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“Busted, Sheriff,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Nice try on the guilt trip, though.”
He chuckled. “You’re good. Roxie can never spot it.” He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “Seriously, though, she does feel guilty, and I do worry about you. So please? For my peace of mind, let her babysit you today?”
She nodded, and her eyes filled. She blinked furiously to hold the tears at bay. Gah. She truly was an exhausted, hormonal mess. But this man...
“Stay put,” he whispered, dropping a kiss to the tip of her nose.
He got out, rounded the hood, and opened her door. Taking her hand in his, he helped her out of the SUV.
“I’m sorry I’m such an emotional basket case right now,” she said.
He placed his finger over her lips. “You have nothing to be sorry about, sweetheart. You’ve been through a lot. The fact that you’re still standing amazes me.”
Sniffling, she said, “Thank you for saying you worry about me. It means a lot to me.”
He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and kissed her lips. “Youmean a lot to me.”
With a protective arm around her shoulders, he walked her into Comfort Food. She paused in the entryway, shocked at the number of people crammed at the tables. As the door closed behind them, a hush filled the room.
“Morning, folks.” Quinn raised a hand in greeting while he accompanied her to the front counter.
“Hi, guys,” Roxie said with a sunny smile as she came out from the back. “I figured you’d shown up by the sudden silence. Alex, come with me to the back first. I’ll take it from here, Sheriff.”
“Sorry about all that,” Roxie said once they were seated in the tiny office.
Alex was behind the desk, and Roxie was perched on a stool next to her.
“It’s been a madhouse since we opened. As I’m sure you’ve deduced, news spreads quickly here on Hudson Island. Everyone’s been in asking about what happened and how you’re doing. Most are genuinely concerned about you, though there are a couple busybodies snooping.” Roxie rolled her eyes. “Quinn’s crew and the feds aren’t talking, so everyone’s dying for any tiny bit of information on what went down.”
Apprehension twisted her stomach. “What have you been saying to everyone?”
“The watered-down version that the feds told me to say.”
The apprehension grew. “And that would be...”
Roxie took hold of her hands and squeezed. “That a burglar broke into Joe’s place thinking it was empty. He got spooked when he ran across you, and there was a struggle. You got banged up, and the guy was caught when Joe and Quinn got home.”
Watered-down version, indeed. She frowned, little seeds of guilt swirling within her. “But he didn’t get caught, Roxie. I stabbed him, and hedied.” She shuddered. “And burglary was the least of his crimes.”
“Exactly, Alex. If you hadn’t defended yourself, you’d be dead.” Roxie’s intense gaze held hers, and she took comfort in her friend’s strength. “You protected yourself. You protected your baby. You havenothingto feel guilty about. Do you hear me?”
She let out an unsteady breath and nodded.
“Like I said,” Roxie continued, “I’ve been giving everyone the version the feds want me to say. I assume they’re keeping it quiet that the asshole died for a reason.” Her eyes closed. “God, when I think of what could have happened to you... I was right there, right across the yard, and I could have helped you. Maybe—”
“No, Rox,” she said, wanting to give her friend some sort of reassurance. “There’s nothing you could’ve done.”
“I know. This isn’t about me. Joe already gave me the lecture this morning.”
Alex pursed her lips. She didn’t know what that comment meant, but she wasn’t going to touch it. “Please don’t beat yourself up about this. Really. If you were there, he would have hurt you, too. The man was huge. And scary. I’m lucky to even be alive.” Her hands went to her stomach, and her eyes welled. Again. Her emotions were all over the damn place this morning. “I’m so lucky.”
Roxie pulled her into a tight hug, and she happily returned the embrace.
“I’m so thankful you and the baby are okay.” Releasing her, Roxie swiped away a couple of stray tears. “You’re welcome to hang back here if you want some quiet. But if you’re feeling up to it, there’s a table for you out front. Or I can bring a stool up to the counter so you’re not completely in the middle of the chaos.”
Alex glanced around the small, claustrophobic room, and her nose wrinkled. “A chair at the front counter sounds good.”
They stood and made their way back through the kitchen.
