Page 76 of Protect My Heart

Leaning back, she intertwined her fingers with his, and cleared her throat. “Did he say what’s so important about this journal?”

At the shift in conversation, Jim rose from the bunk and paced the tiny camper. Two steps to the left. Two steps to the right. He flinched with each step. “No, he screamed for a lawyer right away. We barely got his name out of him let alone a reason why?”

She snagged his arm and tugged. “Sit. He’s locked up now.”

He followed her lead and came back to the bed. “CJ and I went over every piece of evidence and found nothing.”

“You need to heal. We’ll start fresh tomorrow.” Liz cradled him. Wanting to be his strength as much as he was hers. “Mami and I will go through the storage room again and see if we can find this journal, or paperwork for a safety-deposit box, or something that would tie this craziness together.”

“I got a new lead to check as well.”

“It’ll wait. Your body may be running on adrenaline and pain meds now, but it needs rest. You need rest.” Sliding her hand up his shirt, she unbuttoned it with nimble fingers. Cotton fell to the floor, and her arms encircled him. Skin warm to the touch. She kissed him. Soft and sweet. Not with the fiery passion that burned deep inside her, but a gentle reminder that she was here. Safe and his. Jim Swenson had strength and wisdom, wit and bravery, but he also had a heart and feelings, emotions, and fears. Tonight, she wanted to bask in his strong arms. To know they were safe. Liz wanted to put his fears to rest. And hers.

The next day, Liz slung Jim’s bag over her shoulder and assessed his Victorian style home. She wouldn’t have imagined Jim in this elegant, old beast of a house. On the way over, he told her about how his friend had renovated it after college and he got a sweet deal on the top floor. Not to mention, use of the yard and garage.

Jim stepped from the truck and wobbled. She shoved the crutches at him. “Use these. It’s two flights of stairs.”

“I know, Doc. I’ve lived here for seven years.” Inside the tiny entry, he jostled around the bannister with the crutches. Liz hid her smile at the scowl that marred his face. “I should be at the station checking on the list of business, one could be an old, boxing gym with lockers.”

“You need to be in bed for a week.” She held the door open for him. “Warden Finden is in custody and the case can wait for a few days.”

He grumbled as he rounded the corner on the first flight. “I’m going to his bail hearing Friday.”

“We’ll see how you feel in a couple of days. Now quit complaining.” Liz rolled her eyes. Not that he could see them. She followed behind to make sure he was alright.

Jim leaned against the door as he fished out his keys. The adrenaline rush of yesterday must have worn off. She wanted to take the keys but knew he wouldn’t want her to view him as weak so she waited.

A moment later, the keys found their way into the lock and they were inside. Liz set the bag on the floor and unclipped Tigger’s leash. He sprinted around the apartment, sniffing each piece of furniture before making his way to his dog bed.

Jim eased into the large recliner in the small living room. The place was surprisingly well kept. A little clutter but not what she would have expected for a single guy’s home. Her gaze zoomed in on the wall of photos opposite the big screen TV. His family smiled back at her. Dozens of photos hung on a corkboard wall. Ones from his sister’s wedding, him holding a new baby—she couldn’t say which one.

Oh. She cooed over one of Tigger as a pup. So cute. He even had a few of him and CJ. She couldn’t stop the tears from misting. Her heart thumped in her ears. She didn’t realize how much she missed her family until now.

A wet nose touched her arm. She blinked several times then smiled down at her favorite canine. “You hungry? I’ll get you some food.”

The kitchen was bright with white cabinets and quartz counters. The rest of his mug collection hung on hooks from the base of the upper cabinets. She smiled. This was a kitchen she could see making breakfast in every day.

She glanced at the man flipping through channels in the other room. Could he be the one? A better question was could she live with the worry? She didn’t know.

Tig let out a sharp bark. His claws scratched on the floor as he hurried to the door.

Thirty seconds later, the doorbell rang simultaneously with a rapid succession of knocks.

Jim started to rise.

She pointed a finger at him. “You sit your butt down. I got it.”

He raised a brow but stayed seated. Good, she didn’t want to handcuff him to the chair. A grin snuck to her lips as she turned to open the door.

All four Swenson women stood on the other side of the door, bags of food in hand. Irene carried a covered dish. She leaned in and gave Liz a one-armed hug on her way to the kitchen. “Let me set this down then I can give you a proper hug.”

Michelle gave Liz an air kiss as she followed her mom.

Julie rushed in, a bag slung over her left shoulder, blonde strands falling in her eyes. She pulled Liz into a bear hug. “Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re alright. I can’t imagine what you went through.”

Jim waved a hand from across the room. “Hello. Remember me, the one who got shot.”

“Yeah, we heard about the shot in your ass.” Renae stepped in, slipped off her coat, and pulled Liz in for a quick hug. Then she handed Liz a bottle of wine. “This is for you. If you didn’t need it after yesterday, you will after taking care of Jim.”