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“Whatever you need me to be, Shortstop.” He kissed me again, and that time I gave myself over to the warmth of it. I leaned into him, savoring the taste of him, the slide of his lips against mine, and the desire that pooled at my core.

When we pulled away reluctantly, a pang of sadness tightened in my chest. With my hand warm in Cal’s and the safety of his presence wrapped around me, I didn’t want to leave his car. But he had patients, and I would see him tomorrow. I tried toconvince myself that was good enough. As I undid my seatbelt, I slipped my fingers from Cal’s hand and reached down to get my bag.

Cal turned to me, his eyes shadowed. “I can stay, Ruth. If you need me to, I can move some things around.”

I leaned against the door, facing him. Cal had on a set of black scrubs, which told me he had to have been in the middle of his hospital rounds when he’d come to get me. He was probably way behind schedule for that alone. I shook my head, smiling faintly. “I’m a big girl, Cal.”

“No, you’re tiny, and adorable, and injured, and it’s killing me to send you into that apartment alone,” he replied, his voice husky.

My smile widened, and I tamped down a laugh. “What if I promise not to take any baths or get drunk at bars? Does that help?”

He blanched. “Okay, but please don’t take a bath. For real. If you fall again and hit your head—”

“Cal,” I grinned outright, reaching across the space between us to take his face in my hands. His five o’clock shadow pricked at my palms, and I held his worried gaze. “I’m fine. And I’m,” I swallowed nervously, “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

He covered my hands with his, and his expression turned mischievous. “You mean ourrealdate tomorrow?”

“Yeah, that,” I said, my voice cracking.

He chuckled, and turning to kiss the inside of my wrist, he lowered my hands. “Alright. Fair enough. Tomorrow, then.”

“Tomorrow,” I agreed again. “Thank you for everything.”

“You deserve everything,” he reminded me. “Get some sleep.”

I popped the door handle and opened the door, carefully maneuvering myself out of the car so I didn’t put any sudden pressure on my knee. With another wave to Cal as he pulled away from the parking spot, I turned and pulled my phone from the pocket of my wide-leg pants. It had been a long Friday, but I couldn’t help but retain that silly smile that had pulled at my lips throughout the day.

I made my way slowly through the quiet grounds, passing under shadowed trees and past a walkway with lights that had gone out months ago. It made my building darker than the other ones, but with the moon full and bright overhead, I could see my way to my front door just fine.

As I fished through my backpack for my keys, movement in my peripheral vision sent a jolt of fear through me. I whipped my head to the left. A figure, swathed in shadows and hunched with hands in their pockets, passed between the two apartment buildings. My heart clenched in fear before tumbling into a panicked rhythm. Vaughn turned to face me, thirty feet in the distance, and features creased with fury.

I stiffened, gripped by fear so potent, it flash froze my limbs and coursed through me in a numbing wave. Vaughn stared at me, unmoving. Even when I forced myself to move, to launch into action and fumble in my bag for my keys again, he didn’t engage me. Shaking, I pulled my keys from my bag and felt forthe right key. I had to look down to fit it just right, and my panic vaulted into a churning gallop in my chest as I struggled to get my key into the hole just right. It slipped in, and hurriedly, I looked up again.

Vaughn watched, brows drawn and body still.

Still shaking hard, I unlocked my door, swerved inside, and slammed the deadbolt into a locked position. I sucked in a breath, releasing it with a trembling sigh, only to pull in another thin, useless mouthful of oxygen that did nothing to abate the spinning in my head. I leaned my forehead against the door, willing my heart to calm down.

Safe. I was safe. Vaughn couldn’t hurt me… or wouldn’t. Would he?

With unsteady hands, I pulled my phone from my pocket again. The screen lit up, displaying a generic pine forest background and the time, 9:13 pm. I hovered my thumb over the screen, debating. I wanted to call Cal. I wanted him here where he would cocoon me in the safety of his presence. Cal had a way of doing that. His presence dispelled fears and insecurities, wrapping me in warmth and hope instead.

Be logical, I thought with another calming breath.He’s working. You’re not in danger. You’re safe in your house. The doors are locked, and you can call 911 if you’re really in danger. He’s busy. You’re safe. You’re safe.

I told myself that as I checked my windows and patio door, drawing all the blinds shut. I told myself as I brushed my teeth with a trembling hand and shut off all the lights in the house. Ireminded myself after I had crawled into bed and stared blankly at the tiny bedroom stuffed with shadows and reeking of fear.

I told myself, but I didn’t believe it.

Chapter twenty

Ruth

Unknown number:

Blocking me won’t do any good. Last chance to speak with me about your future. I know who got you your job with Kiss-Met. And I know they lied about your resume. Talk to me or I’ll be making a call to Janice.

Ruth

Idropped my phone onto my bed with shaking hands. Vaughn again. I’d blocked his number days ago, but that clearly hadn’t stopped him. I looked over my shoulder, expecting to see a face in my bedroom window. Instead, the setting sunlight filtered through the closed blinds, escaping the white stripes in bands of deep gold. My reflection in the floor-length mirror stared back at me with wide, terrified eyes that were ringed with shadows. I’d dressed in the only formaldress I owned, and it fell in gentle flutters from my waist to mid-thigh. The baby blue dress had been made with soft chiffon layers and an off-the-shoulder neckline that accentuated my cleavage.