The next day, Sara got up and got her and Ian ready as always. But when it came time to drop him off at school and then head to work, she felt frozen. She stood in the foyer, looking at the interior garage door, unable to move closer to it.
“Come on, Mommy.” Ian tugged at her hand, but she pulled it back, out of his grasp.
Saxton had been in the kitchen, drinking coffee and reading the paper. Now, he looked up and watched her. She met his eyes and swallowed hard.
“Want me to go with you?” he asked.
She nodded slowly, feeling her cheeks warm in embarrassment. He set down his coffee mug and walked over to her. He took the keys from her hand and opened the door. Ian ran over to the car. Saxton held out his hand, and Sara was finally able to move forward.
He stopped her as she walked near him and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be.”
“I just keep thinking how he came out of nowhere.”
“Do you have anything for protection? Pepper spray? Something?”
She shook her head. “I keep my gun in my bedside table. Maybe I should go home to get it.”
“Stay here.”
He went back into the house and she heard his footfall on the staircase, then again as he came back down. He turned her hand and placed a small handgun in it.
“You know how to use this, right?” he asked. “You’ve gone to a shooting range or something and actually learned how to shoot?”
“Yes. My brother taught me. I can throw knives, too.”
“Well, let’s just stick to firearms for now.”
“There’s no safety on this?” She looked at the gun more carefully. It was a little different than her revolver.
He took it from her and showed her how the slide at the top loaded the bullet. Then, he emptied the chamber and gave it back to her.
“Does that make you feel better?” he asked.
“A little.” She tucked the gun into her pocket, and its weight did give her some comfort.
“Let’s go.”
Sara got into the passenger seat and let Saxton drive her car. They dropped Ian off, then headed to the restaurant for her morning shift. Seeing the parking lot again where she’d been attacked made her break into a sweat.
“If you see him again, call me,” Saxton said. “Or anyone else who looks shady or worries you. Do not walk outside alone. I will come back to pick you up and I’ll come in to get you, okay?”
She nodded and swallowed hard.
“I’ll keep my phone on me all day. And while you’re working, I’ll try to find out who attacked you and why.”
“Be careful.”
“You too.”
She leaned over to kiss him before getting out of the car.
Sara’s shift did not go well. It seemed to drag on for hours longer than normal and many times, she made mistakes. Her mind was scrambled and she kept her gaze pinned on the door, waiting for Mr. Creepy or someone like him to walk in. More than once, she put in the wrong order, forgot a customization, and once, she let a table sit for over ten minutes waiting for their drink refills. Her service was reflected in her tips, and that made her stress out even more.
Mid-way through her shift, she looked up and saw a man walk through the door. Like every other time, her eyes went to his face to make a quick assessment. But this time, when her gaze skimmed over the dark eyes and hair, her heart leapt in joy instead of dread.
“What are you doing here? I’m not finished for another two hours,” she said.
Saxton shrugged and glanced around. “I thought I’d get lunch. Check the place out. See what’s going on.”
A smile stretched across her face. “I’m glad you’re here.” Her whole body relaxed in one breath. She felt instantly safe.
The hostess looked from Sara to Saxton. “Do you want me to seat him in your section?”
“Please,” Sara said. Then to Saxton, “I’ll be right over.”
She went to check on two of her tables, then hurried over to table six, where Saxton had been seated.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“What’s been going on? Anything new happening?”
“No. I’ve been watching the door. I haven’t seen that guy or anyone that seemed shady.”
“Good. You haven’t overheard anything? Gotten any strange calls on your phone?”
Sara took her phone from her pocket to check it. She normally couldn’t do that in front of customers, but this was a little different. There were no new calls or texts. “Nothing.”
“Good. I might have gotten some new info today. Not sure yet where it’s going to lead.”
“Okay… And this isn’t going to lead to another stabbing?”
“I hope not.”
Sara’s eyes went wide.
“I’m not bleeding at the moment or anything.” He winked.
“Okay… I guess that’s good. So long as nothing happens later.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Good. Are you going to eat anything?”
“What’s good?”
“Really almost everything.” She leaned in closer to whisper. “Except the salmon. We haven’t gotten it fresh in a few weeks.”
“How about just a burger?”
“I’ll put it in.”
Having Saxton there for the rest of her shift made everything different. She didn’t feel the need to watch the door as carefully, didn’t have the sense that someone was going to come in and attack her at any moment. She felt safe having him there. She liked it more than she should have.
When he’d finished eating and her shift ended, they walked together to the door.
“Wait here a minute,” he said.
She watched as he went to the parking lot, walked around a bit, searched over the car, then got in. He pulled up to front of the restaurant and motioned for her to come out. She got in and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d made it through her shift with no trouble.
