Chapter 14

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What was wrong with her?

Heidi paced the living room of Glen's house. She looked at the clock on his wall. She'd been treading his carpet for the last hour waiting for him to return from work. He was late.

Normally, she wouldn't care or even know, because Glen wasn't a part of her life, but he'd left a message on her pillow with two words.

Please stay.

Every time she tried to walk to the door and leave, she stopped.

It wasn't because she was safe in a house and could hide from the mess she'd made of her life. It wasn't because there was a fridge full of food tempting her to eat. It wasn't even the cat, who'd spent the better part of the day putting up with her cuddles and listening to her debate the stupidity of relying on a man.

It was because Glen sat with her all night.

He'd sat beside the bed on the floor, back pressed against the mattress and with his arms crossed, his chin on his chest, and he'd held sentry while he'd slept. Like a knight in shining armor that vowed to protect her from an unknown enemy, he'd guarded her.

By his actions, she'd realized he thought she was asleep. She'd only rested, highly aware of him near her.

Then, he'd called on the phone he'd left on the kitchen counter when she hurried downstairs after waking up. She hadn't answered but read his name on the caller ID. Throughout the day, he'd called ten more times, and she finally answered the phone. Glen had informed her he'd be home at ten after four this afternoon and the phone she'd held in her hand was hers to use. A gift.

He informed her that if she needed him for anything, she was to call the number he'd already put on the phone. The only number she had.

Now, he was late, and she feared Evan had found him, through her. She'd had a whole story planned out to tell him, and now she was scared he wouldn't return. What was she supposed to do? What if she never got to see him again?

A low rumble filled the quiet house. She hurried to the window and peeked out behind the curtains. Her relief at seeing Glen in the driveway brought a sob from her that defied everything she believed in.

The front entrance handle rattled, the lock turned, the door came open, and Glen entered the house whistling. She witnessed him searching for her and felt the need he had for her to be at his home.

She stepped forward into his view wanting to bring him relief the way he had her. She couldn't understand why they both leaned toward each other or why she hadn't left, but right now, she was okay.

Glen dropped his helmet and gloves on the floor. His lip twitched. She wanted to smooth the corner of his mouth.

"Hey," he said softly.

Her rehearsed speech forgotten. From the heart, she said, "I'd like to stay here...just a few days, until I can figure out what to do with my life. That's if you don't mind. If you do, I totally understand."

"You can stay." He stepped toward her and slipped his fingers into hers, and brought her hand to his chest.

Glen pressed her hand flat, making her feel the beat of his heart. She moistened her lips at the way her heartbeat accelerated to match his. It was easy for her to let him take the lead. It was as if he read her mind and knew want she needed. That grounding herself to him, she felt the connection. Two years of running, distancing herself from those she loved, on guard with those she had to trust in the same predicament, and she'd never once let herself depend on anyone.

Until now.

"Have you eaten?" he asked.

She shook her head. Though he'd told her to while on the phone, her stomach wouldn't allow it. Not until she talked with him again.

He moved away from her and stepped into the kitchen. "I've got a pouch of frozen pasta and some frozen vegetables I can throw together. I'll heat it up for us."

She followed him and stood in the dining room adjacent to the kitchen. "Glen, I'm not a bad person."

He put the skillet on the stove. "I knew that when I met you, and over the last several days, I've got a pretty good idea what you're doing."

Her inability to draw enough air into her lungs made her lightheaded. She hung onto the counter between them. Whatever he imagined going on was probably nowhere near the reality.

"Wh-what do you...?" She raised her hand and cupped her neck. Did she even want to know what he thought of her circumstances?

"You're scared." Glen put the frozen pasta in the skillet and dumped the vegetables in and turned around. "When you feel strong, you have an attitude. When you feel threatened, you shut down. The thing is, I think the attitude is a way for you to hide. The way you look at me tells me a man is behind all that fear of yours. That pisses me off."

She looked away. Two years of wishing someone, anyone, would reach out their hand and tell her everything would be okay, and Glen was here offering more than a hand. He was the real deal. The kind of man all girls dream about before they even know what is important.

And, she didn't know what to do with him.

"Hey," He walked over to her and cupped her face. "I've never gone out of my way to hurt a woman with my words or raised my hand to a female. You're safe here. Not only that, you've got the security of knowing Notus Motorcycle Club will protect you."

"Why would they do that for me?" she whispered.

"A long time ago, when we were all around twenty years old, Thad's younger sister was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered. It's not something I'd wish on any woman...or man." He turned and went to the stove, stirring the pasta. "We've made it part of what we do as a motorcycle club to find missing persons. There are a thousand different reasons why someone would come up missing."

Her parents could have reported her missing. She swallowed. Glen could know her by her real name.

It all depended on what story Evan gave her mom and dad, and what kind of mood he was in when he found her gone. Not knowing broke her heart, knowing she put her parents through the pain of losing her. But, they were alive. They were safe because she ran.

"What I've learned is there are four reasons why someone up and leaves their life." He turned, carrying the skillet, and filled two bowls in front of her.

She exhaled slowly, calming her panic. "What are the reasons?"

He plunked a fork in each bowl and motioned for her to eat. After he took a bite and swallowed, he said, "A person can be forced away by abduction. Some people drift away, and family and friends lose contact with them. A lot of older people have..." He tapped the side of his head with his finger. "Mental problems and medical problems. Sometimes they don't even know they're missing. The other kind of missing person is the one who decided to leave. They just up and run away. Then, there are those who are escaping a personal problem."

Her fork hovered above the bowl. "And, you think I...?"

"You escaped." His gaze softened. "I'd bet my bike on it, Blue. The only thing I'd like to know tonight is if you're married. The rest we'll deal with later or never, it'll be up to you."

"Why do you want to know if I’m married?"

He finished chewing, and his lip twitched. "Cause when you finally let down your shield, and I take you to bed, I want to know that you're mine and you don't belong to some other guy."

Her jaw opened.

"That's enough talking." He pointed to her bowl. "Eat up."

She hadn't said anything. He'd done all the talking for both of them.

Glen leaned over the counter, stuck his fork in her pasta bowl, and lifted a bite to her mouth, and dumped the food in. She shut her mouth to keep from losing the food and chewed.

Her stomach warmed in comfort. Whether that was from the food or Glen's declaration that someday they'd have sex, she couldn't tell.