Page 9 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

No, but she wouldn’t admit that. Instead, she offered a weak smile and nodded.

“I’ll call when your truck is released. In the meantime, lay low.” The shaggy-haired detective said then turned to the side to speak with his brother.

With her heart pounding, Jenna led the way to her SUV. She spared the two officers buzzing around Calvin’s truck one last glance before climbing behind the wheel and waiting for Calvin to take the seat beside her. “I’m sorry about your truck.”

He shrugged, his broad shoulders taking up so much room in her car. “Not your fault.”

She sighed and started the engine. “If I hadn’t asked for your help, it wouldn’t have happened. But there’s one thing that’s really bothering me.”

“What’s that?”

“If someone knew I’d called you, that means they knew I was at your house. Is someone following me? And if so, why?” Goosebumps erupted on her arms despite the heat pumping from the vents. The idea that someone was keeping tabs on her whereabouts didn’t make sense.

“I wish I had an answer for you. All I know is I don’t like the way Detective Sawyer questioned you. I haven’t had as much interaction with Lincoln as I have with his brother, he’s newer to this area, but something about him rubbed me the wrong way.”

“You told me to trust the police to do their job,” she said, panic rising in her chest.

Calvin tipped his chin, a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth. “You never used to listen to me before, not sure why you would now.”

Appreciating his attempt at humor, Jenna whacked her palm against his chest.

Before she could yank it away, he captured her hand in his, trapping it against him.

Heat shot up her arm, but she couldn’t dwell on how he still made her feel. At least not now. “If I can’t trust the police, then what do I do?”

He released her hand, wiping his palm on his thigh before shoving it in his jacket pocket. “If you still want me to help, I will.”

“Really?” She held her breath, afraid he’d change his mind.

“Really.”

The tendrils of fear that had grabbed hold of her since the police showed up at her door this morning loosened a fraction. Calvin was on her side for the first time in a long time, and damn if it didn’t feel good.

5

Unease crept up the back of Jenna’s neck. She might be thrilled Calvin had agreed to help her uncover what happened to Stella, proving her innocence in the whole mess. But she’d never pictured him sitting in her home, pouring over details of her life that may assist him with his investigation.

Calvin sat on a stool at the large island that separated the kitchen from the living room. She couldn’t get over how big he was in her space—a space most often filled with only herself and her laughing baby boy.

“In order to figure out what happened to Stella, I need a better picture of who she was. What she did, how she spent her time, who she hung around with.”

How many times had she imagined him there? Sitting with a cup of coffee and scruff lining his jaw after a night spent together. His bare feet propped on the stool beside him while she made breakfast and they talked about their upcoming day.

The dream hadn’t ever included him with a tight set of his shoulders and pinched face as he fought to keep his gaze on his phone while he typed his thoughts.

Jenna fetched a glass from the cherry wood cabinet and filled it with water from the tap. “Do you want something to drink?” She kept her back turned, chugging half the cool liquid in her cup before facing him again.

“I’m fine. What can you tell me about Stella?” His voice was brisk and all business. Gone was any hint of humor he’d always carried with him.

Setting the glass down, she braced her hands against the smooth marble of the countertop. “I don’t know much. Especially recently. It’s been almost two years since I saw her.”

He finally glanced up, surprise lifting his left eyebrow. “Really?”

She nodded, wishing she had something stronger than water for this conversation.

Calvin kept his face passive but couldn’t hide the spark of interest in his eyes. “Why did you part ways?”

She worked her jaw back and forth, knowing the answer would bring up more old wounds for her and Calvin. “She got pregnant.”

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