Molly
We head back to our apartment building. Jamie links his arm through mine, but I’m not sure which of us is supporting the other. Beth and her bodyguard take up the rear. After all the commotion, Beth introduced me to Miguel Rodriguez, who’s filling in for Sam, who’s still in the hospital and won’t be returning to work any time soon. The handsome young Hispanic seems hyper-aware as he surveys the sidewalk. I imagine he’s watching for Todd.
There’s an Uber car waiting for Beth and Miguel near the curb in front of our apartment building.
Beth says her good-byes, hugging first Jamie and then me. “I’m so glad you’re all right,” she whispers in my ear. “If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know, okay?”
After Miguel and Beth drive away, Jamie and I head inside and climb the stairs to our floor.
Jamie walks me to my door. “Can I come in?” he says. “We need to talk.”
My pulse picks up. I’m still reeling from my run-in with Todd, and I’m not sure I can handle a serious conversation right now. “Okay.”
I unlock my door with shaking hands and push it open. Fortunately, Charlie’s there waiting for me, purring and rubbing against my leg. That’s a good sign. It means I don’t have any unwanted visitors in my apartment. Jamie follows me inside.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I ask him, mostly because I’m nervous and want to stall for time. I’m not sure what Jamie wants to discuss.
“No, thanks.” He holds his free hand out toward me, palm up, and I lay my hand in his. Then he intertwines our fingers. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. He just scared me, that’s all.”
Jamie makes a scoffing sound. “Molly, he had his hand around your throat. I was serious about filing a police report. He violated your restraining order, and you need to report him. You have three witnesses to back you up.”
I know he’s right, but I dread getting the police involved. It’s just going to make things worse. “All right.”
He smiles, then leans down and kisses my forehead. “Call the police. I’ll wait here with you.”
The feel of his lips on my forehead sends a warm shiver down my spine. He has no idea of the effect he has on me. When I’m near him, my body comes alive. Dormant nerve endings awaken and beg for more contact.
I look up into his handsome face, at those sensuous lips. His glasses make him sexy and mysterious, but they’re still a barrier between us. I feel like I can’t see the real Jamie – all of him. “Take your glasses off,” I whisper.
For a moment, he looks indecisive, almost vulnerable. Then he removes his glasses and hooks them on the neck of his shirt. He blinks and smiles. “Better?”
I return his smile, but of course he can’t see that. So I have to communicate through words, as I can’t rely on him reading my body language. I reach up and touch the side of his face. “When you wear your glasses, I feel like I can’t see you. It feels like there’s a barrier between us.”
He closes his eyelids and I run the tip of my index finger gently across his right eyelid. “Your eyes are beautiful.”
He chuckles. “They’re artificial.”
“Yes, but you told me they look just like the eyes you were born with, and they’re beautiful. You don’t need to hide them.”
He opens his eyes and blinks. “How about a compromise? I’ll take them off when it’s just the two of us. Okay?”
“Okay.” I’m touched that he’s willing to do that much for me.
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “It’s time to call the police.”
* * *
A half hour later, the intercom in my apartment buzzes, announcing the arrival of visitors downstairs. When I confirm their identity using the live video feed into my apartment – courtesy of the building’s newly updated security system – I buzz them into the building. A few minutes later, there’s a brisk knock on my apartment door. A quick glance through the peep hole reveals two uniformed officers, both young women, standing at the door.
“Thanks for coming,” I say, after opening my door and inviting them in.
After introductions are made, I take a seat on the sofa beside Jamie. One of the officers sits in an armchair, and the other insists on standing. I notice Jamie had slipped on his glasses when I answered the door. When Officer O’Grady, a petite brunette, asks me what the problem is, I tell her. Jamie reaches for my hand, linking our fingers in silent support.
My voice shakes as I describe what happened today in the studio… how Todd came in through an unlocked back door, how he threatened me and cornered me, his fingers squeezing my throat and cutting off my air supply for a few seconds. I don’t know what might have happened if Jamie and Beth and Miguel hadn’t appeared when they did.
Officer Sherman, a tall woman with French-braided ash blonde hair, takes detailed notes as Officer O’Grady follows up with additional questions.
“There were witnesses?” she says.
“Yes,” Jamie says. “There were three of us who walked in on Ferguson’s assault on Molly. I was there, plus two others. I know the other two will be happy to provide statements.”
Officer Sherman takes down contact information for Jamie, Beth, and Miguel.
“So, what happens next?” I ask when they say they have all the information they need.
“Mr. Ferguson will be arrested and charged with violating the restraining order,” the officer says. “He’ll likely face additional charges pertaining to assault, depending on what the D.A. finds.”
The entire interview is over in less than an hour, and I get up to walk the two officers to the door.
“Thank you,” I say, letting them out.
After locking up, I head back to the sofa and drop down beside Jamie.
He squeezes my hand. “You’re shaking.”
My nerves are overwrought, and I feel sick. “I’m worried about how Todd will react when they arrest him. He’s going to be furious.” He was furious when I got the restraining order – I can’t even imagine how he’ll react when he’s arrested.
“Todd is responsible for his actions, Molly, not you. He should have considered the consequences before he put his hands on you today. Do you have an attorney?”
“Yes. I had to get one to obtain the restraining order.”
“Shane has a really good attorney, Troy Spencer. I could talk to Troy about your situation, see what can be done.”
“I would appreciate that.” My gaze drops to Jamie’s fingers, which are linked with mine. His fingers are much longer than mine. Like everything about him, they’re so masculine. Mine are smaller and pale in comparison, my skin soft. Male and female, ying and yang.
My eye is drawn to the veins on the back of his hand, along with a few freckles. I swallow, imagining those hands on my body, touching me, exploring.
Sitting with him like this, I feel safe for the first time since Todd barged into my studio earlier. Right here, shut away from the rest of the world, nothing can touch me.
I stroke the back of Jamie’s hand with mine, following the path of a vein as it meanders the length of his hand. The contrast between his body and mine fascinates me.
“Molly?” His voice is low and a little rough.
I try to speak, but I can’t manage a coherent thought right now. “Hmm?”
He still has his glasses on, and I wish he’d take them off so I could see all of him. He must be reading my mind because he removes them abruptly and lays them on the coffee table. He closes his eyelids, though, reminding me that I’m not the only one with insecurities.
Shifting to face me, he skims a hand up my arm, following the line of my shoulder to my face. His fingers slip behind to the nape of my neck and burrow into my hair. He leans closer, pressing his forehead to mine, and simply holds that position.
I relax into him, enjoying the contact. I close my own eyes to experience a bit of the world as he does. Even in the dark like this, there’s a sense of connection between us. Not just the physical connection of our foreheads touching, or the soft brush of our exhalations, but a different kind of connection, something intangible. In the dark like this, there’s just the two of us, and it’s easy to block out the rest of the world.
When his fingers begin to massage my neck muscles, I moan with pleasure. Without a word, he tilts his head and kisses my left temple. I savor the gentle contact, and his lips brush over my eyelids, dropping little kisses. The stress of the afternoon catches up with me, and my mind and body crash.
Jamie shifts position on the sofa, leaning back against the cushions, and pulls me into his arms. “Just rest,” he murmurs, his lips in my hair. “Close your eyes and relax.”
I lean against his chest, savoring the warmth and the strength of his body. I’ll let myself rely on him, just for a few minutes, before I have to get up again and face the world.