Chapter 15

15

S wirls of orange and pink slashed against the midnight blue sky, announcing the ridiculous hour as Jenna drove her and Calvin back to his house. Sadie had made sure her car waited in the parking lot. None of them had any way of knowing it would be hours before she and Calvin would return home. Hours spent giving more statements and waiting around while police poured over security footage.

The man dressed as a doctor who'd strangled her was caught on camera, but he'd hidden himself enough to keep any distinguishing features from standing out. The only new piece of evidence from her near-death experience was that whoever was out to get her either worked at the hospital or had enough knowledge about the facilities to gain access and secure the weapons and equipment he needed.

Which shined a light on Dr. Kent, the man who was fired following a malpractice suit she'd brought against him.

Comfortable silence filled the car, adrenaline and sheer will keeping her focus on the road as she drove along the river headed back to the farmhouse. The Smoky Mountains loomed in the distance, beckoning her forward. Trees lined the street, branches swaying as if guiding her. She pulled into the driveway and parked. "If you wait, I'll help you out," she said.

Calvin snorted. "Trust me, you're in worse shape than me. I wasn't too stubborn to take the meds. I feel fine." He pushed open the passenger side door and walked slowly, if a bit crookedly, toward the porch.

Jenna scurried from the car and caught up with him, placing a hand at his back to guide him into the house. Guilt gnawed at her. An overwhelming urge to take care of him had her placing her own discomfort on the backburner. "You need to get some rest."

"We both do," Calvin said as he kicked out of his sneakers.

"There you two are," Sadie said, rising from the couch and meeting them in the hallway. "Are you both okay?"

Jenna shrugged then winced at the pain slicing through her neck. "Okay as we can be. Thanks for staying with Oliver. Having someone here he knows and trusts helped him and me both."

"No problem. It took a little time to get him back to sleep, but he's out like a light now. I laid him in the guest room."

"Perfect." Jenna shrugged out of her jacket. "Now to get Calvin to sleep. He's had a long night."

"We both have." A yawn interrupted his words.

"I want to talk to Sadie about some things before she leaves. You can rest while we chat. I don't know if I can sleep now, anyway." Not to mention Oliver would soon be awake. The hour he finally went down last night wouldn't matter. The kid always woke at the same time every day, his internal clock like a damn rooster who crowed every morning.

"Okay. Wake me if you want to sleep. We can take turns so someone is always awake, or I can help with Oliver."

She swallowed hard, not sure how to respond to the flutter in her stomach. She'd ignore it for now. "Good night…or morning. Whatever it is." Heat flooded her cheeks, and her stupid voice rose high. She turned and fled into the kitchen, needing a little distance to get her head on straight.

Sadie followed, heading straight for the coffee maker. She stayed silent as she quickly prepared a pot, filling a mug. "Would you like something?"

"Not sure what I want," Jenna said letting out a long breath.

Sadie gave her a knowing smile then sat at the kitchen table.

Jenna shuffled to the cabinet beside the sink and grabbed a mug for herself, debating over whether to grab coffee and hope the caffeine carried her through the day or a soothing cup of chamomile tea. She glanced over her shoulder. "Did you rest at all?"

"Tommy stopped by once his shift was over and kept watch so I could sleep a little. He cleaned up the mess in here and secured the door as best he could with the glass shattered. Amelia had a slumber party with Uncle Owen and Aunt Marie. She's probably already awake and playing with Nora."

"I'm sure they all loved having Amelia over. I know Oliver is always delighted to see her. She's so good with the little ones."

At almost six years old, Amelia was the oldest child of the volunteers at Safe Haven Women's Shelter. She took her role as the eldest very seriously, helping wherever and however she could.

"So how are you really?" Sadie tapped her collarbone with her index finger. "I didn't get many details about what happened, but your throat looks pretty bad. You must have been terrified."

