Page 94 of Deathmarch

He nearly ran to the table, focusing on nothing but not spilling the contents. “Damn, this thing is hot. Mom said Allie might need some comfort food.”

He set down the bowl and turned to them, and then immediately swung back away. He cleared his throat. “Sorry. Um…I thought you were giving her first aid.”

Allie clutched her shirt together behind Harper, doing her best not to laugh at Kennan’s embarrassment. Had she just made a Marine blush? She was going to have to mark that down on her list of accomplishments.

“First aid can take many forms,” Harper responded to his brother, a smidgen more smug than he needed to be.

“Right.” Kennan scrambled back to the stairs. “I’ll just leave you to it, then. Sorry, Allie.”

“No problem.”

The door closed.

She choked on laughter.

Harper turned back to her, drew her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head. “I should have locked the door. I don’t bring women here. I’m not used to having to think about securing the premises.”

* * *

I don’t bring women here.

Allie was still thinking about that an hour later, standing in front of the bathroom mirror, ready to take a shower. Harper had to return to work. The judge had requested more information before the warrants could be issued.

But as Allie stepped under the warm spray, she wasn’t thinking about the judge. She was thinking about Harper.

I don’t bring women here.

Why her, then?

She stopped herself right there. She was not going to read too much into a few carelessly spoken words.

Don’t fall for him again. Don’t fall for him again. Don’t fall for him again.

Except if she stayed in his apartment with him, if they kept talking, and rediscovering each other, if he touched her again, shewouldfall. God, she was halfway there.

And then what? Stick around? Give up her life, her business for a quick affair? Absolutely not.

She needed to get out of here.

So she showered and dressed, wrote a brief note for Harper to thank him for everything and to let him know that she’d gone back to her room at the B and B, and then she hobbled down the stairs.

Up the street, around the corner, two blocks on Main Street. Doable. Allie’s progress was by no means fast, but the weather was all right outside, the sleet had stopped hours before, the sidewalks salted and dry. And when she walked through the B and B’s front door, Shannon greeted her with genuine warmth.

“Oh, my goodness, your beautiful face! Oh, it must hurt. I called Rose a little while ago to ask how you were doing with your foot, and she told me what happened with that man. I’m so glad to see you. How are you feeling? A cup of tea? I heard you were cleared in the murder. I never doubted for a second that you would be.”

“Yes, please, on the tea. And thank you for the vote of confidence.”

Shannon smiled. “I’m an innkeeper. My Henry always said innkeepers know people. Have to have a good radar in this occupation. You don’t want to let someone stay with you who’ll rob you in the night or worse.”

“I never thought about that.” Running a B and B seemed lovely and quaint, but Shannonwastaking a risk. “Have you ever turned anyone away?”

“Sure I have. If I get a bad vibe, they’re not sleeping here. I tell them the previous guest in the room had an emergency and had to stay on. I’ll refer them to one of the big chains that have overnight security.” She led Allie through the parlor to the dining room. “You pick a chair. I’ll bring the tea and cookies, I was just having some in the kitchen.”

“I don’t mind hanging out in the kitchen. You don’t need to set up out here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Kitchens are homier.”Were they?“I think. In the movies. Like when big families just sit around the kitchen table, talking. I always wanted to do that.”