Page 72 of Forbidden Whispers

They drove in silence, and as they approached Whispering Pines’ downtown, Maggie glanced at the car clock. It was after three in the morning. Ugh. And it was Monday, so they’d both have work today. She had a lot to do in order to switch him over to the new matchmaker. But first, she had to get some sleep. After all the events of tonight, she was physically and emotionally exhausted.

Suddenly, she was aware that he’d made an unexpected turn. “Where are you going?” she asked, breaking the silence. “My apartment is the other way.”

“I’m not driving to your apartment. I’m driving us back to my brother Wade’s house,” he said stiffly.

She shook her head. “Uh-uh, no way. Please, just take me home, Noah.”

His face flashed in anger. “No.”

“What do you mean, no?” she said.

He immediately pulled over and stopped the car on the side of the empty road. “I mean no, Maggie. Despite everything that happened tonight, Nick and Johnny are still out there. It only makes sense to stay someplace safe until we know they’re gone.”

Maggie shook her head. “I—I’m not comfortable with that, Noah. Please, just take me home, I’ll be fine.”

He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Well, we have a problem then, Maggie,” he said, his tone firm. “Because I’m not comfortable with that.”

They sat in a strained, angry silence just staring at each other while outside lightning flashed and thunder rumbled through the dark sky. The tension between them was heavy, each of them refusing to back down.

Finally, Noah broke the silence. “If you insist on me taking you home, you’re not staying there alone. I’ll sleep on the floor if I have to. But I will not leave you unprotected tonight.”

“It’s morning,” she said, aware that she was just being contrary now.

“Morning, whatever. You’ve got two choices. We go to my brother’s place again, or to your place. But either way, I’m not leaving you alone.”

She took in the stubborn set of his jaw and realized she wasn’t going to move him on this. “All right, fine, but it will be my place. And you don’t have to sleep on the floor; I have a sofa.”

“Great.” He didn’t sound like it was great, but he put the car back into gear and made a U-turn.

Inside her apartment, she disappeared for a moment and returned with a washcloth, towel, and blanket for him, along with an extra pillow, carrying them to where he sat on the small sofa.

Boon had already made himself at home on the rug beside it. He’d curled his long, lean body into a deceptively small ball of tawny and black fur. His head rested on his paws, and his dark eyes studied her solemnly. It was a little disconcerting.

“Do you need anything else?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “But apparently it’s not something you can give me right now.”

She frowned in confusion.

“Never mind,” he sighed. “No, I don’t need anything else.”

“Okay, well then, goodnight.” She turned and walked back down the hallway to her bedroom.

He turned off the living room lamp just as she reached her door.

“Goodnight.” His words were a whispered caress in the dark.

---