Page 17 of Rescuing Alix

Sometime later, they walked out of the market with rice, fresh veggies and chicken for a stir fry. The walk back to her apartment wasn’t but a couple blocks and there were street lights every twenty feet or so but the nagging feeling she’d been having of someone watching them hadn’t gone away. She even though she heard footsteps once or twice that she knew weren’t their own. Each time she glanced behind her, she saw nothing.

“Are you alright?”

Kody probably figured she was losing her mind. Maybe she was. “I’m okay I think; I just know there’s someone following us. I keep hearing footsteps and I’m sure I felt a rock hit my shoe just a minute ago.” She looked around the sidewalk where they’d stopped but there were no rocks anywhere.

Kody kept a firm grip on her hand but turned around and walked a few feet behind where they’d stopped as he scanned the bushes that lined the sidewalk.

“I don’t see anything but let’s hurry up and get you home and I’ll call Sheriff Masters and let him know what’s going on. I needed to check in anyway, so he knows we’re having the door fixed and what we’ve done with security in the shop.”

Kody turned them back around and they made quick work of walking the rest of the way to Alix’s apartment. She felt much better once they were inside with the door closed and locked.

Chapter Twelve

First things first, Kody dug out the sheriff’s card, called and told him everything that had happened since they’d seen him the night before. Once the door was installed tomorrow, the alarms would be activated and the cameras set to record. He’d also downloaded a link so he and Alix could both view the camera at any time on their cell phones. Alix kept herself busy in the kitchen with dinner and by the time Kody finished his conversation, Alix had set the table.

While they ate, Kody rehashed what he’d gone over with the sheriff.

“Do they have any idea yet who did this or why?”

Kody shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. There were no prints left behind on anything. Guess they were smart enough to leave their gloves on while they did whatever they did. Without finger prints or any security tapes, they have no way to track anything. I only wish someone else along the strip had a camera on the outside but I already looked.”

“The alley is so dark, would it have picked up anything anyway? I don’t want anybody to break in again but maybe now with our cameras recording, we’ll catch something if they do.”

“My thoughts exactly Alix. Dinner was great by the way.” Kody rose to clear the table before she could get a chance.

“Don’t bother, the dishes will wait til tomorrow, I’m just wore out tonight. I’ll get you some fresh sheets and a blanket for the couch.” Alix went straight to the linen closet in the hall. She caught Kody staring at her with a grin. She blushed.

“I suppose I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be staying again tonight. I’m sorry.”

Kody rushed to her before she could shut the door.

“No, you were right to assume. I won’t leave you alone til all this is done. I do have to go to work tomorrow though so I’ll be getting up pretty early. I’ll only be a phone call away if you need anything, unless I’m at a fire of course but I’ll leave my buddy Kamryn’s number on the counter. He’s off tomorrow.”

She was extremely grateful and relieved to have him for another night. As she reached for the bedding, she hesitated and couldn’t help but feel like she’d rather have him next to her in her bed instead of the couch but maybe it was too early for that. She was so bad at that kind of stuff.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to sleep on the couch.”

“No? I could just go home.” Alix shook her head adamantly.

“I was thinking that maybe you could sleep with me instead, I have a big bed.” She’d left the sheets on the shelf and shut the closet door but was afraid to look at him.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, I don’t want to be alone.”

Kody turned her to face him, his arms sliding over her shoulders to caress her in a loose embrace.

“So, let me get this straight. You want me to sleep in your bed with you?” She nodded.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“I definitely am. The truth is, you make me feel safe. If you’d feel better about it, I can sleep under the sheet and you on top and we can put up a pillow divider between us so I don’t touch you.”

“Oh, believe me Alix, the last thing I was worried about was you touching me. I’m more concerned what I might not be able to stop myself from doing if I were laying that close to you. And I doubt a row of pillows would be much of a deterrent.” He always knew what to say to embarrass her.

“All I can promise is to be a gentleman as much as is humanly possible.”

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