans that clung to her hips. A white blouse with a scooped neckline. Sneakers that somehow looked elegant on her. Light makeup. Hair still wet.
Gorgeous.
He was pretty sure he’d always think she was gorgeous.
“I tried to dress for the grave,” Sloane told him. The delicate chain and the lily pendant adorned her neck.
“Oh, God.” Joshua gulped. “How is she joking?”
Because that was who she was.
A smile was on her face, but the smile did not reach her dark eyes. He wondered if she’d always presented a mask to the rest of the world, or if she’d started doing it when she was sixteen years old.
As for him, Preston had always worn a mask. Even before the attack when he’d been fourteen. When you knew something was wrong deep inside, you hid it from the rest of the world. He’d definitely hidden the truth from his adoptive parents. They’d thought that they’d lucked up and gotten the perfect son when they’d brought him into their lives.
They’d been wrong.
They learned the truth, later.
“I’m not joking.” Sloane slowly descended the staircase as her fingers slid over the banister. “Preston and I are heading out to our grave site. We’re going to conduct a full search.”
