Page 72 of Exposure of Murder

The first thing Ethan wanted was a shower and then to sit down with Jane to discuss ways she could keep herself safe. Although that conversation could wait until morning, when they were both rested.

He followed her into the house and up the stairs. At the top, she opened a door to a small bedroom. “I think you’ll be comfortable in here. It’s the only room upstairs with an attached bath.”

“Great.” He glanced around. “Where is your room?”

Jane gestured to the room diagonally across from him. Okay, that worked for him. He was closest to the stairs. If anyone thought they would get past him, they had another think coming.

Ethan knew he wouldn’t be sleeping tonight. Jane was bound to remember what happened, and if he knew anything about the human mind, once she was settled in bed, her mind would react to the fear.

“I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. If you need anything, help yourself.” She furrowed her brow. “There aresandwich makings, juice and soda in the fridge. The hard stuff is in the dining room cabinets.”

“Nah. I’m good. See you in the morning.”

Jane sighed, walked into her bedroom, and closed the door. A few minutes later, Ethan heard the shower running and tried unsuccessfully to put any thoughts of Jane naked out of his mind. Now was not the time.So when would be?He mentally scolded himself again.

Jane and he were at what he hoped was the beginning of a relationship. There was no hurry to get her into bed until he was certain of what they had and they were both ready. Not that he wouldn’t mind having sex, but Jane wasn’t a one-night stand.

Putting thoughts of sex out of his mind was proving difficult. Ethan undressed, turned on the shower, and stepped in. Hopefully, the cold water would tamp down any wayward thoughts his cock was having. If not, he’d have to take matters into his own hands.

A half hour later, he emerged from the shower, his body not only relieved of tension but also wrinkled like a prune.

Ethan grabbed a pair of boxers and a T-shirt and pulled down the white spread as he glanced around the room. The white cast-iron bed was on one wall, the paneling behind it painted a soft green, while the rest of the room was off-white. Two nightstands were on either side, with a gray print rug on the floor. The window was dressed in white gauzy curtains.

He walked over, pushed a curtain back, and looked out into the darkness. Only a few stars were out tonight. It was a room that could be masculine or feminine.

He returned to the bed, briefly sat on the edge, then stood up. He remembered he hadn’t checked the whole house and made sure the windows and door were locked.

Hearing nothing from Jane’s bedroom, he walked downstairs.

And froze.

Darkness enveloped the house, and silence filled the air. Except for a heavy sigh.

Ethan scanned the living room and saw nothing out of the ordinary, walked over to check the front door: locked. Then he stepped into the kitchen. In the shadows, he saw a small figure hunched over the table.

“Jane. Sweetheart,” he said as he pulled out the chair across from her. The wooden chair creaked under his weight. He leaned forward. “I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

“I tried, but all I could think of was Bucky lying on the ground with his head bleeding. Then how lucky we were that the fire didn’t spread to the barn. And I kept wondering who would do this. And why.” Her voice cracked and trembled with fear.

He reached for her hands. They were cold in his and trembling a bit. He gave them a reassuring squeeze. “I promise you, I will find out who’s behind this,” he said softly.

“I have a feeling this is all connected to David Thornton and whatever slimy business he was in. But what concerns me even more is why set the greenhouse on fire?” Ethan clenched his jaw. He didn’t have any answers yet, but he would find them and soon.

“That’s the question, isn’t it? Why just the greenhouse when they could have set the whole barn on fire?” Jane asked.

Ethan squeezed her hands a little tighter, hoping to impart some courage to her. “I don’t know, but I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

Slowly, she nodded.

“Come on,” Ethan said, standing and pulling her to her feet. “You need to go to bed and try to get some sleep.”

She followed him to the staircase. “I’m not sure I can.”

“I’ll stay with you until you do,” Ethan promised.

Jane gave him a small smile, and he followed her up the stairs. When they reached her room, she hesitated.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

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