Page 57 of Love From the Ashes

Reid hurried into the bedroom and turned on the lamp by the bed. His face was tense, and he looked visibly shaken. “Anderson is calling the police. There was someone in the hallway. Whoever it was saw me and ran down the stairs. Anderson was in the kitchen and hadn’t turned on any lights. He said he heard someone and thought it was one of us. He was coming upstairs to see if we needed anything when the person ran down the stairs, knocked him down, and took off through the French doors in the family room. We searched the patio and the deck, but whoever it was had taken off.”

“Oh God. I knew I heard someone in the hallway.”

“What did you hear?”

“Breathing. I could hear someone breathing. Then I heard a footstep and the floor creak. That’s when I woke you up. Reid, someone was watching us.”

Reid sat on the bed and gathered me in his arms. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ll have a security system installed in the house tomorrow.”

“Someone was watching me this afternoon.”

“What do you mean?” Reid pulled away from me and searched my face.

“It was in the café at lunch and then in the courtyard when I walked back to the office. I had the creepiest feeling someone was watching me. It even made the hairs on my arm stand up. Della, Adam, and I looked around but saw nothing unusual, although I couldn’t shake the feeling. That’s why I seemed so freaked out when I ran into you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid you’d think I was crazy.”

“You’re not crazy.” Reid pulled me into his arms and held me. “I don’t know who would do something like this. Geoff’s on probation, and we have a restraining order against him. So he wouldn’t dare break into the house again. Krista made threats, but she was all talk and wouldn’t do anything like this either. Your husband is dead, so it’s not a disgruntled ex-spouse, and you have no family. I’m at a complete loss.”

Family?My mind raced, an overwhelming sense of fear crushing me like a shoe on a bug. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and my mouth was suddenly dry. I closed my eyes, trying to bury the urge to hide.Did they find me?

CHAPTER 21

The Man In The Brown Jacket

Reid looked upwhen I walked into his office, his workspace next to our bedroom. I felt comfortable in this room with its walnut executive desk, wall of cabinets, and overstuffed leather chairs. It mirrored Reid’s strength and masculinity and always had a residual scent of his woody and spicy cologne. The curtains were open, and an abundance of light was coming through the windows. I could see he was paying bills.

“Do you like to listen to music?” I said, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs facing his desk.

“I do.” Reid leaned back in his chair, an amused smile lighting his face. “That’s an interesting question. Why are you asking?”

“The house is always so quiet. Do you think we could get a sound system or something like that so we can listen to music?”

“I didn’t know you liked to do that.”

“I do and always have. But I’ve rarely had the equipment to do it. I had a cute little pink portable radio when I was a girl. I loved that thing and used to sit by myself and listen to it whenever I was upset. To this day, music has the same effect on me. It seems to soothe my soul.”

“What happened to your little pink radio?”

“It broke.” I looked down at the floor, knowing this was a simplified version of what had happened. Denny had yanked my radio from my hand in a fit of rage and thrown it at the wall. I’d found it broken into several pieces when I’d retrieved it from the floor, tears streaming down my face. My mother had smacked me and banished me to my room after that because I’d woken them up, which had pissed Denny off, even though it was midafternoon. Fearing Denny would come after me, I’d gone out the window. That was when I’d learned I could climb the fire escape to the roof and hide from him, making myself a fort out of discarded cardboard and pieces of wood from pallets I’d found in the neighborhood. I was eleven years old at the time.

Reid stood and came around the desk. He sat on the edge in front of my chair. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you look oddly sad. Would it cheer you up if I agreed to buy a home sound system? We could get a stereo speaker that allows you to stream music from your phone. You could use one of those applications like Spotify you play sometimes. Lawrence bought one recently and was telling me about it.”

“Yes, that would make me more than happy.” My spirit soared at his willingness to do that for me. I stood and wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him with an overabundance of appreciation.

He pulled away and chuckled. “Stop that, or I’ll have to carry you into the bedroom.”

“Mmm…go ahead. I won’t mind.”

“You are such a little minx.” Reid scooped me into his arms and carried me toward the door. He stopped when the sliding door to the downstairs deck opened, and our gardener, Teddy Armstrong, called his name.

“Mr. Morgan?” Teddy called out for the second time.

Reid put me down and hung his head, clearly displeased with the interruption. “I’m upstairs. I’ll be right down,” he called out. He turned to me and frowned. “Sorry, but our little romp will have to wait. We have to leave soon anyway if you still want to have lunch at the seafood restaurant on Boylston before your shopping excursion with Della.”

“Shoot, you’re right. It is getting late.” I took a step forward, giving him a saucy smile while I slid my arms back around his neck. “I’ll have to give you extra-special attention tonight when we’re alone.”

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