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She blew out a breath. Nodded once. “I do. I saw his truck parked down the street one night. I called the sheriff, but his truck was gone by the time a deputy got here.”
Clearing the anger from his throat, Brody said, “I know it’s none of my business, but do you have anyone to talk to about what’s been going on with Ron? Friends? Relatives? A therapist?”
She stared straight ahead. Sighed. “My friends -- I haven’t seen them in a while. And I don’t have any relatives close by. Most of my family live in Spokane.” She poked at the bandage on her right palm. Twisted her fingers together. “I started seeing a therapist my divorce lawyer recommended. She said it was routine -- she refers all her clients. The therapist has helped, but…”
“But it’s not the same as talking to a friend,” Brody finished.
She shook her head. “No. It’s not.”
He wanted to support her, even if it just meant listening to her, but it was clear she didn’t want to talk. “Tell me what I can do to help you right now.”
She glanced at him. “Why would you do that, Brody? Spend your time helping me? I’m just your accountant.”
He steadied his gaze on her. Tried his damn best to keep his face neutral. But he was afraid his feelings were obvious.
She stared back. Tension vibrated in the stillness. Long-suppressed emotions eddied around them. Finally, knowing the risk but unable to stop himself, Brody said, “You know why, Lainey.”
Lainey closed her eyes. Sighed. “Yes,” she murmured. “But I won’t take advantage of you like that.”
“Take advantage of me, how?” He wanted her to take advantage of him. To allow him close. Let him protect her.
“Accept help from you because you have… feelings for me. Feelings that I…”
“That you what, Lainey?” He scooted closer to her. “That you reciprocate? Or that you don’t welcome? Tell me.”
At that, she straightened her spine. Stared at him, then sighed. Took a step back. “My husband was just murdered. No matter how I felt about him, or feel about you, I need some space. Some time to settle myself. And, in case you don’t remember, I’m a suspect in his murder. You need to think before you get involved in this mess.”
“You can’t think I suspect you,” Brody said, appalled that she would even imagine such a thing.
“Of course not. But the sheriff does. And if he saw me jumping into bed with you, he’d be even more suspicious. Probably think you were involved in the murder, too.”
He hadn’t said anything about jumping into bed with her. But Lainey had said it. His blood thundered in his ears, and he shifted his feet. “Lainey, even the sheriff won’t expect you to mourn Ron’s death. Ron was mean as a snake and a bully on top of it. Not only did he beat you, he routinely beat suspects he arrested. And he was finally fired from the Sheriff’s department because of it. So no one is going to expect you to wear black and beat your chest over his death.”
“But no one’s going to expect to see me starting a new relationship the day my husband was killed, either,” she retorted. “Don’t you understand that being a woman makes this more complicated, not less? People believe what a respected citizen like the sheriff says. And if he blabs about us being together, people will begin to talk. Look at me sideways.”
“You’re right,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t think about that. It’s not right, but it is what it is. But at least I can be a friend to you. Someone you can lean on. Talk to. Help you get rid of Ron’s belongings. Who could criticize that?”
“You’d be surprised,” she muttered. “That may start Sheriff Jacobs talking, too. He never liked me. I reported Ron for domestic abuse too many times.”
“That’s Jacobs’ problem, not yours,” Brody retorted. “His job was to protect you, not his employee. So I don’t care what he thinks.”
He looked around the gloomy house, imagining how alone and isolated Lainey would feel here tonight. There wouldn’t be any happy memories to comfort her about Ron’s death. Only sad, painful ones.
“I need to tell you something, Lainey,” he said after a long moment. He’d prefer not to confess, but he didn’t want any lies or half-truths between him and Lainey. “Whenever I’m in town in the evening, I drive past your house a few times. Making sure everything’s okay.”
She shifted to look at him. Tilted her head. “Being my guardian angel?”
Brody shrugged. “Just watching out for you. Ever since I heard Martin had been arrested for domestic abuse, I’ve worried about you.” He sighed. “I knew there wasn’t a lot I could do, but it made me feel better to check on you. To make sure you were safe.”
Lainey turned her gray eyes on him for a long moment. He couldn’t read her right now, and that was unusual. He often knew intuitively what Lainey was thinking.
“Wow, Brody,” she said after a long moment. “I’m not… I don’t know what to say.”
“Tell me you’re not angry with me?”
She shook her head slowly. Reached out for him, then snatched her hand back. “Not angry. But I think you should leave now.”
“Why? Have I offended you,” he said, his stomach twisting. The last thing he wanted was to make Lainey uncomfortable.
