“Breathe,” he commanded gently.
She swallowed and took a large breath.
“There ya go. Welcome back, Addy, who commands a million nurses at once, runs the hospital while multitasking, and knows how to make patients feel at ease. I thought I lost you.”
She picked up her fork and knife, cutting into her meat. She lost the sparkle in her eye, but she tried her best to appear calm.
“What did you think about the black truck we saw at the dealership where you bought your SUV?”
“Black vehicles show more dirt. Plus, I didn’t peg you as a black double oh agent type of guy. You’re more of a deep red, or the forest green we saw earlier,” she said, regarding him.
“What if I’m on surveillance duty? Red might pop out to my suspect,” he said thoughtfully, knowing what color truck he planned to buy. She guessed the green color on the spot.
“Then take the SUV you drove today,” she suggested. “What if you end up chasing a suspect? You don’t want to ruin your own car.”
“You have a point,” he conceded.
Addy grinned and dug into her meal, once again, catching her spark back. Liam wondered why she carried such low self-esteem when she obviously had an accomplished career, married a Navy SEAL, and seemed to handle her money. She didn’t bat an eye as she wrote the check for the car. She haggled them down to the last penny.
When they finished their meal, the waitress brought the check and she snatched it from the table.
“Addy, I want to pay. We’re celebrating your new car,” he informed her.
“No. I’m celebrating getting my first real luxury,” she argued, placing her card in the book.
He walked her to her SUV and waited while she climbed inside and set her purse and her take-home dessert in the opposite seat.
“I’ll follow you home,” he said as she closed the door and rolled down her window.
“You don’t need to, I know my way,” she said, starting the engine.
“I’m doing it anyway,” he insisted. “It’s on my way up the mountain. I’ll be able to sleep better knowing you made it home without sliding down a mountain with a bigger engine.”
“Real funny. Shall we meet at the same time tomorrow? Do you need me to pick you up?” she asked, plugging her phone into the dash.
“I’ll drive to your house. I have a stop to make in the morning,” he said while she adjusted her seat a bit more.
“All right, I’ll see you then. Goodnight, Liam,” she said softly.
“Goodnight, Addy,” he said before heading to his SUV. She waited until she saw his lights turn on before backing out of the parking stall. He followed her home, all the while reliving how she said his name. It came out sweet and alluring, or maybe he wished it.
Addyson parkedher new SUV in the garage and waved to him before Liam pulled away.
Closing the door, she smiled to herself while she gathered her things and headed inside the house.
She flipped on the kitchen light, surprised Zeus didn’t greet her. He always showed up when she opened the garage door. When she entered the living room, she noticed the lamp on the floor and her coffee table turned on its side.
“Zeus,” she called.
His muffled bark came from upstairs, and she shook her head. It wasn’t the first time he locked himself in a room. “I’m coming,” she said, climbing the stairs.
When she realized her primary bedroom remained open, she called again. “Zeus?”
The noise came from the room where she kept all of Sam’s things. Zeus never went in there.
“How did you manage to get caught in here?” she exclaimed, entering the hallway.
An arm wrapped around her neck, and she felt the cold metal of Sam’s gun pressed against her temple. She froze.
