She snuggled so close, she seemed to be trying to glue herself to his chest, his lap, his arms. He stroked slowly, gently, down her hair, down her back. Gradually, her heartbeat slowed to a gallop, which was definitely progress-but worry nagged at him. It was starting to feel normal, sitting in the dark, cramped closet, with her clothes all over his face. Well, not normal. But it was okay. He could have stayed there for hours. Because it was her. Something about Sophie had rearranged his head, his heart, his life, starting from about three seconds after he met her.
Eventually, she found her voice. “I guess it’s a little late to keep it a secret. I don’t do real well in trapped places.”
“I think you’re doing great. Any chance you got a look at who did this, Soph?” He kept his voice casual, easy. He didn’t want her to know that he had murder on his mind, but right then, he knew he was capable of it.
“No. I didn’t even guess anyone was in the apartment.” Her voice was still shaky with shock. “I never heard anything. I came home earlier than usual by several hours. Maybe that was the thing. That the person knew my schedule, chose a time when I wasn’t supposed to be home…”
The damn cat had parked in the closet doorway, was just sitting there, eyes glowing on Cord as if accusing him of something. The feline suddenly, furiously washed his leg, then went back to that vigilant sitting posture.
“The person…hit me in the back with something. I was thrown off-balance, knocked into the clothes. Then I was hit again. Then I heard the door lock. Then…”
He heard the streak of fear building in her voice, intervened. “Okay, that’s enough. Let’s get out of here. Call the cops-”
“No.”
When he started to move, she clutched him even tighter, so he backed off. Even knowing it was nuts to just sit there, still, he held her, still, he warmed and soothed. “All right, Soph. There’s no hurry. We don’t have to call the police until you’re ready to-”
“I don’t
“Okay, okay, Soph-”
“I need to feel
He stroked, stroked some more. She wasn’t hysterical. She was just…afraid.
What killed him was how he totally understood. A sister would help her feel safer than a cop-because from day one, the cops had done nothing to protect her. They were so damn dumb, they couldn’t recognize the innocent from the guilty, for Pete’s sake.
But that Sophie wanted a sister instead of him ripped at Cord’s heart.
He’d failed her. All his life, he’d been a problem solver, a doer. Yet now, when something really mattered, when someone he loved was in harm’s way, he’d failed to act. He’d been spinning plenty of wheels, but not fast enough, not effectively enough, to prevent Sophie from being hurt.
“Cord,” Sophie said desperately.
“Yeah. We’re getting you out of here. We’re taking you to a place where you’ll feel safe, where you’ll be safe. Right now,” he promised her.
Chapter 10
Sophie woke up in the strangest dream. She was in a room she’d never seen before. A huge bay window looked over a giant maple in full fall color, its apricot leaves gilded by a blinding midday sun. The room had been decorated a la L.L. Bean. Plank floors were polished to a high gleam. The bed was big enough for Lincoln, with double-size pillows, dark sheets and comforter, and a mighty serious mattress.
The dresser looked like old oak, scarred and unique and interesting. Change was scattered across the dresser, along with a man’s belt. Glass doors led outside to a semicircular deck. She could see a single Adirondack chair on it, a pair of binoculars on the deck edge.
She pushed up on her elbows, trying to fathom where on earth she was-but that small movement brought reality crashing down on her. Pain startled her. Her whole back felt tender and swollen with bruises. Last night came back in a rush of mental snapshots. Cord finding her. Cord furious with the police. Cord locking up and feeding Caviar and hustling her into his car. Cord seeing the welts on her back, swearing, swearing more, bringing her a pill and something to drink and…
The bedroom door abruptly opened. Adding shock on shock, there was her sister, striding in with a tray.
“Wait, wait. How could you be there? When did you get here? What-”
“No questions for you. No stress. You eat. Then rest. And those are orders.”
She’d seen Cate and Lily both last Christmas. Cate never changed. The sisters were all blond, but Cate wore her hair wash-and-wear chopped off, and she was typically dressed in worn-out, snug jeans and a skinny long- sleeve T. Cate looked sexy when she woke up, when she went to bed, when she had the flu, when she dressed up and when she didn’t. She attracted men just by breathing. It was the way she moved, the way she was and who she was.
Cate was blustery strong, but right now she had circles under her eyes bigger than boats. She obviously hadn’t slept all night.
Sophie kept trying to grasp how her sister could be here.
“Cord actually
“Don’t waste your time making out like he’s a hero. He’s in big trouble with me. Big capital-H
“He actually
“Called. Checked the airlines, paid for an immediate flight, had a car waiting for me at Logan, and a driver waiting to take me here. And yeah, that was nice. Not nice enough to justify putting my sister in danger. But I admit, it was reasonably decent of him.”
“Good God, how many are we feeding?” Sophie asked, when she saw the contents on the tray.
“Just you. And don’t even try arguing with me.”
The tray was terrorizing. The omelet alone was big enough to feed a platoon, fluffy and pretty and stuffed with a half-dozen delicacies. Wedges of fresh fruit filled another plate. Muffins, pulled open and steaming, were dripping with melted honey.
“Now I know you’re really here. Only you can cook like this,” Sophie said, suddenly feeling a sting of tears.
“Of course I’m here.” Cate pulled up a straight chair. “I’ll give Pruitt credit for one more thing. He didn’t even blink when I told him I was shopping for real food in the middle of the night-on his credit card.
“But back to the stuff that matters. Damn it, Sophie, you should have told me how scary things had gotten. All I knew about was the guy who died, not that the situation had boomeranged into danger for you. Now listen to me. I have a contract for a job in Baja. I’ve got a little leeway on time, but really have to get it in gear inside of two weeks. So you’re going with me.”
Sophie’s jaw almost dropped, but that was a mistake. Cate motioned with a regal finger, indicating that anytime her mouth was open, food was supposed to go in. Eating was hardly a hardship, when Cate was the best chef in the universe.
“I need the money, Soph. And I have to admit, it’d be legally hard for me to break the contract, besides. But you know what? It’ll be okay. You just come with me. You’ll love it. It’s a big old luxury yacht. I talked it over with Lily early this morning. She wants you, too, but that’s silly. She’s teaching all day, while you can be with me full- time.”
“You both are wonderful. But I’m not going with either of you. I need to be here.”
Cate studied her, then sighed. “All right, then. I’ll give up the job.”
“Of course you won’t. That’s dumb.”
“You come first.”
