Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

“What the?—”

Everything had been moved. Everything .

He gaped at the living room furniture that, just this morning had been arranged in a semi-circle. Now, it was pushed to the sides of the rooms, the side tables interspersed between them. He scowled. She’d even moved the damn plant.

Scooping up the potted plant, he carried it to a table out of direct sunlight and set it down, then dropped the bag of food on the kitchen counter and cocked his ears, listening for movement. He didn’t hear anything, which meant Brynlee must be on her side of the duplex. Good thing, because he was going to throttle her ass.

He braced himself as he ventured deeper into the house to see what other destruction she’d wrought.

It was a lot.

Cup and plates had been mixed together, spices rearranged, his dish towels and small appliances mixed in with the pantry items. He propped his hands on his hips and scowled. Good God. How long had it taken her to do all this?

He grimaced as he padded cautiously down the hallway toward his bedroom, then paused outside the door and peeked inside. He shouldn’t have. His eye began to twitch at the sight of the carefully organized clothes in the closet now hanging haphazardly. He turned away with a shake of his head. He couldn’t bring himself to look anymore.

His dishes, the food in the refrigerator, first aid materials in the medicine cabinet… Apparently nothing was off limits for Brynlee.

Sawyer stomped toward the back door and threw it open, his blood thrumming rapidly in his veins. The moment he stepped outside, he saw her lounging in a chair, engrossed in a book.

She looked up as he approached, her face breaking into a mischievous grin, as if she’d been waiting for him. “Hello, darling. How was your day?”

He stopped next to her chair and crossed his arms over his chest, one brow arching toward his hairline. “Not nearly as productive as yours, apparently.”

Brynlee affected a mock surprised expression, but she couldn’t keep her smile from growing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A snort escaped before he could stop it. “I’m not sure if I should be angry or impressed.”

She lifted one shoulder, those wide, innocent eyes staring up at him. “Both?”

With a shake of his head, Sawyer pushed her legs aside, then dropped onto the chaise lounge next to her. “By the way, the plant doesn’t belong in the sun.”

“I know.” She smiled cheekily. “I was just testing you.”

Sawyer reached out and gave her hair a playful tug. “Brat. You gonna help clean up this mess?”

Brynlee swatted his hand away with a laugh. “Only if you ask nicely.”

Sawyer smiled despite himself. The earlier tension and frustration had melted away, replaced by the familiar banter and camaraderie.

“Well, if you’re done wreaking havoc, I picked up some dinner for us.” He arched a brow her way. “I’d hate to see what you do to the kitchen next.”

She let out a tinkling laugh as she pushed from the lounge chair. “I’m sure I could come up with something.”

Sawyer shook his head and stood, then swatted her ass. “Get in there and find us some plates.”

* * *

Brynlee was already on the patio, sitting at the table when Sawyer emerged from the kitchen with the bag of takeout and two sodas. She’d managed to find two plates and some napkins, and he felt another smile tug at his lips.

It was par for the course for them; they bickered, pushing one another’s buttons until they were ready to break, then made up as if it had never happened.

Sawyer set a soda in front of each of their seats, then pulled out a small takeout box and placed it in front of her. “Your favorite.”

Brynlee looked up, ready to thank him, but before she could say anything, Sawyer leaned in and gently grabbed her chin. His lips brushed against hers in a quick, hard kiss. Brynlee’s eyes widened as she pulled back, her face turning a bright shade of pink.

Sawyer arched a brow her way. “That’s the least I deserve.”

Her mouth twitched as she fought back a smile, and Brynlee nodded, still flushed. “Fair enough.”

Sawyer’s grin widened as he took his own seat. It was nice to see her off balance for once. He started serving himself, making small talk to ease the tension and get to know Brynlee better.

“So,” he began, his tone casual, “tell me more about your salon.”

She threw a look his way as she cracked open the box and dipped her fork inside. “Why?”

“Why not?” he countered. Despite the fact that they’d lived next to one another for the better part of a year, he still didn’t really know much about her. “How did you get into it?”

“You know Mel? She went to cosmetology school after we graduated. I thought about it, but I was no good with hair so that was out for me. I wanted something that would give me a little freedom in my schedule, so I ended up taking some classes for massage therapy and really loved it.”

“Have you always had your own place?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve only been in business for about a year and a half.”

“Seems like you’re doing well.”

Brynlee swallowed a bite of food. “For the most part. It’s stressful sometimes, but I love the challenge.”

Sawyer leaned back in his chair and studied her. “You seem to have a real knack for connecting with people. Do you have any specific goals for the salon?”

Brynlee shrugged almost self-consciously. “I’d love to expand eventually, maybe add a few more services. But for now, I’m just focused on making sure everything runs smoothly and that my clients are happy.”

Sawyer nodded. “That’s a solid plan. It sounds like you’ve got a clear vision of what you want. It’s impressive.”

Brynlee blushed slightly, a shy smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. I’ve put a lot of work into it.”

“I can tell.” Sawyer took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving her. “So, what about outside of work? What do you like to do for fun? Any hobbies or interests?”

Brynlee flashed a smile his way. “Yoga. Meditation.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I got that.”

Conversation lapsed as they finished their food, and Sawyer leaned back in his chair, trying to find the right words as he studied Brynlee’s profile.

“I went to the bar,” he finally said, his voice low, cutting through the quiet. Brynlee’s head turned slightly, her eyes flicking to his. “To review the footage from the night you were there.”

A flicker of worry crossed her features. “And?”

“There was a woman,” Sawyer said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Dark hair, sat next to you after Melanie went to the bathroom. Do you remember her?”

Brynlee frowned, a small crease forming between her brows. “Yeah, why?”

Sawyer took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady despite his heart pounding in his chest. “Because she slipped something into your drink, Brynlee.”

Her eyes flew wide, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “What? Are you sure?”

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. “I checked the footage this morning. It was quick, almost unnoticeable if you weren’t looking for it. Her hand hovered over your glass for a second, then she slipped off the stool and disappeared.”

“I… I had no idea.” Brynlee shook her head. “I just remember feeling off after that, but I thought it was the wine, or maybe just the stress of everything.”

Sawyer’s jaw tightened as he continued, “I think this might be the same woman who cut the wires under your car. This wasn’t random, Brynlee. Someone’s targeting you, and we need to figure out who it is.”

Brynlee’s eyes grew distant as she struggled to remember. “I don’t know… She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her. I can’t think of where I’ve seen her.”

Sawyer leaned in closer. “I need you to try. This woman is dangerous, and if she’s not stopped…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy in the air. Brynlee swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “I’ll think about it. I’ll try to remember.”

“Good.”

He nodded, then stood. Brynlee followed suit, and they cleaned up, carrying the plates and trash into Sawyer’s kitchen.

“Thanks for dinner.” Brynlee flashed him a quick smile. “I guess I should head out.”

She paused next to the back door, hand on the doorknob, looking indecisive. Sawyer watched her for a moment. Did her house feel empty without Scooter there to welcome her home?

Sawyer cleared his throat. “I think we had an agreement. You made the mess…”

Her eyes flicked his way, full of mirth, underscored by relief that she didn’t have to be alone at the moment. “I get to clean it up?”

Sawyer pushed off the counter and extended a hand her way. Her eyes dropped, then met his again. After a moment, she slipped her palm into his and Sawyer tugged her close. “Later.”