Authors: Cheryl Yeko
Jake gave a curt nod, and his lips tightened.
The paramedics, a short, redheaded woman, and a graying older man rushed to her. “Miss,” the older man said gently, “my partner and I need to examine you and transport you to the hospital.”
“No.” Another shudder shook her, and her arms wrapped around his waist, burying herself closer. “I’m okay. I don’t need to go to the hospital.”
“Yes. You do,” Jake insisted. He nudged her chin up until she met his gaze. “You’ve been hurt and you need to be seen by a doctor.”
He nodded to the paramedics, who placed the stretcher beside the bed. Jake pried her arms away from him, safeguarding her modesty as he stood. “I’ll stay with you.”
Jake kept his voice steady, although rage clawed at him. He wanted to find the guy who’d hurt her and tear him apart with his bare hands.
She held his gaze for a long moment, then the spark returned to her eyes and she gave a sigh, the tension seeming to drain from her body. She had spunk and he was relieved to see it return.
He made his way over to Rick, while the paramedics prepared her for transport to the hospital. “Did you get him?” His voice sounded harsh, even to his own ears.
“Yeah, we got him.” Rick scowled, not sounding too happy about it?
Jake tensed. “And?”
“He’s dead.”
“Fuck!” His hands curled into fists. He’d wanted to interrogate him. “What about Dowd?”
“We found him in his car unconscious with a knife wound to his chest. He lost a lot of blood.” He glanced at Angela, his eyes hardened. “Was she raped?”
“No. She says no.” He glanced back toward the bed and wanted to hit something at the sight of her injured face. “But the bastard roughed her up pretty good.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough.”
The paramedics started across the room with Angela on the stretcher.
“Rick, I think this is more than just a random attack.”
“Yeah, I agree.” Rick glanced Angela’s way. “I’m sure I can get Stone to approve whatever is necessary to protect her until trial.”
Jake nodded, then turned to follow her to the ambulance. A sparkle on the floor by the bed caught his eye. He bent down and scooped it up.
Angela found herself looking into the friendly eyes of Dr. Anderson. Again.
“Didn’t I just send you home this morning?” He smiled as he rechecked her ribs.
She returned his teasing smile. “I’m fine, really. I’d just like to go home.”
He moved to the sink and washed his hands. “Yes, I see no reason for you to stay. Besides a few new scrapes and bruises, you’re fine.” He came back over and handed her a small tube of ointment. “Here’s some salve for the cut on your cheek. A free sample, just apply it liberally to the area twice a day. It’s not deep and there won’t even be a scar.”
“Great.” She tentatively sat up, one hand on her tender ribs.
“Hang on.” He took a pad from his pocket and wrote on it, then tore off a sheet and handed it to her. “Here’s a prescription for something to reduce the discomfort and help you sleep. You can get it filled downstairs.”
She took the slip of paper. “Thank you.”
“Detective Bauman is waiting for you outside. I’ll send him in.” Dr. Anderson turned toward the door.
“Okay,” she mumbled as the door clicked shut behind him. She rested against the hospital bed and sighed. Bone weary, she wanted to get some sleep. The last couple of days had been an emotional roller coaster and the latest attack had taken a heavy toll.
If only Stacey was in town, she could spend the next few days at her house to unwind. Her stomach churned at the thought of returning home.
The guy’s dead.
But that knowledge did little to relieve her anxiety. What if he wasn’t just some random rapist, and someone really did want to kill her? Angela’s throat ached as she fought against the sob trapped there.
A sharp knock at the door roused her from her contemplations as Jake strode in holding a paper bag. He stopped at the foot of her bed and studied her.
He quirked a brow. “I’ve brought you some clean clothes. Are you ready to get the hell out of here?”
Angela smiled. When had their relationship changed to one of affability? She reached for the bag. “Thank you. Now, if you would just step outside, I’ll change and you can take me home.”
“About that,” he hedged, raising a brow. “I think it would be best if you stayed at my place tonight.”
She snorted. “I don’t think so.”
His playfulness fell away. “It’s not safe for you to return to your house. Not until we figure out who’s trying to hurt you.”
Her thoughts drifted back to the threatening phone call she’d received.
Ever perceptive, Jake jumped on whatever expression had given her thoughts away. “What is it?”
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and studied him. “Nothing really.”
“I’ll decide if it’s really nothing.” His eyes narrowed.
“Well . . . there was this phone call just after Scott’s murder.”
“What kind of phone call?”
“Some guy called and told me to keep my mouth shut about any of Scott’s business . . . or else.”
“Or else what?” Steel entered his voice.
A shiver rolled over her. “Or else he’d kill me. “Her cheeks heated and she glanced away.
