Chapter Eleven

Kayla walked into the building the next morning.

“Good morning, you look a little better,” Carol said.

“I feel better. Hey, can I ask a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Can I use your phone without you asking me why?”

Carol was stunned but reached into her purse, pulled it out, and handed it to her.

“I’m going to make the call out back. Can you stay here for me?”

“Sure. Go ahead. Take as much time as you need, Hun.”

She walked out the back door and made the call at the back of the building, which was deserted except for the employee cars in the small lot.

Thankfully, Zeke’s office door was closed as she went outside the back door. She quickly dialed Darrell’s number.

“Hello.”

“Darrell, it’s me,” she whispered.

“What the hell’s wrong, girl, and why are you whispering?”

“I need you to come back for a visit.”

“Okay. You have me concerned right now.”

“Well, I’m freaking out. When can you get here?”

“I’ll have a buddy fly me there in a helicopter, so I’ll be there tonight.”

“Good. Come to my house when you get into town. Getting to my place without anyone knowing would be good if there’s a way to do it.”

“I’ll be there. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”

“Thank you.”

“Take care of yourself, girl, until I get there.”

“I will. Thank you.”

She turned and gasped when she saw Zeke standing behind her with his arms crossed, in full dom mode.

“Now, you can’t deny something is going on,” he said.

She tried to get angry, but it looked like that made him even more suspicious. “It’s none of your business, Sheriff. Now I have to get to work.”

He grabbed her upper arm as she passed. She quickly scanned the area and relaxed a bit when she didn’t see anyone.

“You’re going to tell me now.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Why?”

“I just can’t.”

His eyes narrowed on her, and she tried not to let it affect her but couldn’t. Every female hormone came to attention.

“Please. Just leave it alone for now. I promise to tell you later.”

“Are you in danger?”

She shook her head even though she didn’t believe it. She knew he didn’t believe her, but he released her, and she scampered into the building.

She got Carol’s phone to her, took her place behind the desk, and tried to look busy. She ignored Fletcher and Zeke’s looks, but she had a headache at the end of her shift and wanted to get home where she could close and lock her doors.

****

Zeke watched her scamper back into the building, waited a few minutes, followed her in, went directly to his office, and closed the door. He walked to his chair, sat, and made the call.

“Hello.”

“Darrell, it’s me.”

“Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Darrell asked.

“I was going to ask you the same question.” Dammit. He wasn’t going to get the answers he needed yet.

“I overheard her on the phone with you. Are you coming to town tonight?”

“Yes. I’ll be at her house. Why don’t you meet me there but come from behind her place? There’s a place to park your car on the other side of the acre of woods behind her house. No one will be able to see it.”

“I’ll be there.”

“You sound as worried as she does,” Darrell commented.

“I am, and I have a funny feeling my problem and hers are intertwined.”

“We’ll get to the bottom of it tonight.”

“Hell, yeah, we will.”

For the rest of the day, Kayla and Zeke ignored each other, and he kept up the pretense that they did not like each other because it seemed to calm her down.

It took a herculean effort not to pull her into his office and demand she tell him everything, but he told himself it wouldn’t be long before he knew.

He heard the shift change but didn’t get up to see her go. He stayed another hour before heading to his rental house. He made sure to study everything and everyone for some clue but got nothing.

Zeke dressed in black jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and boots and waited until it was fully dark before he snuck out the back of his house. He kept a few lights on and even had the TV for sound to keep anyone from knowing he wasn’t there.

Her place was only a few miles away, so he decided to run. He’d try to stay out of sight, but if someone saw him, they’d think he was exercising.