AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Setting both elbows on her desk, she dropped her face into her trembling hands.
The picture was from this morning’s run.
* * *
Alarm bells blared like sirens in Joe’s head as he watched the color seep from Roxie’s face. His stomach clenched when she dropped her head into her hands, her slim shoulders shaking.
“Rox?” he said quietly, not wanting to startle her.
She almost jumped out of her seat. “Holy shit, Joe! You gave me a freaking heart attack!”
She flipped over the picture she’d been staring at, and a chill crawled up his spine.
“What’s that?” he asked, sitting in the tiny office’s guest chair.
“Nothing,” she replied quickly.
Too quickly.
He could be a patient man when he wanted, and his gut was screaming for him to be that man now. Leaning back in the chair, he crossed an ankle over his knee. “Baby, I can sit here all day and wait for you to tell me what’s got you spooked.”
“I’m not spooked. And don’t call me baby.” She glared at him. “Don’t you need to go flirt with Sheila or Nina or someone else with boobs?”
A chuckle escaped him, but there was no humor in it. He kept his tone light as he said, “It warms my heart that you care,baby.”
Annoyance flashed in her emerald eyes, replacing the fear. Just as he’d intended. He’d take her annoyance over fear every day of the damn week. And that’s what had been in her eyes moments earlier: fear.
She huffed and rearranged the papers on her desk. “Of course I don’t care, you idiot.”
He knew a stall tactic when he saw one. “Rox? The picture?”
“I said it’s nothing.”
That squirrelly feeling returned to his gut. “Then why are you as pale as a ghost?”
She lifted her chin. “Don’t be ridiculous, Joe. I’m not scared.”
No matter how much time had passed, he knew Roxie. And her eyes were telling another story.
“I never said you were.”
“It’s just a stupid picture.” Her gaze was everywhere but on him. “You don’t know what you’re talk—”
He leaned forward and placed a finger over her lips. Enough was enough. “Please, Roxanne. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He didn’t think it was possible, but her face went even paler. With an audible gulp, she drew away from his touch and took a deep breath. As she let it out, she flipped over the picture and turned it so he could see.
He stared at it for a moment, not understanding why Roxie had reacted so badly. It was a beautiful photo of her. She looked strong, sporty, and fucking gorgeous.
Then it clicked. His blood chilled.
She fiddled with a stapler, staring at it intently. He waited. After a minute, she picked up her head and met his gaze. His heart squeezed at the confusion and terror on her face.
He already knew the answer, but he had to ask. “Is that from this morning?”
At her slight nod, trepidation avalanched over him.
“Did you see anyone on your run this morning?”
