“A big trash receptacle caught fire; I don’t know how yet. There was damage to the front of the building, but...” That’swhen it hit him. He turned to stare at Glory. “Are you ready to go, too?”
“I will be in five minutes. Why? Did you need something from me?”
He was starting to think he neededeverythingfrom her. That silent admission put him on guard, but he wouldn’t take chances with her safety.
“Kam? What is it? You look... well, enraged.”
Probably because his instincts were kicking hard. “It didn’t occur to me at first, but what if Mike is behind this?” Running a hand over his messy hair, he considered all the possibilities. “He could be distracting me so he can... I don’t know. Try something.”With you.
Bottom lip caught in her teeth, Glory stared at him. Finally, she said, “That seems unlikely, right? We haven’t heard from him in over a week, and how could he even know where you work?”
“Small town, babe, remember? He could ask the cashier at the local grocery and find out all he needs to know.” He didn’t want to scare Glory, but damn it, now he was divided.
“I’m going to the office today. I’ll be surrounded by people.”
“The office your folks opened here in town?” If so, he could follow her there and be around before she headed back home.
Apologetically, she shook her head. “In Bowling Green. It’s only a little over an hour away.” Touching his arm, she placated him. “I’ll be on I-165 most of the time. It’s always congested. No reason for you to worry.”
“I don’t worry,” he grumbled, even as he looked at the time. “Shit. I’ve got to go. It’s all hands on deck so we can clean up the damage and still stay on track.” He was due to finish up a custom job on an especially old tractor, so it’d be ready for a sale. “I’d rather we head out at the same time.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I was going to grab a bagel, but I’ll get something at the office. Just let me get my purse.” She darted off and was back in less than a minute.
As they stepped out together, Kam looked up and down the quiet street. “Am I rushing you off too early?”
“No, it’s fine. If I get to the office before the client, I’ll just visit with the other employees. I haven’t seen them in a while, so it’ll be nice to catch up.”
Spotting Old Lady Simmons coming out her front door, Kam grinned. He cupped Glory’s face. “Will you please call me once you’re there, and then again when you’re heading back?”
“See, that’s called worrying.” Unaware of her neighbor’s scrutiny, she went on tiptoe to kiss him. “But no, I don’t mind calling—as long as you do the same. After all, it was the shop where you work that had a fire.”
“I assume you can call hands-free?”
“I can. I’ll keep my cell phone in the cup holder instead of storing it in my purse.”
“Thank you.” He initiated the next kiss, then whispered against her lips, “Want to give Simmons something to see?”
“What—Kam!” Pressing him away, she glanced over and saw the woman scowling at her. Fashioning a false smile, Glory waved. “Good morning, Mrs. Simmons.”
“I’m sure it is, with that young man all over you.”
Blank-faced, Glory asked from the side of her mouth, “Erm, Kam, was that a joke, do you think?”
“The way she keeps her eyebrows together, I can’t tell.” Just for the heck of it, he waved too as they headed for their separate cars. “Remember: Call me. Often. Definitely before you go anywhere.”
He’d still worry, but he felt better knowing she’d stay in touch. And if it turned out that Mike was targeting him instead, that’dwork fine. Given half an excuse, Kam would take the other man apart and enjoy doing it.
On the road, he thought about Glory, about the things he felt—things he’d never counted on. Overwhelming things, or they should be, but when he was with her, he mostly felt at peace.
He considered his apartment now that it was slowly coming together, except that it was still unoccupied. One of these days—soon—he’d need to make a decision on that. After he made a decision on Glory.
Driving by habit, he allowed his thoughts to wander, and as they often did, they took him back to a painful time.You’re no good. You’ll never be good. Every day you look more like him.
Then his father would drag him out for an evening of bar hopping, all the while telling him that he had to toughen up, that all women were hateful and mean.
He encouraged him to fight back. When he’d been ten years old, he was supposed to punch it out with his mother.
How was a kid to understand any of that? Hatred from a mother? And if she detested his father so much, why the hell had she married the man and stayed with him?
