Page 30 of Capturing You

She stopped in the entry as he retrieved his cell phone from the desk.

“I just need to call the gallery to make sure it’s open and they don’t need me.”

He walked toward her, cell phone in his outstretched hand.

She reached for it. “And then I’ll figure out a ride.”

He closed his fingers around the phone and drew it back. “You’re staying here.”

“No. I’m…I’m going to go…”

He didn’t open his hand, just waited.

“Every problem has a solution. I’ll figure out the solution to this one.” Just saying the words brightened her spirits. God always made a way. All her life, He’d guided her. And He wouldn’t stop today. He was her protector, after all. Her strong tower. Her fortress.

She needn’t worry. She only needed to ask Him to open the doors she was meant to walk through. To pray that His will would be done.

It was a prayer He loved to answer.

As hope filled her heart, Ford’s frown turned to a grimace. “I told you the solution. Stay.”

“You don’t really want me here.”

“I’m not going to send you into danger.”

It said something about his character that he didn’t lie by protesting.

“If my safety were assured?—”

“Until then, you’re staying.”

“I have no choice in the matter?”

He muttered something under his breath. She picked up the wordstimeandwoman.She was pretty sure she heardirritatingas well.

“I didn’t catch that.”

“You’re not a captive.” He opened his palm. “Take it. Call whoever you want. Do…whatever. You wanna get yourself killed or…stalked or whatever, be my guest. Or…don’tbe my guest, if that’s what you want.” He jiggled the phone in his palm. “I’m just trying to help.”

Once again, irritation enabled him to string together multiple sentences. Apparently, if she wanted to get him to open up, all she needed to do was annoy the tar out of him.

Good to have a plan.

She took his cell, tried and failed to unlock it, then held it back out.

He snatched it, put in the code, making no effort to hide it. It was the digits in the corners of the keypad, beginning with three.

Easy enough to remember.

He handed it back. “Get that?”

“Thank you.”

He turned back into the office, paused with his hand on the door for two seconds, then continued—without shutting her out.

Monumental progress, that.

After unbuckling a tool belt from his waist that she hadn’t noticed before, he dropped it on a side table and settled behind the desk. He’d told Lenny he was there to make repairs. Apparently, the tool belt was part of his…costume, for lack of a better word.