As they headed for Hannah’s desk, Ellie couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really think you’ll catch the person who wants me dead?”
Lucky glanced down at her, his expression as serious as she’d ever seen it. And in that sexy, deep voice of his, the surprising man promised her, “I won’t stop until I do.”
Chapter 9
Four days later…
“Son of a bitch!”
Ellie’s expletive bark was preceded by the sound of glass shattering. Lucky’s alerted gaze flew from his laptop to the kitchen, where the angered woman still stood.
“Problem?”
A set of angered blue eyes shot his way, the pursed expression on her gorgeous face matching the thick sarcasm in her tone. “Problem?” Ellie shot daggers his way. “Why would there be a problem? I mean, other than the fact that nearly a week’s gone by, and there’s still a serial killer on the loose, some maniac took a shot…no, three shots at me the other day, I have a constant shadow following my every move…no offense…and if I go anywhere, it’s straight to work and straight home. And speaking of work, when I am there, my concentration’s total crap. Oh, and I just spilled my glass of wine before I even got the chance to take a sip. But nope.” She sent him a fake-as-fuck smile. “There’s no problem here.”
Sensing the real root of the issue, Lucky closed his computer, stood from the couch, and casually walked into the kitchen to join her. He found her bent down in the space between the generously sized island-slash-bar and the counter running the length of the room’s back wall.
Shards of glass littered a puddle of splattered red Merlot.
“I just wanted some wine before bed, you know?” Ellie was picking up the broken remnants of the glass she’d dropped. “I thought maybe it would help me sleep.”
Without a word, Lucky grabbed a nearby dishtowel before squatting down to help. Her sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla enveloped him, but he ignored it and focused on the task at hand.
Turning his left hand over so it was palm-up, he covered it with the towel, creating a safe place to put the broken glass.
He knew Ellie had been struggling to sleep. Not because she’d talked to him about it, of course.Lord forbid.The truth was, the two had been little more than polite and cordial with one another since he’d become a temporary fixture in her home.
But he’d heard her restless movements at night. Up and down. In and out of the bathroom. The pacing. He’d heard it all but had said nothing out of respect for Ellie. Until now, he’d figured, if she wanted to talk to him about what was bothering her, she would.
So he’d kept his distance and focused on the job. Just like he’d promised Archer he would. But seeing her like this…
She needs someone to talk to. She needs someone to listen.
“You’ve been having trouble sleeping?” he asked as if what she’d shared was brand new information.
With her head down and her focus on cleaning up her mess, Ellie mumbled an almost indiscernible, “A little.”
A little, my ass.
Even if he hadn’t heard her moving around at all hours of the night, the proof of her exhaustion was written all over her gorgeous face. In the paleness of her flawless skin. The dark circles had formed beneath her weary eyes.
Lucky stole a quick glance at the cut on her forehead. The bruising there was already fading, and the wound had healed enough, the butterfly strips had already been removed.
A good thing, for sure, but right now, it was Ellie’s mental well-being that had him more concerned.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why would I?” She carefully gathered up more of the dripping shards. “It’s not like there’s anything you can do to help me sleep.”
Oh, sweetheart. I could do so many things…
There was a whole lot Lucky could do to help her relax. Things he’d all but guarantee would be successful. Problem was, each one of those things was in direct violation to the promise he’d made Archer.
Hands off, remember?
He may not be able to touch her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t lend an ear.
“I could have listened,” he offered as they worked together to clean up the mess. “Be a sounding board when you felt like venting. Although I’m sure you’ve probably done all that with Cassie.”