Page 8 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

Warmth blossomed from his core. He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to stop the stupid excitement at seeing her from spreading. He didn’t want Jenna creating these sensations inside him. “There’s no reason for you to be here. I called the police, and Officer Sawyer will come take this into evidence.” He hated the bite of his words, but he couldn’t let her see how much she still affected him.

She nibbled on her bottom lip, her gaze locked on the paved road. “I was just scared. This is a hell of a lot. The scalpel can’t be a coincidence. I can’t go home if I’m not safe. I can’t bring that kind of danger to my son.”

The mention of her son was like a bucket of ice water over his head. Snapping him back to reality and chasing away any sentiment. He’d always hoped to start a family with Jenna one day. Picturing her with another man’s child was too much to handle. “I just saw Officer Sawyer at the station when I left. I’m sure he’ll be right over and can give you the assurance you need.”

After Cruz came and took his statement, he’d go home and wash the mess of this day off him—try to forget the way his body still responded to Jenna. Try to ignore the nagging feeling that Jenna might be in danger, and he might be the only one who could protect her.

Jenna’s heartthudded in her chest for more than one reason, the main one being her close proximity to Calvin. She’d lied before. She hadn’t shown up because she was afraid. Hell, the note trapped against his wheel was a warning for him, not her.

But instinct had brought her straight here. She’d needed to see for herself he was all right, even though there was no reason for him not to be.

“Here comes Cruz,” Calvin said with a nod of his head, cutting into her thoughts.

“Cruz?”

“Officer Sawyer,” he clarified. “Looks like he brought his brother with him.”

She glanced over her shoulder. The same clean-cut officer from earlier approached with another man beside him. A full beard and longer locks were the only difference between the two men, even their scowls were identical.

“Looks like you really pissed someone off,” Cruz said then nodded in Jenna’s direction. “Dr. Simon. Didn’t expect to see you. Please meet my brother, Detective Sawyer.”

The detective shook her hand before fitting both palms in a pair of rubber gloves. “Nice to meet you.”

“Calvin called me about the scalpel that was used on the tire,” she said, hating her need to defend herself. Uneasiness hung over her like an itchy blanket. “I was close by, and honestly, a little nervous to go home.”

Detective Sawyer’s light eyebrow hooked up. “And why would you be nervous after speaking with Calvin?”

Cotton formed on her tongue, stealing her words along with all the moisture in her mouth.

Calvin took a step closer to her, his mouth set in a firm line. “Maybe because her sister was murdered last night and now a scalpel matching the murder weapon was stabbed into the tire of the man she asked for help.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Cruz shifted his weight. “I understand it’s a tough time for you, Dr. Simon, but we have no reason to suspect you’re in any danger. Calvin, why don’t you tell us what happened?”

“As I walked back to my truck, I noticed it was leaning to the side. I scanned the area, and when I didn’t see anyone around, I approached the vehicle and found the note. I sent a picture to Jenna, and she confirmed that’s a scalpel sticking out of my tire.” He flicked a quick glance her way as if unsure if he’d made the right decision when he contacted her.

The detective scribbled notes in a notepad. “And where were you, Dr. Simon?”

“Excuse me?” Jenna asked.

“If Calvin called you after he found the threat stabbed into his tire, and you were close enough to appear, I’d like to know where you were when the threat took place.”

“Now hold on just one damn minute,” Calvin said, taking one big step toward Detective Sawyer with his finger ready to jab in the detective’s chest. “She asked me to help her. Why the hell would she warn me to stay away?”

Jenna rested a hand on his forearm. His body was tense beneath her touch, but losing his temper wouldn’t help anyone. “I had a meeting with my boss at the hospital then was on my way home when Calvin called.”

Detective Sawyer wrote something else in his notebook. “So there was a span of time when you are unaccounted for?”

She ground her teeth together. Patience was something she usually had in spades, but her already strained nerves were about to snap. “I was driving.”

“Hmm-mmm.”

More writing. More nerve grating silence. The constant motions and lack of expression on his face made Jenna want to grab the stupid pad of paper from his hands and chuck it across the street.

“We’ll search for any cameras on the street and speak to some of the neighbors,” Cruz said. “If we find anything, we’ll letyou know. You have another ride home? I’d like to keep your vehicle here a little longer so we can dust for prints.”

“I can take him,” Jenna said before she could think better of the offer. The thought of sitting so close to Calvin in an enclosed space made butterflies dive bomb against her stomach. But she’d gotten him into this mess by asking for his help. The least she could do was make sure he got home.

Calvin looked down at her, eyes wide and a little hesitant. “You sure?”

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