Sun blasted through Mia’s bedroom windows the following morning like sharp knives, carving away at her dreams. Her eyes felt swollen and puffy. A headache stabbed the back of her head. With a groggy groan, she opened her eyelids and squinted at the day.
Keys lay sound asleep next to her, naked, mouth ajar, snoring softly.
Her limbs were bound and strangled by some garment. She lifted the soft bedding to check. My robe. How did I get in my robe? Last night came rushing into her brain like a tsunami, tearing away any comfort the sight of Keys’ naked body might have given her. Her mind began to whirl and scheme, plotting her exit strategy. I’ve got to find a new place to live. Darion’s back.
Keys’ mouth snapped shut, and he opened his eyes. “Good morning, beautiful.”
A sudden sense of awkwardness blocked her ability to speak. She cleared her throat and said, “Morning. What can I fix you for breakfast?”
He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, then stretched out his long body. “I don’t know. You’re the one who was assaulted last night. Shouldn’t I be making food for you?”
She shook her head. “I need to stay busy.”
A lion-sized yawn stretched Keys’ mouth. “Don’t forget, I’m not usually awake at this hour.”
“Well, let me make you something. I’m grateful you stayed with me last night. Thank you.” She pushed aside the covers and rolled to sit up. Untangling the robe she’d slept in last night proved challenging. It had wound around her limbs like an octopus. She slipped her feet into slippers and stood up so the robe could fall free into submission.
“I don’t care. What do you like to eat for breakfast?” Keys said from behind her.
“I’ve got some good bread from my favorite bakery. How about some French toast?” Still trapped in awkwardness, she didn’t want to turn around.
“As long as there’s coffee, you can feed me anything,” Keys said.
Mia took a step, but Keys rolled across the bed and snagged her hand.
“Hey,” he said.
“What?” she said, still not turning around.
“You okay this morning? Last night had to be traumatic for you. What’s going on?”
With a sigh, she turned and perched on the side of the mattress. “I’m mostly numb. I can’t believe Darion found me. I mean, did he look that smart to you? I don’t know how he does it. He’s relentless.” Tears pricked at her swollen eyes. I probably look awful. “Look. I need to shower and make myself look somewhat presentable. Then, I’ll fix you breakfast.” She pushed away from the bed and made haste toward the en suite bathroom.
As she stood in the doorway, she shivered from the memory of last night’s assault. Would he have killed me? Raped me? Her clothes were still strewn all over the floor. “Keys,” she called.
“Yeah?” His voice sounded rough like he’d drifted right back to sleep.
Gripping the doorway, she said, “I can’t do this. I can’t look at this room without wanting to vomit, and I need to take a shower.”
He cleared his throat and, two seconds later, stood behind her. “What do you need?”
“I don’t know. I only know I can’t go in there.” Her voice sounded tremulous and weak.
“Okay, turn around, and I’ll pick up all the clothes and drain the tub. Will that help?” he said.
She nodded, turning around into his hot, bare-skinned body. A small gasp left her lips.
He gripped her shoulders, kissed her neck, and said, “Okay. I’m going in.”
Once more, she nodded, gazing into his eyes for comfort. “Sing to me while you’re picking up.”
“Sing to you? Uh, okay. What do you want me to sing?”
“You choose.”
“Okay. Let’s see. How about I sing the song you helped with? You can join in if you like or not.” He looked intently at her.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeated. He brushed past Mia, singing softly.
His voice and the words he sang washed through her, clearing away most of the horrible feelings of being violated in her own house.
“Where should I put the clothes?” he said.
“There’s a hamper in my walk-in closet.” She pointed toward her closet, not knowing whether he was looking at her or not since her back still faced him.
The hollow swirling sound of water draining from the tub caught her attention. Then, Keys eased past her, holding her clothes, and trekked to the closet, sliding the door open.
When he emerged, he said, “Can I do anything else? Start the shower or something? I can wash you if you need me to.”
“No, thank you. I think I’ll be okay. You can go back to bed if you like,” she said.
“Are you sure?” he said, still standing in all his glorious nakedness.
“I’m sure,” she said, hoping she sounded bolder than she felt.
“Okay. Holler if you need anything.”
“I will,” she said.
Keys headed for the bed, and she marched toward the shower.
After she’d finished her shower, dressed and styled her hair, she felt like a civilized person again. She slipped down the hall to prepare breakfast as Keys snoozed. When the French toast had browned to perfection and coffee burbled into the pot, Keys padded down the hall fully dressed in last night’s clothes.
“Smells good,” he said. “What are your plans today?”