“What else did he say?” His tone turned lethal.
She swiveled toward him and met his hard gaze. “Nothing.”
His eyes narrowed. “Angela.”
“He threatened to make me suffer first.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “I can’t remember exactly what he said, it was a long time ago.”
Jake’s upper lip curled into a snarl, his eyes flashing.
She shrugged. Jake didn’t need to know how the guy threatened to rape and mutilate her if she talked. “The guy who attacked me is dead. So, I’m safe now, right?”
“We don’t know that—”
“Or it could have been a random attack,” she interjected.
There was a moment of silence. From under her lashes, she watched Jake try to curb his frustration.
“You never told anyone about the phone call? Why not?”
She squirmed. “Well. I was scared. And I really didn’t know anything about Scott’s business partners anyway? So it was kind of a moot point.”
Her eyes narrowed and she jutted her chin toward him. “Besides, the police weren’t exactly friendly toward me at the time. If you will recall.”
Jake stared at her, jaw clamped, and she squirmed even more, feeling like a recalcitrant child.
Jake continued. “That’s another reason why you can’t go back to your place. It’s not safe. And besides, your back patio door is broken. It needs to be replaced. Just give me a couple days.”
Her heart raced as a thought struck her. “I have to go home. I need to make sure Shelby’s okay.”
“Is that the cat?”
“Yes.”
“She’s fine. Rick boarded up the broken door and made sure she had plenty of food and water before he left.”
Angela collapsed against the pillow with a sigh of relief. But she still didn’t want to go to his house. She actually kinda liked him now and that was bad. Very, very bad.
She wanted to be as far away from him as possible, not trusting her emotions when he was near, or her body’s reactions. She reached for her heart necklace, gasping when it wasn’t around her neck. She rubbed the spot where it should have been resting. An ache filled her chest.
Jake’s features softened before he reached into his shirt pocket. He closed the distance between them and took her hand, placing her necklace into her palm. The warmth of his touch quickened her breath and the ache in her heart eased when she spied her necklace. She closed her hand around it, blinking away tears.
“The clasp was bent, but I fixed it.” The sexy timbre of his voice caressed her.
“Thank you.” Images of her attacker flashed in her mind. Then the thought of Jake taking the time to fix her chain replaced them, and her stomach fluttered.
God, he’s sweet.
She met his gaze. “My mother gave it to me the day before she died.”
He brushed the cheek that wasn’t injured with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry, Angel.”
Angela’s pulse raced, suddenly liking his endearment for her, then she slammed the door shut to her soft emotions. She couldn’t allow herself to have feelings for him. For any man. Scott had taught her that. “So, I’ll just stay at a motel.”
“No, Angela. Stay at my place . . . just for tonight,” he coaxed. “It’s not safe to go back to your house. Tomorrow we’ll come up with other arrangements.” His voice, low and compelling, was a Pied Piper song.
Her resolve wavered, until she remembered he was a cop and thought her a criminal. “No. You can just drop me off at a motel. My friend Stacey will be back in town in a couple days. I can stay with her.” Angela held her hand out for the bag. “Now, if you’ll just step outside while I dress.”
Jake’s expression hardened. He looked like he wanted to argue but he handed her the bag and stepped back to pull the thin cotton curtain surrounding her bed. “We’ll discuss this when you’re through,” he said tightly.
She placed the necklace on the bedside stand and reached into the bag he’d brought. She removed jeans, a light blue blouse with a ruffled collar, along with a pair of sneakers and socks. Her cheeks warmed when she saw the skimpy bra and underwear he’d chosen. The thought of him in her underwear drawer unsettled her.
“Okay,” Angela called out after she’d finished dressing. She slid the curtain aside, ignoring the tug to her bruised ribs. “I’m ready.”
He uncrossed his arms and pushed himself off the wall from where he’d been leaning. Apparently still brooding, he scowled at her. “I need to take your report on the incident.”
“Now?”
“Yes. It can’t wait until morning. I know it’s late. But either I take the report at my place, or I’ll follow you to a motel and take it there. But I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
Angela could see from the unyielding set of his shoulders and determined look in his eyes that she wasn’t going to win this argument. She sighed, too exhausted to argue. “Okay. You can follow me to a motel.” She picked the necklace up from the table and attempted to put it on, then winced at the pain in her ribs.
“Here, let me.” He took the delicate chain from her hands, slid it under her hair, then around her neck to clasp it. His soft touch against her skin made her insides quiver with an emotion she didn’t want to define.
Jake bent his knees slightly until his eyes were even with hers, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I have a spare room at my place. You would be far more comfortable than in a motel.” He gave her a disarming smile. “What do you say, Angel? I don’t bite . . . promise.” He lowered his hands but continued to hold her gaze as he straightened, not stepping away.
