Page 62 of Hiding Rose
His hands stroked my arms tenderly. “Then we go back to Dr. Keoki and try something else. I’ll never give up on you, Rose.”
“I love you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being here with me and not being scared away by the mess my life is right now.”
He held my chin and kissed my lips tenderly, but with a passion of a hungry man. “I love you, too. I wish I had been here with you today. I don’t like seeing you hurt. Nothing is going to scare me away. I couldn’t breathe without you.”
His lips back on mine, he massaged them into believing he would always be here. His words permeated the haze in my mind and when he ended the kiss, I took his hand.
"Come with me to Gideon's office for a second, would you? I want to talk to everyone."
“Okay,” he agreed, then opened the door to the hallway. After checking for lurkers, he helped me walk the short distance to Gideon's office, since my hand hurt to use my second crutch. Niko, Gideon, Kate, and Flynn were gathered in a group speaking in hushed tones. Kate hurried over to me.
"How's the hand?" she asked, inspecting the bandage job.
"Fine. Dr. Rak cleaned it and gave me antibiotics. I'm sure in a few days it will be fine."
"I feel wretched for not opening the box. I should have been the one to inspect it. I was here to help you."
I groaned. "You were here to help me set up a daycare center, not take the abuse meant for me by a crazy ex-boyfriend, Kate!" I exclaimed. "This isn't your fault. Besides, the last thing you need is a burned hand to introduce bacteria to your body and have it go straight to your heart."
I glanced around and the three men had their heads buried in the iPad. Since I couldn't clap, I whistled to get their attention. "Gentleman," I said when they looked up. "I'm fine, but I wanted to come and thank you for always looking out for me. I know it's not an easy job and I'm grateful to all of you for everything you're doing. That said, I've had the man I love and my best friend say the same thing to me in the last ten minutes. They think it's their fault I got hurt again. Anyone else feel this way?”
I didn’t have to look hard to see the truth in Gideon’s and Niko’s eyes. They blamed themselves too, and would push harder and faster to get Jarrett.
I shook my head. “It's no one’s fault except Jarrett’s. I want to make it incredibly clear to all of you I won't allow any one of you to accept blame for his actions. I brought this maniac here and put all of us in danger. I'm the only one to blame for the mess we’re in. But, it’s time to stop acting, and feeling, like a victim. It’s time to start working together to get him out of my life. Out of our lives."
Gideon set the iPad down and approached me. "I'll speak for all of us when I say you're absolutely right. We have to stop blaming ourselves, and I’m talking about you too. It’s wasted energy we could put toward finding a resolution."
"I’m trying," I said, nodding once. "It’s harder for me knowing what he’s capable of, but I want everyone safe. The only way to keep everyone safe is to catch him. I don't want to discourage him from coming after me. The sooner he's caught, the sooner we can move on."
Niko leaned on the desk. "We were talking about the safety aspect you mentioned. We agree, the only way to get rid of him is to let him come at us. We'd like to hook you up to several panic buttons. If you see him, push one. If he grabs you, push one. It’ll be loud and hopefully he'll take off. If not, you'll be tracked. I also want one on Kate."
"I can accept those terms," I agreed.
"Good, because it's necessary," Gideon insisted. "You can't run and it's concerning if you have no way to alert anyone. I also want you armed. Guns are out, but a knife will do."
"I'm not comfortable with a knife. I work with babies," I said adamantly.
"It stays in your bra. We’ll have your bodyguard show you how to use it."
"Bodyguard?" I exclaimed, glancing around the room. "A bodyguard will scare him away."
Niko shook his head. "We've contacted a female friend of mine from Honolulu. Her son was my patient. She will be here tomorrow under the ruse of a new assistant to help you with the center."
"I don't want to take her away from her family," I insisted. "It's unfair."
"Her son and husband are coming and staying comped. She will only be with you when you aren't with Sawyer. When you're in your apartment we want Sawyer with you,” Gideon explained.
“Without question,” Sawyer agreed from behind me. “Is my apartment okay?”
Niko nodded. “Of course, as long as you’re together. Her bodyguard will be in her office at eight every morning. You can drop her off there and do your own work once she’s safely with Cassy.”
Gideon motioned at his calendar. “I wanted you with her full-time, but I can’t afford to have you out of the kitchen for an extended period of time. We have the cook-off coming up and the hula competition.”
Sawyer shook his head. “I have to work; there’s no question. This is the perfect solution.”
“How long will I have a bodyguard?” I asked.
“As long as you need one,” Niko answered. “I’m confident this will be over in a week or less, though. He’s here somewhere and the cops are on high alert. I have a contact at the station who is going through flight manifests looking for any flight he may have come in on. Once we have flight information we’re hoping to locate him and bring him in safely.”
I glanced around the room at the faces of all my friends, and the man I love. “I’ll do whatever I have to. Let’s get him out of our lives so we can move on.”
Flynn picked up his own iPad and strode toward me. “Are you going back to Snowberry when this is over?”
I noticed Sawyer stiffen immediately and I lifted his hand, twining my fingers in his. “No, Flynn. I’m done with Snowberry. My parents are gone and the house has been sold. There’s nothing for me there now. As long as you’ll all have me, I plan to stay on here at Kupid’s Cove.”
Gideon smiled and winked. His hand squeezing Sawyer’s shoulder as he visibly relaxed. “We’ll have you for as long as the good Lord allows, Rosie. You’re the driving force behind getting the daycare up and running. I need your steady hand at the helm. You have a home here for as long as you want to stay.”
My head swiveled toward Sawyer and I smiled, our gazes locked. “Good, because I’ve found my home and I’m never letting him go.”