“I have to go to work. Zander depends on me,” she said, sliding the spatula under a slice of French toast and lifting it onto a hand-painted plate she’d bought in Italy. She glanced out the window above her kitchen sink, noting a blue sky for a change. Maybe this stupid snow season has finally come to an end.
Keys’ lips pressed flat as he headed toward the coffee pot to pour himself some java. He grabbed one of two mugs she’d set out and filled it with the hot brew. “I’ll accompany you to work. Then, I’ll head over to my place, grab a shower, and pick up some clothes to bring over. Unless you’d like to stay at my house. Either way, I’m not letting you stay alone.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said, stepping toward the table. She set the plate of French toast on one of her pearl pink placemats at the kitchen table. Then, she crossed the room to retrieve butter and syrup from the fridge.
“It’s absolutely necessary. I insist.”
“Keys, look,” she said, setting the syrup and butter on the hand-painted lazy susan in the center of the small, wood table. “We don’t even know what we are to one another. You know, where we stand with one another. I can’t suddenly be okay with you staying with me just because my evil ex broke in.”
Keys jaw clenched as he poured the syrup on his French toast. “I like you. I’m attracted to you. Can’t we leave it at that?” He speared a piece of French toast and jammed it in his mouth. “And, I’m committed to your safety,” he mumbled through his mouthful of food.
“If I need someone ‘committed to my safety,’” she said, adding air quotes, “I’ll get a German shepherd. Last night you kept telling Darion you were my boyfriend. Is that true or not?”
Keys’ shoulders hunched around his ears. He stabbed another piece of French toast and popped it in his mouth, chewing it as if it needed to be punished. “A lot of shit has gone down in the last twenty-four. I’m barely awake and can’t even process it.”
“Fine.” Mia threw up her hands. “You’re barely awake, but I’m the one who almost got raped or killed or whatever my psycho ex-boyfriend had in mind. All I’m doing is trying to figure ‘us’ out so I can decide whether or not to let you inconvenience your life to move in with me for a few days.”
“It’s not an inconvenience,” Keys said, exploding from his seat. He punched the air. “Fuck, Mia. I’m confused, all right? I got so scared last night, seeing that sick fuck with his hands all over you. I wanted to destroy him. But, I don’t know what we are to one another. I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship, but I don’t want this to end, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, holding her palms out. “I didn’t mean to push you.”
“I’m sorry I erupted. Let me…” Keys sat back down in his chair. “Let me take care of you while your asshole ex is lurking somewhere in this city. Let me make sure you’re safe. Let me figure out who you are to me and how much I can deal with…” He looked up at her with plaintive eyes. “Please…”
“Okay,” she repeated. “Thank you for looking out for me,” she said woodenly. She busied herself with cleaning up the egg bowl and rinsing out the pan while Keys finished his meal.
Several minutes later, Keys’ chair scraped against the floor. He came to stand behind her, reaching around her to set the plate in the sink. Then, he placed his warm hands on her upper arms. “I care about you, Mia.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, swirling the sponge around the plate Keys had placed in the sink.
“I like hanging out with you,” he said, kissing her neck.
“Okay,” she said, her movements quickening as the sponge went round and round. “I like hanging out with you, too.”
“Can that be enough for now?” he said as his mouth traced a trail of kisses up her neck.
“Sure. That can be enough.” Not really, but… Her stomach tightened into a knot. She lifted the water spigot and rinsed the plate. Then, she shook the water droplets off and placed it in the stainless steel dish rack next to the sink. “I need to get going,” she said. “Are you ready?”
“Sure. And, thanks for breakfast. It tasted great.” He kissed her cheek.
His warm lips and tender kisses afforded her some comfort. She reached up to caress his beard covered cheek. “You’ll find a set of spare keys on the table next to the front door—the table with all the inlays. And, thank you for caring.” The phrase sounded stiff and odd to her own ears, but he was right—they didn’t know who they were to one another, and it was far too soon for any declarations of love. So, she let a blanket of formality envelop her all the way to EXcape where they said lighthearted good-byes, and Keys told her he’d see her at the end of the day when he’d accompany her home.
She’d been busy at her desk for about an hour when Keys texted her.
Did u tell Zander?
Her face flushed. Not yet, she typed. She kept the next thought to herself. Zander doesn’t need to know.
Five minutes later, Zander exploded from his office, rushing to stand before her, his face a furious shade of red. “Why didn’t you tell me you were assaulted last night? I would have come straight away? Are you okay?”
She huffed out a sigh. “Did Keys just call you?”
“Yes. He told me he stopped by to drop off a coat you left somewhere. Thank God he arrived when he did. Why did I have to hear this from Keys?”
