Page 10 of Kiss of Deceit

I finally made it to my front door, and I quickly went inside, not taking the time to turn on a light. After tossing my jacket on the armrest of the couch, I stripped off my shirt as I went into the laundry room. Taking the panties out of my jeans pockets, I stared at them for a long second before tossing them on the counter. I pulled my pants off, and lifted the washing machine lid, tossing my clothes in while only staying in my boxers.

After starting the load of clothes, I trudged to the fridge, grabbing my favorite whiskey and pouring a glass. I usually didn’t drink after work but tonight was an exception. I finished the glass in three swigs before heading upstairs to the bathroom. It was nearly pitch black, but I’d lived here ever since moving to Winterlake and knew this place like the back of my hand.

When I got to the top of the stairs, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye a second too late. My body went rigid when someone slammed into my side, sending me to the floor.I landed on my hip, the carpet barely cushioning my fall. I managed to grab some part of the attacker, taking him down with me. Pain flared across my ribs when he kicked at me, and I rolled away, trying to see better in the dark. My muscles tensed as I got ready to fight back until I heard muffled steps on the stairs.

“I don’t fucking think so,” I muttered, racing toward the steps. Some asshole wasn’t getting away after breaking into my house.

I took the steps two at a time, hearing the front door click as it opened. My feet landed on the hardwood, and in two strides I was close enough to slam him into the door, trapping him and knocking it closed at the same time.

“The police will be cleaning up a crime scene tonight,” I growled. “You thought you could fuck with me?”

“Get off me.”

I went still, the voice shocking the hell out of me. Because it wasn’t a man. That voice was definitely a woman. I grunted when she slammed her knee into my gut before shoving me back. I caught her arm, yanking her back into the door, and grabbing her other wrist when she attempted to swing at me again.

“I’ll kill you if you don’t let me go,” she snarled.

This time, I recognized the voice, and I swallowed my shock as I let go of one of her arms and reached beside her to flip on the light. She twisted her other wrist in a practiced move, slipping out of my hold. Brightness engulfed the room, and I blinked a few times before spinning around and focusing on her. She was already halfway in the living room, her body already poised to attack again.

She met my eyes, her jaw dropping when she realized it was me. Suspicion covered her features, and she took another step back. All she was wearing was an oversized t-shirt with shortspeeking out from underneath them. I didn’t know why the hell she wanted the lights to stay off in the pantry because she looked fucking amazing.

“Stalking me?” she hissed. “What the fuck are you doing in my house? Practically naked?”

It was then I remembered I was only in my boxers, and I crossed my arms. “Your house? This is my damn house. It has been for the past five years.”

The look on her face proved she didn’t believe me. I sighed, wondering how the hell the intern program fucked this up. I’d never had a roommate before because I always declined when they looked for volunteers. Houses here were hard to come by, so a lot of interns would room with residents for the year.

“There’s been a mistake,” I explained slowly, backing up toward the staircase.

“Where are you going?”

“To make a call.”

“Go outside and make it,” she demanded. “You’re not staying in here.”

“This entire town is a dead zone. Cell phones don’t work here. I need to go upstairs and use the housephone.”

My heart was still racing, but I was trying to stay calm because it was obvious she was close to her breaking point. She thought I’d fucking followed her home, and I didn’t need that rumor going around town. I climbed the stairs, glancing over the banister to see she was still in the living room. She was watching my every move with a calculating glare, but her body relaxed slightly the farther away I got. I scrubbed a hand down my face, striding to my desk and picking up the phone, dialing the number.

“Sheriff’s desk,” he answered after two rings.

“Harry, get your ass to my house,” I said gruffly. “And bring Fiona.”

“Why?” Harry asked, sounding annoyed. “It’s three in the morning, Kole?—”

“Fiona will know what the hell I’m talking about.”

I hung up before he could argue, and I snatched the key from the drawer in the desk to unlock my bedroom door. I grabbed a shirt and some sweatpants, quickly getting dressed before heading back downstairs. She was now in the kitchen with a knife in her hand. I leaned against the front door, sliding my hands in my pockets. I had no doubt that she would stab me if I tried to get closer. It was written all over her face. Add that to the moves she used on me, I knew she could hold her own. Her eyes trailed down the clothes I’d put on, and her lips pursed.

“Told you this was my place,” I said with a shrug. “How else would I have clothes here?”

She didn’t answer, staying behind the kitchen counter. Tense silence fell over the room, neither of us speaking as the minutes ticked by. Until she finally broke it.

“If you live here alone, then why is your bedroom door locked?” she bit out.

I arched an eyebrow. “You tried going into my room?”

Voices got louder from outside the door, and I turned, ripping open the door to see Fiona’s hand raised as she got ready to knock.