She chuckled. She couldn’t help it. He really was like a dog with a bone when he wanted something. “All right, already.” Angela ran her fingers through her bangs. “You win. Your place. But only for tonight. In the morning I go home.”
He nodded. But she didn’t buy his acquiescence for a second.
With a snort, she turned to leave.
Jake opened the door to his compact three-bedroom home so Angela could enter. The fragrance of strawberry shampoo mixed with a vanilla scent that he’d already identified as uniquely hers wafted from her hair as she passed. The aroma was a tempting combination and he fought the urge to gather her in his arms and kiss her, see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.
She stood at the entrance with a wary look on her face. The bruise on her cheek had darkened and stood out in sharp contrast against her pale skin. A bandage covered the cut. Deep shadows under her eyes gave her an appearance of fragility. He fought the urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her close, offer her some comfort after what she’d been through. But there was too much distrust between them. No doubt she would object if he touched her.
Frustration and anger clawed at him, and he braced himself against unwanted tender emotions he felt toward her. It wasn’t his job to console her. He didn’t know what to believe where she was concerned, and his desire for her seriously pissed him off. He needed to protect her, not allow her allure and soft green eyes to cause him to forget his duty to his job, and the fact that he didn’t quite trust her.
“Did you want to take a bath before bed?” he asked.
“That sounds wonderful.” She covered a yawn.
“Fine,” he said curtly. “Follow me.”
Jake turned abruptly and strode to his room to open the door. When he glanced back, she still stood at the hall entrance. He raised a brow. “Is there a problem?”
She hesitated for an instant, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, then shook her head and made her way over to him. She peered into the room. “Is this your room?”
He stepped inside and she followed. A huge four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room taking up most of the space. The walk-in closet that held his clothes stood open, the chair in the corner acted as a catchall with a pair of his jeans tossed on it, and the clothes hamper overflowed. He grabbed the jeans and tossed them into the hamper before crunching the lid shut, not an easy task.
“Yeah, but you’re sleeping here tonight. I’ll take Nick’s room.” He’d called J.D. earlier and arranged for Nick to stay with his brother overnight.
“That won’t be necessary, I can sleep on the—”
“Angela, don’t argue.” His voice was harsher than he intended. But he didn’t want to remain in his bedroom with her any longer than necessary, as visions of her naked on his bed crowded his mind. “It’s late, and after your bath, I still need to take the report on the attack.”
Jake opened the middle drawer to his dresser and took out one of his T-shirts, tossing it to her. She caught it with one hand, eyes wide.
“I didn’t think to grab a pair of pajamas for you, so this will have to do.” He nodded toward the door next to the closet. “The bathroom is through there.”
“Umm, thank you.” Her voice was soft, hesitant.
Shit.
He was being a dick. After what she’d been through tonight he shouldn’t be barking orders at her.
He ran his hand through his hair, and then gentled his tone. “I’ll be waiting for you in the living room when you’re through. It’s just down the hall on the right.”
She nodded and her delicate pink tongue swiped over her full bottom lip. His eyes followed the sensual movement and before he did something stupid like pull her into his arms to taste those tempting lips, he left.
When he reached the living room he took his cell from his pocket to call Rick, then sprawled across his black leather couch. With a grin, he noted the toys lying on the floor and the Play Station still turned on in front of the widescreen TV. Nick hadn’t picked up very well before he’d left.
When Rick answered, he said, “Hey, Rick. Do we have an ID on Angela’s attacker yet?”
“As a matter of fact, we do. It just came off the wire. And it’s not good.”
“Let me guess, a member of the Raptor gang?”
“Yep. James Warren.” Rick snorted. “He has a rap sheet the length of my arm. Assault and battery, petty theft, robbery, and attempted rape. He was tried for murder a few years back, but his slimy lawyer was able to get him acquitted.”
Jake swore. “Why wasn’t he in jail?”
“He was. Spent four years inside for the robbery and attempted rape. Got paroled a couple years ago.”
“What is she hiding that’s putting her in danger?” Jake wondered aloud.
“Maybe nothing, buddy. Maybe she’s exactly what she claims. Innocent.”
He mulled over Rick’s words and discarded them. His gut told him she wasn’t telling them everything. “No. I don’t think so.”
There was a short pause. “I hope you’re wrong. I like her.”
Jake’s grip on the phone tightened as he glanced toward the bedroom. “Yeah. I’m gonna try and get her to share what she knows tonight.”
“Is she with you now?”
“She’s staying at my place tonight.”
“Your place, huh?” Rick’s voice held a hint of amusement.
“Yeah, you got a problem with that?” His brows drew together. He had no reason to feel defensive, so why did he?