“Now to get Ian?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her relief faded some. There was still a chance someone would go after him. Maybe she should call the school and warn them. Would she sound too crazy, or would it be crazier if something happened to him and she hadn’t called to warn them? “Do you think Ian is in danger?”
“I guess a little. If you were almost kidnapped, someone could turn to him next.”
Sara gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
“But I think it’s unlikely. I think he’s in danger only as far as any kid is in danger of being snatched. That stuff happens all the time.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
He glanced over and took in her expression. “Sorry. Don’t worry. I already have someone watching him.”
“You do?” Her words came out as a shocked whisper. She never expected him to do something like that.
“I know people all over. Including those who work in schools.”
“Thank you. I don’t even know what to say to that. I never thought…”
“You didn’t think I cared about him?”
“Well, I… I never really thought you had much reason to, I guess.”
“Really?” He shook his head. “So you think me saying I have feelings for you didn’t mean that I would be concerned about your son’s welfare?”
“Well, no. I didn’t. I didn’t think much about it at all. I’ve never done this, Saxton. I’ve never been in anything like a relationship since having Ian. If that’s what we’re even in now. I don’t know what this is.”
“Me either.”
Well, that cleared up nothing. It meant a great deal to her that he would send someone to watch after Ian, and that he clearly cared about him. She had friends who dated guys who cared about their kids like they were their own, but she also had friends who dated guys who saw their kids as nothing more than a nuisance. How was she to know which way Saxton would be? Now she had her proof. And that made her happy.
It was one thing for her to find someone. But whatever this ended up being with Saxton involved more than just her. She wasn’t looking for a date or a boyfriend or even a husband. She was looking for a future father for Ian as well. Anyone who became part of her life was part of his. And it was even more important that the man she chose treated Ian well than treated her well. If Saxton protected Ian like that, then maybe it was okay to start something with him.
But there was still the danger, and she couldn’t get past that. No matter how good Saxton was to her and Ian, he was still a criminal who made a living doing illegal business. That could mean jail. That could mean losing everything. If she married him and they lived together, then he was caught doing something, her and Ian could end up out on the street.
And if the legal problems weren’t enough, he had just been stabbed and was chasing a murderer. He might be killed or hurt again. And there was a strong possibility that she’d been almost kidnapped and almost hurt, and that possibly Ian could be too, all because of Saxton. How could she ever be okay with that? With a life of always watching her back, always worrying that she’d get call that Saxton was in the hospital? That was no way to live.
When they got to his school, Ian came bounding over to Sara, just as happy to see her as always. Once she had him in her arms, she could relax. But she had to work her second job tonight. And that meant leaving Ian all night. They’d already decided that he would stay with Saxton instead of Patty. She loved Patty, but didn’t want to put an added burden on her, and Saxton could protect him better if something happened.
They went back to Saxton’s and she got Ian started with his homework, then she went up to change. Saxton knocked on her door a moment later and opened it. She was in just a bra and panties, and his mouth pulled into a half smile.
“I came at just the right time,” he said.
She put her hand on her hip to pose for him. “Oh? Do you like what you see?” She laughed as she stepped into her skirt that was part of her uniform.
“I do.” He grinned mischievously. “I don’t want you to go to work tonight.”
“I don’t want to either, but I don’t have a choice.”
“Why?”
“Why? I have bills to pay. And I’m scheduled. They need me.”
“They can make do without you.” He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He was at her side and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “I’ll cover your bills.”
“No, no. You’ve given me too much already. I can’t let you do that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He kissed along her neck, then whispered in her ear, “I didn’t mean for it to sound like a request. Let me be more clear. Call off. You work too much, and I don’t like it.”
She stepped away from him, pulling from his grip. “You can’t just start ordering me around like that. You don’t get to say what you don’t like about my life, then just demand that I change it. I’m not going to play that game.”
“Game?” He crossed his arms. “You want to drive to work and be there alone, without my protection into the late night hours? You’re done at what, 11? You think that’s a perfectly safe hour, do you?”
She gulped. “No. I thought you would come get me, though.”
“I will. But I can’t be there during your whole shift. Unless you want me to sit there with Ian. If I’m going to keep him safe, we need to stay here. And if I’m going to keep you safe, I need you to stay here, too. And if that means I need to give you a little money to cover what you’re missing, then fine. I have more money than I know what to do with half the time anyway.”
She couldn’t imagine what that must be like. The idea of it made her sick. So did thinking of where all that money came from. But she couldn’t deny his reasoning. She didn’t want to be there alone, or have him bring Ian to her work. And this wasn’t the nicest restaurant or located in the best part of the city.
“Fine,” she said. “But you will not order me around. If I miss work, it’s my call. Got it?”
“Fine. So long as you stop babying me and treating me like an invalid.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I haven’t done that for days. Especially not after last night.”
“Let’s keep it that way then.”
“Fine.”
They glared at each other for a moment, then he stepped forward and kissed her hard.