“Because maybe I didn’t want to tell you,” she said, leaning forward in her ergonomic desk chair. “Maybe it’s my business, not yours.”
“Are you kidding me?” Zander’s jaw slackened like he couldn’t believe what he just heard from her lips. “We’re family around here. You know that.”
The word family carved a slice of guilt in Mia’s belly. And, I’m planning on leaving, maybe sooner than later now that Darion’s back.
“Did the police come? Did they catch the intruder?” Zander said.
“Yes, the police came, and no, they didn’t catch the intruder,” Mia said, staring at her monitor screen.
“Great. Just great,” Zander said, placing his hands on his hips. “Where do our taxpayer dollars go?”
Alicia strode down the hall, heading toward Mia’s desk.
Mia cringed. Oh, great. Turn around, Alicia. Go away, Zander.
“What’s going on?” Alicia said with a bright smile spreading across her face. Her high ponytail swung back and forth as she bopped down the hall.
“Mia was assaulted last night. In her own home,” Zander said, his hands on his hips.
Alicia’s smile faltered. “Mia! Are you okay?” She rushed around the counter to put her arms around Mia.
Mia stiffened at the show of affection. She patted Alicia’s arm. “I’m fine, really, I am.”
Alicia relinquished her grip on Mia and studied her. “You don’t look fine. Does she look fine to you, Zander?”
“No, she looks pale. Maybe you should go home early, Mia.” Zander had his mobile phone in his hand. He turned his attention toward his screen.
“Mr. King,” she said, slipping into her old habit of formality with him. “I’ll feel better if I stay here and focus on work.”
“Nonsense. You’ve earned enough vacation time in the last few weeks to take six months off. I’m calling Scout Security to add around the clock detail to your building.” He tapped his screen. Then, he began speaking.
Mia wanted to slide under the desk and turn into a dust mote. She hated all this attention.
“I can’t believe you were assaulted, and you’re sitting here at your desk like nothing happened,” Alicia said. “You need to rest. Want me to come over after work? I’ll be glad to keep you company.”
“No, thank you. I’ll have someone to keep me company,” Mia said, waving her hand in front of her face.
“Is it that rock star? Oh, girl, he is to die for,” Alicia gushed, clasping her hands beneath her chin.
“He’s something,” Mia said. Go away, go away, go away.
Zander finished his phone call and said, “Okay. A Scout guard is coming to pick you up and take you home. You’ll have twenty-four-seven security in your apartment. I’ve contacted Cory Jackman to be on the alert. Did you already give him a description?”
Mia’s stomach tightened. “No, I didn’t give him a description.” I didn’t want to make a fuss.
“Well, tell me, tell the guard when he gets here, and he’ll alert all parties. I don’t want anything to happen to you, Mia.” Zander’s piercing eyes filled with tenderness as he regarded her, making Mia squirm inside. “So. What did the perp look like?”
Mia dutifully gave a description. Then, she said, “You know, all of this extra work isn’t necessary.”
“What?” Zander said, glancing at his phone. “Of course, it is. You’re important, Mia.”
“We’d all die if anything happens to you, Mia,” Alicia said.
“So, that’s settled then,” Zander said. “You’re going to go home and get some rest. You’ll have guards outside your door, in the lobby. You can get some much-needed rest knowing you’re safe.”
But, that’s the thing…I’ll never be safe with Darion out there. Her face a frozen mask; she nodded. “Thank you,” she croaked.
The elevator doors dinged, and a tall, beefy guy emerged from the lift, wearing a charcoal business suit that didn’t hide his huge muscles. “Miss Song?” he said, striding toward the desk.
“That’s me,” she said, sounding weak.
“I’m to accompany you home. I’m Mike Fallon.” His face barely moved as he spoke.
Zander stuck out his high tech hand. “Zander King. Thank you for arriving so promptly and for taking good care of Mia.”
Mike shook Zander’s hand, then shrugged. “It’s what we do. It’s my pleasure. You’re lucky I was in the neighborhood when my boss called me. Otherwise, it might have been a half-hour or more before I could get here.” He turned to Mia. “Are you ready?”
“I guess so.” Mia rose to her feet. “I have to go get my coat and purse from the break room. Be right back.”
As she glumly shuffled down the hall, her mind churned out a plan. Maybe this will work to my advantage. I have to leave town. I’ve got to run again. Keys is coming at five to pick me up. I’ll head home, pack my things, find a way to get past Mr. Muscle, and then I can escape. I can never set foot in New York again. Not if Darion is alive.
Her shoulders straightened. At least she had a plan. Her heart squeezed to the size of a lemon at leaving Zander, leaving her friends and especially for leaving Keys. But, she knew it was for the best.