Climbing into his chair, she pulled her feet under her and set her bowl in her lap. She picked up the first book.Self-Defense. She made a face. Was Edward brushing up on self-defense because of what had happened to Shelley? She thumbed through the book. A chapter on handguns and Tasers caught her eye. Then there was another on disabling an attacker. Maybe she should study this book.
She set the book aside and picked up her bowl of ice cream. As she savored the delicious dessert she considered the titles of the other two books.Surgical ProceduresandPolice Procedures.
Strange. Edward had always been well read, but those two were a little unsettling considering what had been going on. Maybe he’d looked into the subjects after all she’d told him. She supposed the horrific goings-on in her life at the moment were plenty enough to stir anyone’s curiosity.
That could very well be the reason he had chosen to read them. Edward made it a point to keep up with basically any subject that concerned her.
The fact that she’d never had a decent father had not once bothered her because she’d had Edward.
Go to bed, CJ. She placed the books back in the order Edward had left them and turned out the light. In the entry hall she peeked out a window to ensure her surveillance was still on duty. Now that Nash was dead, that might no longer be necessary.
Braddock wasn’t taking any chances. The car was there.
As she reached the second-story landing she heard the music again. Was Edward still awake? He’d never played music at night before whenever she stayed. Okay, she was being beyond ridiculous here. Just because she’d spent a few nights here and hadn’t heard music didn’t mean he didn’t ever play music.
She needed to stop second-guessing and analyzing everything. Maybe hearing about yet another murder—murders, actually—had her nerves on edge.Just stop, CJ.
Edward was fine. She was fine. The decision to go back to Baltimore was a good thing. As much as she felt compelled to help here, for now her future was in Baltimore.
But that meant leaving Braddock. For the first time since Cost had taken advantage of her she really wanted to try out the whole relationship thing.
A thump slowed her progress.
She turned back to the double doors leading to his suite. Was Edward ill? Maybe they’d missed something in the CT scan after that knock to the head.
He hadn’t been himself tonight.
She walked straight up to those double doors.
CJ bit down on her bottom lip and held her breath. She leaned close to the door and listened.
She could hear nothing but the music. She was being foolish. Going back to bed was by far the best idea.
The knob turned.
Her eyes widened and she stumbled back. As the door started to open she flattened herself against the wall behind the decorative column that stood on that side of the double doors.
Edward stormed to the stairs. His movements as he descended were stilted, angry.
She’d never seen him angry. Certainly not like this.
Just go back to your room, CJ. This is none of your business. She was being ridiculous. Hiding like this was childish. What would Edward think if he saw her?
Obviously he was all right. There could be something going on in his life that she didn’t know about. He had been terribly upset by the meeting he’d attended.
She inched around the column, keeping an eye out for Edward to come stamping back up the stairs. As she stepped past the open doorway, a glimpse of Edward’s suite snagged her attention. The walls were pink—soft, soft pink.
He liked pink? It was her favorite color, but she’d never known he cared for it. He was far too traditional for that.
She took a step into his private domain. Then another. The more she saw the more she had to keep looking.
The room was enormous. A massive canopy bed with sleek linens. More pastel colors. Fresh flowers all around the room. Four ... five ... six vases. The room was beautiful, but extraordinarily feminine.
So maybe Edward had a feminine side. A lot of men did.
Or maybe . . .
Oh God.
