CHAPTER FOUR

"Sor, this is really nice," she said nervously as he set her bags down.

"It's home. At least, it will be once I'm out of the service permanently. That'll be about six weeks or so," he said, looking around. "It probably needs a good cleaning. Sorry about that. I didn't think I'd need it right away."

"It's not a problem at all. Cleaning is very cathartic for me. This place will be pristine by tomorrow," she said with a sad smile.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. On one hand, I'm shocked. On the other hand, I am not. I'm upset about what happened there and what was on that website, but even more upset that none of those people defended me."

"I noticed," he said, nodding at her.

"They were all his friends and colleagues," she said. "I'm more introverted than he is, obviously. I have a few friends, just not enough to fill a Garden District mansion."

"If you ask me, that's too many people to keep track of anyway," he smiled. "Listen, I'm going to be working with some friends at an investigation and security company when I get out. I'm going to have them come by and add some security for you, just to be safe. They'll probably check on you while I'm gone."

"Do you think he'll try something?" she asked. Sor stared at her, noticing for the first time how beautiful she was.

"I don't know, Nell."

"Okay. Thank you."

"It's not a problem at all. Let me just get my things out of your way."

"Oh, please don't," she said, holding up her hands. "I'll just take the spare bedroom, and everything will be fine like it is."

Sor nodded, making sure she had the Wi-Fi password, knew the address of the cabin, the names of everyone at Belle Fleur that might come by, and an emergency contact. For some reason, he wanted to help this woman, and maybe, in the process, they could heal one another.

"Well, I guess I have everything," he said, nodding at her. "I'll keep in touch and be back soon. I've left all my contact information over there. Don't hesitate to e-mail or call if you need me."

"I won't bother you. I promise," she said.

"It's not a bother, Nell. I don't mind at all. I have a feeling we'll be seeing one another in court, unfortunately." She nodded, a sad smile on her face. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"Why not? It was the truth. I'll be fine," she smiled. "You go save the world."

He laughed at her, shaking his head.

"It's what I do."

Nell watched as the big man left the cabin. He was extremely tall and fit. Wide shoulders, handsome face, kind eyes. He was everything Craig was not.

"You really suck at picking men," she murmured to herself.

It would be weeks before everything with Craig and Cara was revealed to the world. Their sick, twisted game and partnership had exposed thousands of unsuspecting people to the dark side of the internet.

The people at Belle Fleur turned out to be some of the kindest, sweetest people Nell had ever met in her entire life. Kari and the legal team handled the divorce and got her more than her fair share of Craig's estate. Since he and Cara hadn't had the time to get married before they both died, she was left almost everything.

Except she didn't want it. The house was sold, and all but a small amount of the inheritance and life insurance was donated to the new youth center downtown.

About three times a week, someone from Belle Fleur would drop by with food, books from her favorite author, C.C. Robat, and always stayed to be sure she wasn't lonely. Truth was she had more communication and people time since being at Sor's cabin than in her entire relationship with Craig.

Sor called or e-mailed at least once a week, and Nell noticed that their calls were getting longer and longer. They talked about the weather, the new animals at Belle Fleur, his final days in the service, and he even opened up about his parents. So did she.

One afternoon, she saw movement on the new security cameras and smiled to herself.

"Hi," she said, smiling while standing at the door. "I saw you on the cameras. They've become quite handy."

"I'm glad you feel safe with them," smiled Sor. "I was just checking on you. Wanted to make sure you didn't need anything."

"No," said Nelly. "Do you, I mean, did you need for me to find somewhere else to live? I mean, I can. It's okay. This is your home."

"No," he said, holding up his hands, shaking his head. "Not at all. I'm living on the property with the security team. I work there full-time now."

"Oh, wow! That's great. They've all been really nice to me." She stared at him, smiling. He really was handsome and rugged. Everything her ex-husband was not. "Would you like something cold to drink? I don't have any alcohol, but I have soda, water, iced tea."

"Iced tea would be great."

"I'll be right back. Have a seat."

He nodded at her, taking a seat on the front porch rockers. He smiled, noticing that she'd placed floral cushions on the chairs. His ex-wife tried that once, and he tossed them in the bayou. What did it say that he found it endearing Nelly had done it?

"Here you go," she smiled, setting the tray between them. "I made some of Mama Irene's lemon bars. I've never been much of a baker, but she's converting me."

"Oh, these are my favorite," he said with a big smile, taking a bite of one. "Mmm, delicious!"

"Thank you." The cool breeze from the bayou blew across the porch, pushing strands of hair across her face. Sor swallowed, staring at the seemingly innocuous event. It was having a profound effect on him.

"I love this cooler weather," she smiled. "I can definitely see why you love this place. It's beautiful and peaceful. Quiet. I've been getting some great work done out here. I recently did the auction magazine for the art show, the one that several of your team were involved with."

"Oh, yes," he nodded. "We've got some very talented people on our team."

"You definitely do," she grinned. "How are you, Sor? I mean, how are you really with everything that happened between our exes?"

"Surprisingly, I'm good with it, Nell. Can I call you Nell?"

"Yes," she laughed. "I don't think anyone ever has, but it sounds nice coming from you. My real name is Helen, but my parents always called me Nelly."

"I like Nell. It seems to suit you. Anyway, as I said, I'm good with it. We were drifting apart anyway. It was a mistake from the get-go. I wanted to have a family, and she didn't. I suspected that she was seeing someone while I was gone on my last deployment. I never suspected it would be your husband."

"Ex. I mean, late. I mean, ex-late husband?" she grinned. "Anyway, I know what you mean. I knew that he was doing something. He'd say he was showing houses but would come home in his golf gear. I wouldn't have thought anything of that except that he wasn't even sweaty. How do you golf in South Louisiana and not get sweaty?"

"I don't know," he grinned. "I'm not a golf guy. I'm more of a baseball, football guy."

"I can see that," she smiled. "You're built for power."

"Thank you. I think."

"Oh, it was definitely a compliment. I mean, I wasn't staring at your physique or anything. I just noticed. I mean, I didn't notice. Oh, hell. I'm screwing this up."

"You're not screwing anything up, Nell," he said, reaching for her hand. "I think you're beautiful and talented, and I'd love to get to know you better. I've just been waiting to give you time to get over everything that happened."

"I'm over it, Sor. Really, I am. I'd like to get to know you as well." He took a big swig of the iced tea and nodded at her.

"Well, we're working on a case right now that might have me gone for a few days. Are you okay with that?" She cocked her head, staring at him. "I guess what I'm asking is, are you okay with a man that might be gone a few days now and then and I can't always give you all the details of where."

"I'm okay with that when I trust the man," she smiled. "I don't know why, Sor, but I trust you more than any man I've ever met in my entire life." He popped the last of the lemon bar in his mouth and stood.

"Well, then. I'll be back in a few days and maybe we could do lunch or dinner?"

"I think that sounds perfect," she said, taking a step toward him. He looked down at her, pushing those stray strands of hair behind her ears. He gently cupped her jaw and touched her sweet lips lightly, softly.

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect."