Page 24 of Preying Heart
“Sure, but I’m going to need to go to the doctor sooner than later.”
“Something wrong?” He guides me to the kitchen, followed by the dog.
“A spot of blood. It’s only a little bit, but…”
“Okay. I made the call already. She’s agreed but only if you won’t be able to identify her.”
“I’ll wear a blindfold.”
“I hate to have you do that, but we have enemies. You take valuable merchandise from these people and put them behind bars—they’re not going to forgive us.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“You’re no trouble, and you’re here, thanks to me.” He’s gracious and friendly. At least he’s admitting his role in all of this instead of blaming me for everything the way Gavin does.
“I don’t have anything clean to wear. I showered, but my clothes are dirty. I hope she understands.”
“I have some leftover clothes you might be able to use. Why don’t you go to the kitchen and get something to eat while I find you something to wear?” He heads for the opposite side of the house to his bedroom.
Glock looks at Heath go down the hall and decides the kitchen is more hopeful for him.
“I guess you want me to feed you.” I don’t dare pet the military dog’s head. “Let me see where he keeps your food.”
I go through the pantry and find the kibble. After giving him a couple of scoops, I refill his water dish. Then finding a bag of muesli, I pour water on it and set the pot over the stove. I don’t know if Heath expects me to make anything for him or what he eats. I’ve never lived with a guy so I don’t know what the rules are.
Well, he did go over it last night, but other than staying out of his office and his bedroom, I’m given the run of the house as long as I stay inside. If I want to go out for a walk, Heath has to accompany me. The most onerous rule is that I cannot use the telephone or the computer—not that I have access. The computer and phone are locked in his office, and presumably he has even better surveillance equipment in his bedroom.
I don’t know how he expects me to occupy my time without the internet, but then again, he did offer me a safe haven until we figure out what Gavin wants. I can’t imagine a guy like him who wants to be president someday would resort to murder.
I chop up strawberries and blueberries and mix them into the muesli. Heath returns to the kitchen with a couple of female outfits. “I’m not sure if these will fit perfectly, but this is all I have.”
They don’t look bad. Whoever the clothes belonged to had a sense of style. It’s not designer clothes, but good Western garb. Long-legged jeans. Fitted checkered shirts and sleek blouses.
“Did she leave any underwear? Just until we get to a store.”
“I’m not sure her cup size is large enough, but, um, well, maybe I’ll let you look.” He lays the clothes on the kitchen table, and I turn off the gas on the stove.
“I must be putting you out of your routine. I’m sorry.” I feel like an invader of his privacy.
“It’s okay. I get lonely out here by myself.”
As I follow him to his room, I wonder how many women he has and whether he captures them by saving them and where they’ve gone. Glock would know, but he can’t talk.
The bedroom has a wall of closets, a prominent gun cabinet on one side, and a rack of communication equipment with flashing lights and antennas, all behind a cinder block wall and windows with bars. The king-sized bed has four metal posters and rails along the top, as well as a crossbeam running over the headboard with vertical struts where handcuffs can be clipped.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but is Heath purposely enticing me into his room after telling me it’s off-limits? A warm shudder runs down my belly as unbidden images cavort over the surface of the bed.
I tear my gaze to the closet where he’s waiting for me and gasp. More than half of it is women’s clothes. The drawers in the organizer are partially open. He doesn’t step away while I pick through the lingerie. Satin bras, lacy panties, and a variety of sexy nightgowns.
Heath stands so close behind me I feel him breathing down my neck. I swallow as I bend down to open a lower drawer. My imagination runs wild, wondering if I’ll find padded handcuffs, whips, and adult toys. There’s a rolling wooden massager and pulleys for exercising a shoulder, some stretchy bands and rubber wands, but nothing overtly sexual. Still, I’m getting hot and the palpable waves of heat coming off Heath’s body are too powerful to ignore.
“You run a department store here?” I shut the bottom drawer and rise up to face him.
“Just don’t like to throw things away. Could come in handy, you know.” He shrugs like it’s perfectly ordinary for a hermit hidden in a wilderness fortress ringed with security cameras and booby traps to have a closet full of women’s lingerie.
“Good thing, I guess. I wouldn’t want your doctor friend to think I’m unhygienic.”
“Can’t have her thinking that.”
