“No.” He recounted his discussions with Lexie. “But they’re willing to work with me. They’re the ones who confirmed her car is at the Gull and the coast was clear for me to come and talk to you tonight.”
She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “It’s late, and I’ve had a long day, so cut me a little slack if I’m not following everything. Why do you care if she sees you coming over here?”
“Because of what she did to that nurse’s room.” He reached for her hand. It was as cold as his. “And because she mentioned you when she came to my door. She thinks you may be a rival. The last thing I want to do is put you in danger.”
She stared at him . . . and as her gaze searched his, he prayed she’d believe everything he’d told her—and understand that this late-night visit reflected the depth of his feelings for her. That he was determined to protect her from a woman whose unstable . . . and unpredictable . . . emotions scared the life out of him.
He could handle Nicole now that he’d learned how she operated, but if she set her sights on Marci . . . if she decided the Herald editor represented a serious threat . . . who knew what she might do?
“Do you think she’s actually capable of physical violence?”
“Yes.”
As he gave voice to his deepest fear, sweat broke out on his upper lip and a muscle ticced in his jaw.
He couldn’t lose Marci. The very possibility short-circuited his lungs.
And his panicked reaction also brought sudden, crystal-clear clarity to his stay-or-go dilemma.
If he and Marci survived this curve they’d been thrown, he wasn’t going to leave Hope Harbor.
He’d stay in the town he’d always loved and trust that everything would work out between him and the woman who had staked a claim on his heart.
However . . . the ball was in her court now.
Even if she believed every word he’d said, she could back off. Given all she’d been through with her own stalker, she might want nothing to do with a man whose life was being disrupted by a woman bent on creating chaos in his world.
He couldn’t blame her if she bailed.
Yet as he waited for her response, he sent a silent plea heavenward that she’d stick with him through whatever lay ahead.
21
Marci looked down at their clasped hands as she tried to digest all Ben had told her.
Given his experience with this Nicole woman, no wonder the man had been alarmed—and repelled—by her propensity to fly off the handle. He’d probably been afraid he’d crossed paths with another psycho.
Thank goodness he’d gotten past those initial negative impressions.
And if he’d asked the police to keep tabs on Nicole so he could make a clandestine middle-of-the-night run up here to minimize any risk to her, his feelings must be as strong as hers.
He’d also said he was committed to working out the logistics of their relationship. If he didn’t have serious intentions, that issue wouldn’t be high on his priority list.
All of which told her he wanted to give this thing between them every possible chance.
But the slight tremble in his fingers told her even more—as did the hint of fear in his eyes.
He was very, very worried the messy situation with Nicole would raise doubts in her mind about his character. Undermine the foundation of trust they’d been laying.
Those fears, however, were groundless—and her first order of business was to put them to rest.
Shifting toward him on the couch, she squeezed his fingers and locked gazes with him.
“First of all, I appreciate you sharing that whole story. Second, I don’t believe anything that woman said about you—nor does the nasty business she instigated change my feelings toward you one iota.”
His throat worked, and the taut line of his shoulders relaxed a hair. “Thank you.”
“Third, you don’t need to worry about me because Looney Tune is in town. Now that I’ve been warned, I’ll be watching my back. And I have a stellar alarm system here. Nicole might have been able to sneak into that nurse’s room and your quarters, but she won’t get into this fortress. That’s one positive outcome from my experience in Atlanta, anyway.”
Parallel creases scored his forehead. “I hope you’re right—but this is an isolated spot, and you do go outside to work in your garden.”
“I always have pepper gel with me, even in the yard. More fallout from Atlanta.”
“Which works to our advantage in this situation.” He wiped a hand down his face. “I keep hoping she’ll get tired of the game and go away once she realizes I have no interest in her.”
“You could be leaving for Ohio before that happens.”
“Maybe not.”
Her heart stumbled. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been having some second thoughts about taking that job.”
“Seriously?” Stay calm, Marci. Don’t jump to conclusions. Let the man explain before you throw yourself into his arms.
“Yes.” He took her other hand. “I think we have a whole lot of potential, and you’ve been clear you’re not interested in a long-distance romance.”
Yeah, she had said that.
But in light of her growing feelings for Ben, she’d bend that rule if it would smooth the path ahead of them.
“I, uh, might be willing to renegotiate that.”
“You don’t have to. While you were gone, I put out a few job feelers—and I think I could have a satisfying career here.”
As he told her about the conversations he’d had with the urgent care center and the orthopedic practice in Coos Bay, her spirits soared.
If Ben had gone to all that effort to try and line up an alternate career path in Hope Harbor . . . if he was willing to give up a plum practice in Ohio . . . his feelings did run as deep as hers.
Cue the “Hallelujah Chorus”!
Except . . .
She frowned.
Much as she’d rather ignore the concern strobing across her brain, it wouldn’t be fair to Ben. He was the one with the most to lose.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want
