Page 92 of Help Wanted

“Huh. You might be right about that. We’re the same age, but I’m way older than you.”

“I don’t know about that. During sex you’re still going strong while I’m exhausted and can’t catch my breath.”

“That comes from practice.”

She heard the smile in his voice. They’d been getting a lot of practice over the last few days. She couldn’t seem to get enough of him. When he was touching her, and making her body feel good, it was impossible to think about what happened.

“I’m not going to see you tomorrow. And I’m not going to be in the office on Monday. Something came up and I need to stay out here.”

“Okay.”

“I just want you to know I really do have to stay out here. I’m not staying on the road so I can avoid you. I won’t ever do that again. I swear.”

“Thank you.”

“If you need anything, call Brady. He’s back and he’ll help.”

“Okay.”

The empty bed spawned fitful dreams and restless sleep. Sunday she went to visit her parents. They asked how work was going and she told them it was… fine.

The armed robbery report was just a small blurb in the newspaper, and since her friends and family lived in another town, no one noticed. She knew they would be upset and worried if she told them what had happened. She would tell them when she knew she could answer their questions without breaking out in a sweat. Speaking about it now still made it too real.

While Vanessa hadn’t read the paper, she did know something was wrong as soon as Kenley stepped into her house the next day. Vanessa had been her friend for a very long time, and could read her like a book.

“What is it? Something’s wrong. Did Zane do something stupid?”

“No. He’s amazing.” She did her best to act normal, but she was too conscious of everything she said or did.

“What is with you? You’re skittish.”

“I’m not skittish.”

“You jumped out of your seat when Hannah’s toy hooted.”

“I had a run-in with some guy at the office. It was nothing.”

“Did he hurt you?” Her laser focus was on Kenley, no doubt watching for clues.

“No. Someone came in and stopped him.” Stopped him was not really the right word. From what Scott had said, the guy still couldn’t walk. Brady had been a mad man—his eyes unfocused on anything but the man with the gun. She couldn’t say she was sorry.

When it was over, she’d said Brady’s name, and it was like a light came back on. He’d looked around the office as if he was confused about how the guy had ended up bleeding on the floor.

“What happened?” Vanessa said, pulling her out of the memory.

“Can I get a pass for now? I promise I’ll tell you. Just not today. I need some time. The important thing is that I’m…” She swallowed. “Fine.”

“Uh-huh. Fine like you were when your mother died and you came back to school the next week?”

“It was finals. She didn’t want me to miss them.”

“Still, you weren’t fine then and I know you’re not fine now.”

“Okay. Maybe I’m not. But I need to be. I want to be. So just let me be fine until I really am.”

“Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

“I know. Thank you.” They hugged it out and she left to go home. She had made sure to be home before dark. After checking the place over she settled in with a book and twitched at every noise her home made.