9. Heidi

CHAPTER 9

Heidi

F or the next few days, it feels like everything around me is holding its breath. Jameson gave me the time off with pay to get the security system taken care of and the door fixed, all the things replaced. Our lives started falling into the same pattern as before but underneath all of it was a ripple of unease.

I don't like not knowing what's going on. Don't like knowing that there's someone out there who is willing to rampage through my house and things.

Finally, after a week, I feel my tense body start to relax and Cassie and I spend a quiet Saturday at home.

Until there's a knock at the door. I eye it, startled. The alarm didn't go off and the cameras never came on.

I stand and nod at Cassie. "Go in your room for a minute, kiddo." She must feel my own unease because she doesn't bother arguing, just scurries out of the room, her doll hugged tight to her chest.

I stand at the door for a minute and then open it slowly, my heart sinking then racing when I see who it is.

"Josh? What are you doing here?"

His cool gray eyes skim my body and he smiles. "I've missed you, honey. I thought I'd stop and see how you were doing."

"How did you know where I was?" I didn't tell him.

"I got your address from the attorney."

I don't believe him. The attorney doesn't know a damn thing about my new hometown. There's no need. I don't get child support. I'm the only support for my daughter and I.

I lean on the doorjamb, blocking him from coming in. He pushes towards me but I don't move. "Are you going to let me in?"

I shake my head. "No. There's nothing for you here."

"I'm Cassie's father. I have some right to see her."

I smile at him. "That paper you signed says you don't. You gave up all your rights."

"I didn't know what I was signing."

"You left us alone for a year. I don't believe that either."

He grunts and glares at me. "Why are you pushing me away like this, honey? I'm not sure what you want."

"I want you to go home."

"I came all this way to see you."

"I didn't tell you to come from California to see me. I don't want to see you. We're divorced. There's no reason for us to have even one second of a discussion. One meaningless chit-chat. We're done. You might as well turn around right now and go home."

He leans forward and hisses in my ear. "Still the same old, manly ball-buster. I don't know what I ever saw in you."

He runs his eyes up and down my body in disdain.

"What's going on here?"

I sag in relief when I hear the sheriff's voice behind Josh. He turns to glare at him.

"I'm talking to my wife."

Colt looks up at me, his dark brow arched. "Are you still married, Heidi?"

"I'm divorced and I haven't talked to my ex-husband for a year."

"That means you're trespassing. And I believe I heard her ask you to leave a couple of times already."

Josh straightens and his back stiffens as he glares at Colt. "You don't really need to get involved in this, officer."

"Sheriff. And Heidi is one of my citizens. You don't mean shit to me and she's asked you to leave so I suggest you do it before you spend the night cooling off in jail and tomorrow we give you a nice escort out of town."

Josh glares at him and then turns back to me. "I'll talk to you later, Heidi. I'm not going away." Then he puts the lie to his words and walks away.

I sag against the door frame. Colt eyes me carefully. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

I shake my head. "I just don't understand it. He spent so long telling me that he didn't want me and now he wants me back?" But his last words to me give reason to the lie.

I realize that I said that out loud and I flush. The Sheriff sighs. "If I were you, I'd stay the hell away from that guy and make sure you're not alone for awhile."

I nod my head but I'm lost in thought. Until I realize that someone else is standing in front of me, staring at me.

Micah. I've been avoiding him. Sure, we're at work together but that doesn't mean that I can't stay out of his way. I have too.

I don't know what to say to him. And now he's here. At my house. And he's stalking towards me, his sharp jaw tight with anger. "What the hell, Crane? Were you going to mention that he was here?"

My brow crinkles. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Your ex. That was him, right?"

My gaze sharpens and my fists clench. "How do you know that?"

"I looked him up. A guy like that shouldn't ever be trusted. I wanted to know what he looked like. I saw him on the street and followed him here."

"And you've just been standing here waiting to say something?"

He nods his head. "Yeah. I wanted to see what he was going to do."

I shift angrily, impotent rage fueled by the hunger that he sets on fire within me. My belly is tight, my pussy clenched so hard that it's like the little hussy needs something inside her and she's picked him.

"That guy doesn't want you. He's up to something. You need to make sure that you're not alone with him."

Pain tightens my gut and I almost close my eyes, needing to avoid the sharp look in his eyes. "So you think that no man can want me?"

He snorts. "That's not what I'm saying at all. You know perfectly well that I want you, even right now when you're avoiding me like the plague." He nods his dark head behind himself. "But that guy? He doesn't want or love anything but himself."

Damn. He's sharp. It took me years to figure that out about Josh and I lived with him.

"I know very well what Josh is like. I don't know what he's doing here or what he wants but I'm well-aware it's not me. It could never be me."

He stalks closer and his big hand comes up to touch my cheek so delicately. His fingers linger and his eyes watch me closely, studying me. "It will always be you for me. I've stayed away from you because it's obvious that you're trying to keep your distance since you stayed at my place. But I haven't forgotten about you, Heidi. I still want you, sweetheart. I just need you to know that." His green eyes track the retreating shape of Josh. "Be careful and if you need anything, you can always call me. I will always come for you, sweetheart. Always be whatever you need."

And then he leans down and kisses my cheek, his warm lips lingering on my skin as he and I breathe deep, perfectly in unison. I can smell the warm, spicy scent of him and my soul seems to settle. Relax for the first time in days.

I don't feel the need to run. Don't feel the urge to get away. All I feel is calm.

He pulls back and his touch slowly slides away from me. He doesn't look away as he backs up. "Call me for anything, Heidi. Even just to talk. I'm here for you. Always."