Page 29 of In Too Deep

ChapterEight

What had she been thinking? Rose sat with a heavy blanket wrapped around her shoulders, though her shock-induced shivers had long since subsided. Maia had recovered and her eyes were now bouncing back and forth between Rose and Blake like she was refereeing a tennis match as they sniped at each other.

Blake spoke to the cop at the door, shooting the occasional frown at her while they talked, giving his statement as efficiently as possible. Controlling, arrogantass.She scowled at him and then at the cop as he made to step towards her again. She’d already given her statement and repeated it what felt like half a dozen times. What more could he need from her?

“Ms DuLoe, firstly, I want to commend you on your quick thinking. You did good getting out of there and to a secure location. I’ve spoken with Mr Blake and we’re in agreement that the best place for the both of you to be to keep you safe from this guy is right here.”

For a second she just stared at him, and then she started to laugh. “Sorry, I thought you just said you agreed with Blake.”

“I did.” The cop frowned. “Frankly, Mr Blake’s property is far easier to secure than your own, especially given thatThe Harthas now suffered two break-ins.”

“Okay, so how long do I need to stay here for? A few hours?”

“As long as it takes us to catch him.”

Rose’s mouth gaped open. “What?You can’t honestly expect me to stay here with him. What about Maia?”

“Ms Katz seems only to be a victim of circumstance, unlike you and Mr Blake who have been directly targeted by the perpetrator.”

“I’m going to stay with Callum,” Maia cut in before Rose could retort, using her most soothing voice while Rose seethed. “The police are going to escort me.”

She nodded, glad that at least the cop was able to make at least one sensible decision, but leaving her here with Blake… alone… Well, her stalker wouldn’t need to get to them in order for a murder to occur.

A commotion at the door signaled the arrival of her mother before the cop could try to speak again and familiar floral perfume caught in Rose’s throat as her mother swept her into a hug. For a moment, her eyes filled with tears. Sometimes it didn’t matter how old you were, nothing could beat the safety and comfort of your mother. Until she opened her mouth. “Gosh, darling, I’m so grateful you and Maia are okay. Thank goodness for David! I dread to think what might have happened without him.”

Acid fizzed at her center as Rose stared ahead over her shoulder, caught in her mother’s embrace and fuming. “Oh yes, so heroic of Blake to save us once the danger had passed. I mean, it’s not likeImanaged to get us out of there and drove us all the way here.”

Her mother patted her cheek gently as she pulled away and embraced Maia too.

“Mom, you need to talk some sense into them. They want to lock me up here with Blake! I have an event to plan, a life to live! As if I’m going to let some crazy person drive me away from my home, right?” Silence followed her words as her mother glanced awkwardly between the cop and Blake. “Right?” Rose’s voice had reached a level so high pitched that any dogs nearby would have been wincing.

“Well, darling, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. It’s clearly not safe for you atThe Hartright now.”

“I’ll be fine,” she protested, dropping Blake’s soft blanket to the floor as she stared at the cop and then her mother. “He’s not going to go back there after such a close call, surely. I’ll befine,” she repeated and Blake snorted, making Rose turn her glare on him.

“Fine? You were literally just chased out of there.”

“Thanks for your concern,” she hissed, stepping close so that her face was inches away from Blake’s. “But I would literally rather gouge my own eyes out than stay here with you.”

Blake rolled his eyes. “Do you always have to be so dramatic? Or do you just want me to get on my knees and beg you?” His gaze turned knowing and then triumphant when she blushed.

Her mom watched her with something close to guilt before she turned to consult the cop. “How long do you anticipate this arrangement lasting for?”

The cop shrugged. “This guy’s been clumsy in the past and seems to be okay with taking risks to get close to these two… so I’d wager not long. It’ll go faster if you’re able to come with us to analyze the scene, Ms DuLoe.”

The thought of going home sent ice spreading through her chest and she froze in remembered panic for a moment. As much as she was fighting this, some part of her didn’t feel safe atThe Hartanymore, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be with Blake, even if he was one of the only people who could really understand what she was going through after being targeted by her stalker himself. She was scared, but she also had no intention of letting this guy win. Why wasn’t Blake fighting this?

“Of course,” she said, clearing her throat as Blake watched her with an unusually blank expression. “I’d need to get some clothes from home anyway.”

“Actually, we’re going to be processing most of it,” the cop said apologetically. “There’s just no telling what your guy might have gotten into. Can’t risk bringing in anything that could affect either you or the security here.”

“So you expect me to move in here without all of my stuff?” Were her hands sweatier than usual? It felt like Rose’s brain was spinning as she suddenly found herself essentially homeless, without any of her creature comforts or toiletries.

“I’m sure we can make the lack of clothes work for us,” Blake whispered in her ear as he brushed past her to retrieve a coat from a nearby closet that she hadn’t even noticed was there, blinking when he settled it around her shoulders.

“Will she be safe back there with you?” her mom wrung her hands, and a brief flare of guilt took root. Rose might not always get on with her mom, but she never wanted to worry her either.

“Perfectly safe,” the round cop said with a nod. “It’d just be useful for us to have her there so we can see if anything is missing, stuff like that.”

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