I’d never introduced my brother to anyone I was dating before. Not that there had been a long line of suitors. “Maybe,” I replied evasively.
“How about dinner on Friday night?” he suggested.
I thought about that for a minute. “Okay.”
“Okay? Damn that feels good.” He chuckled.
I grinned.
“I’ll pick you up at seven, that work?”
“That works,” I confirmed, grinning like a lovesick schoolgirl.
“All right, I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Night, Trav.”
“Night, Em.”
****
His nightly calls continued for the rest of the week. He’d call as I was getting ready for bed, and we’d talk until I was nearly falling asleep. I loved hearing his voice at the end of the day.
Friday evening found me soaking in May’s tub when he called.
“Hi.” I smiled as I answered the phone. I swore my face hurt from smiling so much.
“Hey. I can hear an echo, where are you?”
“In May’s tub,” I replied blissfully.
He groaned. “You expect a man to carry on a conversation with that visual?”
I blushed. “Yeah well, it’s awesome for my sore muscles. It’s the one thing I really miss in my place—I just have that tiny shower.”
“Well, you can come soak in my tub anytime you want,” he invited, his tone low and full of intent.
“Oh yeah?” I replied. “I think you’ll have to take me to dinner first,” I teased.
“Fair enough,” he replied, just as my ears perked to what I swore was movement in the house.
“Hang on.” I pulled the phone from my ear, listening intently, and was sure I heard the tread of footsteps below. Fear had my heart pounding frantically in my chest. “I think there’s someone in the house,” I hissed to Travis as I sprang from the tub and wrapped a towel around myself.
“What?” he clipped, his tone immediately changing to something I hadn’t heard from him before.
“I hear footsteps,” I whispered. “What do I do?”
“I’m patching in the police, and I’m coming, Em.”
“I could try to hide but they’ll know someone is here because of the bath,” I whispered worriedly.
“You’re on the second floor?”
“Yes.” My breathing grew more rapid as I heard multiple steps below. “It sounds like they’re in Benny’s old office.”
I whipped my yoga tights up my legs and threw my sweatshirt back on. I didn’t want to be caught with just a small towel wrapped around me.
“Is there a good place to hide?” he demanded as I heard his engine rumble to life.