"I'm exhausted and sore. I don't have it in me to talk about this right now." She rested one hand at her side, the empty mug dangling from her hooked finger, and used her free hand to rub small circles over her temple.

"I understand, but make sure you find time to talk about it. What you went through was traumatic. Don't brush those feelings under the rug," Sadie said. "How's Calvin?"

"He's okay. Just a few stitches. Rest is the best thing for him right now."

Sadie lifted the steaming mug to her mouth. "And why aren't you doing the same? It's been a long night. You need to sleep." Her gaze dipped to Jenna's throat and an angry red color invaded her face. "You've both had a hard couple of days."

Sighing, Jenna set the mug back on the counter. Right now, her stomach couldn't handle anything. "You've been up all night, too. It's not fair to ask you to stay awake any longer."

Sadie's eyes softened. "You don't have to ask me to do anything. I'm here. And when everyone's gotten some sleep, I'll continue to be here for you. Just like the rest of your friends. I hope you don't mind, but I spoke with Mrs. Collins about what happened last night. She's offered you, Oliver, and Calvin a place to stay until it's safe for you both to return home."

Gratitude had tears misting in her eyes. Volunteering at the shelter had brought so much more into her life than she'd ever imagined. Women who loved her and her child and would do anything to help them. "Thank you. I'll call Mrs. Collins and work everything out after I talk to Calvin. But staying with her at the shelter seems like the perfect answer."

Tiny grains of fatigue clung to her eyes, and it took all the energy she had left just to keep standing. "Wake me if you need me."

Stepping into the hallway, she hesitated. She should go into the guest room and snuggle her son close. But she didn't want to wake him before he was ready, and her heart led her somewhere else.

Her steps slowed as she approached Calvin's bedroom. She tiptoed inside, not wanting to alert him to her presence. She studied the man-shaped bump under the comforter. The steady rise and fall of his chest told her he was already asleep. Quietly she slipped under the covers. The mattress dipped with her weight, and she huddled under the soft blanket.

Her muscles tensed for a beat, then she relaxed, squishing her hands between her cheek and the feather pillow. She shifted, turning on her side to face away from Calvin before she stroked his cheek or brushed the too-long hair from his forehead.

She fought back the ever-present ball of confusion ping-ponging around her insides. Exhaustion might weigh heavy on her shoulders, but the whirling thoughts in her brain refused to let her rest.

Calvin's arm tucked her against the warmth of his body. She fit against him like a puzzle piece. Tears filled her eyes as a soothing peace calmed her jumbled thoughts. It was too bad it did nothing for the constant doubt nagging her conscience. How could she live without him now that he was back in her life?

His heat engulfed her, and she burrowed into his embrace. Tomorrow the questions and doubts and fears would still be there. But in this moment, she'd sink into Calvin's arms and enjoy this tiny piece of heaven.

Calvin tightened his hold on Jenna and cuddled her against him. Her familiar curves molded to him. His blood hummed. Slivers of awareness dragged him from a deep sleep. He squeezed his eyes shut to stay in a state of oblivion just a little while longer. Only in his dreams was it possible to hold Jenna so close. Desire flared hot in his veins. Damn, he could even smell her shampoo.

Drawing in a deep breath, a strand of long hair brushed against his nostril and tickled the sensitive skin.

What the hell?

He peeked open one eye and tensed. Jenna lay beside him in his bed, her ass pressed to his groin. Her head nestled in the crook of his arm. He fought the urge to bury his face in her neck as lust constricted his core. He groaned, reluctant for anything to interrupt whatever dream had landed him in the one place he longed to be. He wasn't sure how Jenna ended up in bed beside him, but he didn't want to piss her off by taking things further than she intended.

The buzz of her phone cut through the silence. Jenna shifted, her elbow connecting with his side.

He hissed. All his muscles clenched in response, and he circled his arms tighter around Jenna.

Her eyes flew open. Confusion swam in her large, blue irises. She reached toward the side of the bed and fumbled with the still-ringing phone before handing it to him.

