Page 38 of Stripping Bare

No time for a mini-breakdown, so getmoving.

She scooped up a handful of personal items and dropped them into a small train case she stored in her linen closet. When she returned to her bedroom, Badger’s overnight supplies were sitting on the bed and Jonah was working his phone with his thumbs, so fast they blurred in front ofher.

The man seriously had bionicthumbs

“What are you doing?” she askedhim.

“Texting with my cousin the sheriff. Maggie’s going to give the Asheville police a call to have them come out to take a look at this and talk with the buildingmanager.”

A heavy feeling invaded her chest. That meant they would have to stay here for hours. And for some reason, that bubble bath in her own tub didn’t feel so appealing right now. “You said you thought kids werejust—”

“I said maybe. But it doesn’t feel right.” He looked up from his speed texting, and his eyes were bright and sharp. Pissed off. “We’re not going to downplay this. Not after the hackingdeal.”

“You think the two incidents are related?” Her client files and the message on her wall didn’t seem to have anything incommon.

“I’m not much of a believer in coincidences.” He glanced back down at his phone and gave a grunt of satisfaction. “Grab your dog and his stuff. I’ll get your bag. We’re outtahere.”

“What about thepolice?”

“They can get access from the building manager after they question him up and down about who else he might’ve given a key. If the police need to talk with us, they can wait untiltomorrow.”

“Before you called earlier, I’d planned to contact the Asheville police about my files being hacked. I need to talk withthem.”

“I’ll find this hacker my own damn self. I can do it faster than they can. Once we have something to go on, we can fill them in.” He took the train case from her, then draped the garment bag over the same arm so he could take herhand.

“What about all the things you said earlier today? You had every right to be angry with me. What I did was unprofessional at best and unforgivable at worst. Jonah, I’msorry.”

“That doesn’t matter now,” he saidgruffly.

“How can you saythat?”

He swiped a hand over his face, emphasizing just how tired he looked. “Look, it’s not like you printed massive copies of your assessment of my mental state and handed them out like pizza coupons. It’s done. Neither of us can do anything about the fact that someone dug around in your files. But I can help you find the person who didit.”

“So now, after someone defaced my wall, you’re willing to helpme?”

“Look, I was an asshole this morning. But if you want to ream me for it, can it wait until we get out ofhere?”

“I don’t want toreamyou. I want to say thankyou.”

“Don’t look at me likethat.”

“Likewhat?”

“Like I’m some kind ofhero.”

Outside, Jonah stowed her bags in the backseat and took Badger’s kennel and bag from her. He placed them in the floorboard behind the driver’s seat. “So you can seehim.”

That one detail. One thoughtful act almost broke her cool. “Thanks.” She opened her own door and slid inside before he could see she was struggling to contain heremotions.

Once he had the car in drive and had pulled out, Jonah reached for her hand. “Youokay?”

Tessa swallowed, trying to clear the choked-up feeling. “Thanks for doing all this. I’m sure you didn’t count on houseguests, especially adog.”

“Hell, Badger’s smaller than some of my remote controls. Not like he’ll take up much space.” Jonah’s grin was strained around the edges, but it was genuine. “Besides, Tessa, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep yousafe.”

Jonah rubbed his eyes.After hours of staring at his bank of computer screens, he’d hit one dead end after another, trying to trace the scum-wad who’d gone digging around in Tessa’s files. Maybe a cup of coffee would kick-start himagain.

He’d make a cup and then spend an hour on the app development project. Maybe changing gears would spark an idea about this damnhacker.