Page 6 of Night Watch
At the bottom, he flew across the room but paused at the door. He was ready to leap into the water but took a moment to shed his boots and some clothing. Especially his overshirt, which he wore to conceal his gun. The suspect bumping into him could’ve left touch DNA on the fabric that they could use to identify this creep.
Erik charged across the deck in his bare feet, anger burning like a hot coal in his gut. No, Kennedy didn’t need to see that. She was already frightened enough. He dug up the professional protector mode that he used on the job to keep his cool.
“Where are you, honey?” He shone his phone’s flashlight ahead at the side of the deck where he’d thought her voice had sounded.
“Here. I’m here.”
He fought the wind to swing right and kneel, searching with the flashlight beam between the deck and a small ski boat, where the water beat against the deck. Near the bow, Kennedy’s large brown eyes locked on his. Her disheveled and shivering state, from cold or maybe fear, hit him like a fist grabbing his heart and squeezing.
“I’m here,” he said, doing his very best to keep anger and pain from his.
He ran the light over the area, looking for the best way to free her quickly. “I’ll untie the boat and then hoist you up. If I can’t do it from the deck, I’ll get in the water and hold onto you so you can pull up on the deck.”
“Thank you.” She sounded so forlorn it deepened the ache in his chest.
He pocketed his phone and released the closest mooring line, then gave the boat a shove with his foot and held it out against the choppy river waves.
Kennedy scooted out of the way. “I’m free. Oh, thank you.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how I got stuck, but I wasn’t thinking clearly after the guy pulled a gun and came after me.”
“He was carrying?” Erik heard his high-pitched words echo down the river. “That changes everything.”
“We should call the police,” she said.
“Getting you out of the cold water’s top priority.” He leaned over the edge, the wind beating against him. “Grab onto me, and I’ll pull you up.”
She raised her arms, and icy fingers clamped onto his shoulders. His anger over her suffering doubled. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” The word carried a heaviness that reminded him of his heart the day of their senior year of college when, after two years of what he thought was blissful togetherness, she told him she didn’t want to be with him anymore.
He raised her up until their bodies connected. He held her longer than was necessary, taking in a long draw of her coconut scent that hadn’t changed over the years. She didn’t try to break free.
Oh, man.To have her in his arms again. Pure joy. And heartache. She wasn’t his anymore.
Would never be.
Face facts, man. Years had passed. Six years. And his reaction said he wasn’t over her. He could resume their relationship right now. If…if she hadn’t left him with no explanation. No reason. Just good-bye and a backward glance that left him wondering all those years. But that wasn’t all. His latest girlfriend had cheated on him. Two strikes and he wasn’t going for the third one. He couldn’t trust a woman again. Never again.
He eased away from Kennedy before he did or said something he regretted. “We need to get you inside and into a hot shower and dry clothes.”
She gave a sharp nod, but behind her eyes he saw turmoil. From the hug? From the attack? Likely the attack, as she was the one who broke things off in the past. She was the one who didn’t want him. Pure and simple. He had to remember that.
“Thank you for coming.” A tentative smile crossed her lips, and she gently touched his cheek. “For the rescue. I don’t know why you’re here, but thank you.”
Her soft touch set a fire burning inside of him. He backed away and secured the boat. “Finley called me.”
Kennedy frowned. “She shouldn’t have.”
Right. Kennedy doesn’t want me here.“Let’s go in and talk about it once you’re warm.”
She went in through the patio door and straight to the stairway. He followed but stopped in the family room.
“While you change, I’ll get the police looking for the intruder.” He held up his phone. “Did you get a good look at him?”
She shook her head. “I can give you a few things though. Big guy. Six feet plus. Maybe two-twenty. Big army boots and camo pants. His face was in the shadows, but I did see a crooked nose and a long face.”
Like the guy he ran into in the lot. “I’ll call it in and stay until an officer arrives.”
She looked over her shoulder. “You don’t have to stay. I’m—”