"Hello," he said, cursing whoever was on the other end of the line, but the call had already gone to voicemail. Calvin winced and pulled back the covers to check his bandage while waiting to hear the message. Jenna hadn't poked him hard, so no blood seeped through the protective barrier, but a dull pain throbbed around his wound.

Once the phone buzzed to indicate the voicemail had been left, he switched over to listen to the message.

Jenna slid off the side of the mattress and combed her fingers through her messy hair. "Who was that?"

He swung his feet around to land on the cool floor, causing jabs of discomfort to penetrate his side. Bits of fatigue clung to his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to grab Jenna and snuggle back in bed. But that wasn't an option. "The receptionist for the law office Stella cleaned. I called yesterday asking to make an appointment with Milo Sholl."

"Why do you need an appointment with a lawyer?" She frowned and crossed her arms around her middle.

"I don't. I need to know when he's expected in. I looked into him last night. On the outside, he's the poster boy for family values. He's too shiny. I can't stop picturing his wife's Facebook feed. Not to mention some of the stuff I read."

"What stuff? You never mentioned anything."

"We were a little preoccupied." He twisted his lips. "Rumor has it he plans to run for county judge next year. I dug pretty deep in his social media. Unless he's changed a ton since college, the guy likes to party."

Jenna furrowed her brow. "A lot of people like to party. Doesn't make them criminals. And what does that have to do with his career?"

"I found some old photos on past acquaintances' feeds that were alarming. Comments regarding his bad behavior while drinking. Most of it from other guys, joking around. But a few were from women, calling him out for being handsy or aggressive." He plucked a t-shirt from the floor and yanked it over his head. "I need to talk to him and his wife. What if he got handsy with Stella? Could have led to an affair. Plus, there's the church."

"What about the church?"

"The Catholic church was one of the major clients Stella took on this year. Someone might have some insight. Especially the staff that dealt with her daily."

"Father Bowman stopped over yesterday to talk about Stella's funeral. He said he'd get the information of the people Stella was in contact with for her business." Her voice trailed off and she lowered herself onto the edge of the bed. "I should be handling the funeral."

The need to comfort her moved him to sit beside her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "You're doing the best thing you can right now. You're staying safe and trying to find her killer. Adding anything else would be too much."

She blew out a long breath. "I choose to believe you're right."

"I'm always right," he said, adding a wink.

Shaking her head, she let out a soft chuckle. "So what else do we need to do?"

A part of him wanted to sit and just comfort her, but he also knew playing a hand in finding out what happened to Stella could offer her closure. "I want more information regarding Dr. Kent. Where he lives, where he works, what he's been up to the last few years. The first two questions should be pretty easy to find out, the third might be a little tougher."

"I'll ask my boss. He might have kept tabs on Dr. Kent after he left the hospital." She scrunched her toes on the plush carpet then rose. "We need to discuss where to stay. My place isn't safe, and now neither is yours. Sadie spoke with Mrs. Collins at the shelter, and she said we could all stay there. I think it's a good idea. Good security, safety in numbers, and Oliver is comfortable there."

Calvin scratched the new stubble on his chin that he'd have to shave off soon. The idea of staying at the shelter with Jenna made his stomach muscles clench. Especially after waking up with her in his arms. But she was right. They couldn't stay at either of their places, and no way he wanted her or Oliver out of his sight. "Are you sure she doesn't mind having us?"

"I haven't spoken with her, but Mrs. Collins wouldn't have insisted if she didn't mean it. Besides, where else would we go?"

"Okay. We should leave as soon as possible."

"Agreed. I'll touch base with Mrs. Collins then get Oliver and my things together. You'll have to find somewhere else for Boo to stay, though. Only service animals are allowed in the shelter."

He watched her hurry out of the room, closing the door behind her. He fell back onto the bed. He might have survived being shot, but he wasn't sure he'd survive spending even more time with Jenna.