Victoria
My phone vibrated on the counter, and I swiped my thumb over the screen as I lifted it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Victoria, how are you?”
“I’m fine, Johnathan. How about you?” I shifted the phone so it lay cradled between my ear and shoulder as I moved around the kitchen.
‘Fine’ was a drastic understatement. My body still pulsed with unrequited desire, and my skin buzzed like a live wire where Blake had touched me. He’d walked out the door half an hour ago, but the warm, fuzzy feeling he’d stirred inside me had yet to subside. From the tingling of my skin, I doubted it would go away anytime soon. And the thought of dinner with him tonight, maybe going back to his place… A welcome heat spread through my chest then lower to my core, making me feel needy and restless.
He was so different from any other man I’d ever dated. He seemed to intuitively know exactly what I needed; he pushed me out of my comfort zone but still managed to respect my boundaries. The last line that lay between us had become slightly blurred. Did I want Blake to be my first? Trepidation mixed with anticipation coursed through my veins when the immediate answer popped into my mind. Yes. I could practically feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I envisioned him in my bed, suspended over me—
“Did you hear about the exhibit the art gallery downtown will be hosting?”
Johnathan’s question tore me from my daydream, and I forced myself to focus. “I didn’t. Are they featuring anyone good?”
“I’m not really sure. I just read about it this morning, and I thought maybe we could go tonight.”
I froze. Should I tell him about Blake? Probably not yet. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and this was a conversation best had in person. Johnathan had been the one to suggest I start dating again, but he’d more than likely meant I should date him. No, for now, I’d just keep quiet until I figured out exactly how to break the news.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t. I promised Kate I would come see her today. She’s supposed to get released sometime this afternoon.”
It wasn’t a lie, exactly, just… not the whole truth. A trace of disappointment lined Johnathan’s tone when he spoke again. “Do you think you’ll be there all evening?”
“Possibly. I hate the thought of her being there all alone. They’ve been monitoring her for internal bleeding and keeping a close eye on her head for any trauma she may have sustained. Last I heard, everything was normal. They kept her just as a precaution, but she should be fine to come home today.”
“Wonderful.”
I couldn’t tell if the statement was genuine or if there was a hint of sarcasm in there. Either way, it didn’t matter. A thought popped into my head. “Did Greg Andrews ever contact you?”
“No. In fact, I left a message for him a few days ago but he never returned my call.”
Damn. I really hoped he’d gotten the message. I had no desire to ever have another run-in with him. “Well, then, I wouldn’t worry about it. I think we were beyond what he initially came for and he was hanging on out of habit.”
Johnathan made a thoughtful noise on the other end. “Do you suppose he was infatuated with you?”
“Could be.”
I’d told Detective Sanchez of the possibility of Greg Andrews lashing out, but the idea just didn’t seem to fit. Of course, nothing was ever as it seemed. Sometimes people hid their deepest secrets right below the surface.
“Well, you should be extra careful, especially in light of recent events. I love you, Victoria. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
I cringed at his words. Though I’d told him before that I loved him as a friend, I had a feeling his love went a whole lot deeper. I swallowed hard before speaking. “I’m sure everything will work out.”
He was silent for a moment when I didn’t return his sentiment. “Well, maybe I’ll give you a call tomorrow and see if you’re interested in dinner or something.”
“Sounds great.”
I disconnected the phone and set it on the counter. “Damn, damn, damn.”
I really needed to come clean—and soon. Guilt was already weighing down my conscience and I couldn’t bear to see him hurt. He’d been my shoulder to lean on, and he’d given me some great advice over the past couple of years. He didn’t know the whole story, but then few people did. He knew I’d been held against my will and that I managed to escape, but I’d left out all the gory details about Leah’s murder. I’d opened up to Kate one night, years ago, finally spilling every detail. But Johnathan was a man. A friend, yes, and a great doctor—but still a man. I hadn’t quite crossed that hurdle of being able to trust him enough to fully open up.
Why, then, had I told Blake?
I glanced at his coffee cup where it lay in the sink next to mine. I’d known him for barely two weeks. What in the world had prompted me to air my dirty laundry? Because he made me feel… everything. Safe. Happy. Loved.
I promptly cut off that last train of thought. It wasn’t love. Attraction, certainly—but not love. People didn’t develop those kinds of feelings in just a couple of weeks. As a doctor, I knew it was nothing more than lust driving us. As a woman… I desperately wanted it to be more.
* * *
I smiled at Kate as I stepped into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“Ready to get the hell out of here.” She sat in a chair by the window, her pale face accentuated by the bruise on her forehead. “I still don’t know why they kept me an extra day. Complete waste of resources.”
I smiled as Kate rolled her eyes dramatically. It kind of surprised me, too. Usually hospitals pushed people through recovery and out the door to open up the bed for the next patient. Maybe it was more of a professional courtesy than anything, or maybe there really was more trauma than the doctors had initially guessed.
“But everything’s okay?” Brain trauma was a tricky thing. Sometimes everything appeared to be okay initially, but latent injury manifested itself later.
Kate nodded. “Normal function. Everything’s still there, bad judgment and all.”
I frowned. “You weren’t the one with poor judgment—Steve was. He’s the one who cheated and ruined your marriage.”
“Maybe,” she agreed, “but it was a bad idea to get married in the first place. We were too young.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I kept quiet. Kate piped up a moment later. “My memory from the other night is coming back, too.”
“Really?” That was a good sign. “Did you recognize him?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But I do remember a little bit of what he said.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize he’d said anything.”
“I hadn’t either. But when I woke up this morning, it was the first thing that popped into my head, clear as day.”
Her tone was hesitant, and I warily dropped into the chair beside her. “What did he say?”
“He said you were perfect just the way you were.”
My brows drew together. “But if you were perfect, then why—”
“Not me.” She glanced my way. “You.”
“Me?” I jerked back in surprise.
Kate nodded. “He called me a whore. Told me I was corrupting you, that you were perfect just the way you were.”
I couldn’t suppress the shiver that racked my body. Someone had attacked her because of me?
“My God. I’m so sorry, I had no idea.”
Kate grabbed my hand. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t want to worry you, but this person is clearly obsessed with you. You need to be extra careful.”
I bit my lip. “I think you’re right. I think someone broke into my house the other day.”
I held up a hand as Kate’s eyes rounded in shock and her mouth opened to speak. “Nothing was stolen, at least not that I can see. But it felt different, like someone had been there.”
“Did you call the cops?”
“No. Blake came over and checked things out for me.”
“Oh?”
I couldn’t miss the interest in Kate’s question, and a smile curved my mouth. “Then he stayed the night. Last night, too.” Her mouth dropped open, and I grinned. “And before you ask, he was a perfect gentleman.”
Her face twisted into an expression of dismay. “Well, that’s disappointing.”
“Although…”
Kate’s eyes lit up as I told her all about the night before. “Was that your first time?”
I nodded. “We’re going to dinner tonight and I think… I think I’m ready.”
“It’s a big step,” Kate said, her voice serious. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. Blake is…”
“Sexy? Gorgeous? Ripped?” she supplied with a grin.
I laughed. “Yes—to all of those. But he’s… different. I want him to be the first.”
“As long as you’re certain.”
“I am.”
“Good.” She pinned me with a stare. “I want details tomorrow. All of them.” Kate pointed at me. “And don’t you dare leave a single thing out.”
I grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”