Page 24 of Stripped

She held up her hand, stopping him. "Wait, let me guess. My father used to say Glasgow was like the black swan. Gritty, yet mesmerizing." She looked at him then reached out for his hand, missing his touch. "No, you're too good for Glasgow. You are more Edinburgh. Definitely Edinburgh. He used to say she was the white swan, beautiful and refined."

He frowned. "Close. I'm from a small town called Killin, but I went to academy in Edinburgh. Merchiston."

"How very posh of you."

His thumb resumed its gentle perusal. "It wasn't like that. My parents were both killed in a car crash. My grandmother raised me. She didn't have much money. I got a scholarship and she insisted I go." A shadow crossed his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said simply. She understood better than anyone and knew there was really nothing else she could say.

He gave her hand a squeeze. "Well, Ms. Glasgow, I guess that makes you the black swan then."

"Always." She looked up at the ceiling and wondered, not for the first time, if her father was proud. "We should probably go."

He helped her up and they went downstairs, leaving. The light rain had turned into a downpour. "I knew I should have brought my car," Wraith said, opening an umbrella.

"It's fine." She smiled. He put his arm around her as they walked to her place. They were drenched by the time they made it back. "I'm sure these shoes are ruined," she said at the bottom of the stairwell, wobbling on a broken heel. "They'll never be the same."

He lowered the umbrella and picked her up, carrying her to the third floor. The hallway that led to her flat was pitch black, and she fumbled with her key after he set her down. "I don't remember it being this dark," Wraith said, concerned.

"It's not. The lights must be out." A shadow in the corner moved and took off running the other direction. Wraith shoved her through the door. "Lock yourself in. Don't answer it unless I tell you to," he yelled, taking off after the person.

Pim shut the door and locked it, her hands shaking.

Wraith returned within minutes, knocking. "It's me, Primrose," he said. She looked through the peephole and let him in.

"Did you see who it was?" she asked, shivering.

"No, they disappeared down the stairs. Whoever it was, broke all the light bulbs. They wanted it dark." He checked the windows. "Have you set the alarm."

"Not yet." He limped over to the panel, enabling it. "We need to upgrade you to one with cameras."

She pulled the scotch down from the cabinet, pouring them each some. "Do you think this person was waiting for me?"

"Yes." He took the glass from her. "You're shaking. You need to go warm up."

She nodded and, taking her drink, went into her room and turned on the shower. The bathroom quickly filled with steam. She slid her dress off and piled her damp hair into a bun on top of her head then got under the hot water, hoping to wash off the memories of the day and now this new threat. When she was finished, she got out and dried off, going into her room. Wraith stood in the doorway holding his drink. He had taken off his tie and rolled up the sleeves on his white dress shirt. "I'm sorry," he said, his eyes not leaving her. "I was just making sure you were okay."

She sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the towel around herself as he turned to leave. "Wait," she said. "Stay."

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