“Where are we?” Norah felt the car come to a stop.

“Outside of Chelon,” Gerry said, and turned the engine off. “It’s safe now, we’re inside the garage.”

Norah and Harley sat up and got out of the car. The garage was a small single-car, but well organized.

“Come on in, I’ll show you around.” Gerry opened a door and they followed him. He turned on lights and Norah stood awestruck staring at the adorable cottage. The living area was open and boasted a large fireplace and a single couch that was parallel to it. There were very few windows, something Gerry had done for security reasons, she assumed.

Various paintings were arranged on the walls, and after a closer examination, she saw Gerry’s name signed at the bottom.

“You painted these?”

“I did.” She heard the pride in his voice.

“They are fantastic.”

“Thank you. I used to watch a lot of Bob Ross,” he said with a wink. “If you know who that is.”

“I do, actually.” She laughed at his reference to the painter/TV host.

She wandered into the small kitchen and ran her fingertips over the granite countertops.

“This place is beautiful, Gerry.”

“Don’t compliment me on that one, the design was all Harley’s. He gave me very detailed instructions.”

“Not this detailed,” Harley replied, pointing to the gorgeous wine bottle chandelier that hung from the ceiling over a small island.

“Some of it I took upon myself, I suppose,” Gerry joked. “It’s a two-bedroom, but the other room is currently set up as a gym. The couch is a pullout, though.”

“I can sleep there,” Norah said simply. She didn’t mind the comfortable-looking couch.

“No, I will. The bedroom is safer,” Harley countered.

“Come on, Norah, I’ll show you to it,” Gerry offered before she could argue, so she followed him to one of only two doors off the main living room.

The bedroom was small, and the windows had shutters over them that only opened from the inside. The small closet held a bunch of clothes she assumed Gerry had hung for Harley.

The soft gray of the walls was calming, and a complete opposite from the bright red comforter.

“I added that as a surprise.” Gerry winked at her. The man liked his color.

“Nice comforter,” Harley said, amused, as he entered the bedroom. “The place is great, Gerry. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I didn’t mind at all, gave me something to do. There are entries to the hidden cellar here,” he pointed to the back of the closet, and as Norah leaned closer she saw it was a hidden panel she never would have noticed. “And through the hall closet as well.”

Harley nodded. “Perfect.”

“I will be up next week to bring you all some more groceries. I grabbed some necessities when I was at the store earlier, so I’ll toss them in the fridge and be on my way.”

“Thank you.”

“Not a problem at all, my dear.” He patted her shoulder. “I best be going, I’ll put the stuff in the outside fridge, you just bring it in when you’re ready. You two stay safe.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Harley walked towards the door with Gerry.

“I’m going to take a shower, if that’s all right?” Norah asked as they left the room.

“Sure. I put some clothes in there.”

“Thanks, Harley.” He nodded and followed Gerry into the garage.

“You keep that one safe.” Gerry unloaded the grocery bags into the fridge and then turned to face Harley.

“I plan to.”

“I know you do, boy. She’s a good one.”

“She’s nice.”

“Pshh.” Gerry dismissed him. “More than nice. She has a heart as beautiful as she is. Perhaps you two can heal each other.” He winked, and Harley smiled.

“It’s not like that, Gerry, I told you what happened to her with her ex and what happened when we went to see Tom.”

“What almost happened,” he pointed out. “You saved her.”

“We are only together now because it’s the only way to stay safe. Once this is all over she will return to her life, or start a new one, I imagine.”

“And just why can’t you be a part of that new one, Harley?”

“It just can’t work,” he insisted. Had the man lost his mind?

Gerry pulled him in for a hug and then patted his arm. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Harley. You are a good man and you deserve to be happy.”

“We’ll probably remain friends.” He let out a breath. “It would complicate things to much if I acted on how I’m feeling.”

“Oh, bull crap. Don’t be a fool, Harley, love doesn’t complicate things. It’s what makes everything else worth fighting for.”

“Love? I don’t even know if I like her.”

Gerry regarded him, an amused expression on his face. “You definitely like her, Harley. It’s all over your face. I’m just surprised she hasn’t noticed it yet.” Gerry climbed into this car and reached for the garage button. “Better head on inside to be safe.”

When Harley nodded and turned, Gerry said, “Harley?”

“Yeah?”

“Weapons and ammunition are in the cellar.”

Harley nodded. “Thanks again, Gerry. For everything.”

“You can thank me by keeping you both safe.”

“I will.” Harley closed the door behind him and he heard the garage door open and shut.

The clock read three a.m., and for the first time since he had walked into Tom’s office, Harley felt his blood pressure begin to lower. He knew they would be safe here; he had never told anyone of this place or Gerry, and believed he had covered his tracks. They could stay put for as long as they needed to before he figured out what their next step was. Part of him wanted to hide here forever. But just when that sounded like a solid plan, he thought back to the lives Matthews’s organization had taken. The entire operation had to be stopped. There was just no way around it.

It didn’t make any sense why Tom would be working with him. With Clayton Matthews dead now, wouldn’t that have cleared the slate for him? Why go after Norah? He had to have known she didn’t have any knowledge about what Matthews had been doing. So why take her?

Had Tom been the one to order the hit on Matthews? Or had that just been a coincidence? Had it all been because he had finally determined the identity of Matthews and Tom had been worried his name might be leaked?

Harley leaned against the counter. All these damn questions and not a single answer. He had come to the conclusion that he could trust Norah at dinner earlier that night. There was no reason not to; even before he had met her he hadn’t truly believed she was a part of Matthews organization. There was just no evidence against her.

Norah. Just the thought of her name brought things to mind that he had no business thinking. Like how she was naked right now, probably soapy. Dammit, Harley! he scolded himself. He had to get his shit together for both their sakes. He looked towards the bathroom. She had left the door slightly cracked, just enough that he could see light coming from inside and hear the shower easily. Would she push him away if he went for her?

The lust was pushed aside by pure terror as Norah screamed. He was in the bathroom with his gun drawn in seconds. He ripped the shower curtain from the bar and pulled Norah out and behind him before he realized why she had screamed. Without looking back at her, he handed her a towel and gave her time to cover up before he turned around.

She had covered her mouth with one hand, while the other clutched the towel around her. Her face was flushed, her hair dripping, and she was trying unsuccessfully to bite back a laugh.

“A spider? You screamed like that over a damn spider?” He should be mad, he thought as he looked at the insect who was probably more afraid of her than she was of it. She had scared the crap out of him and he had ripped a perfectly good shower curtain down because of it. But he just couldn’t summon the anger. She looked so damn cute. A laugh burst from him, and before he knew it they were both laughing hysterically while the spider no doubt scurried away, afraid the craziness was contagious.

“It scared me,” she said softly, her laugh turning to a smile. “Sorry I freaked you out.” She dropped her face and stared down at her feet. “Guess I overreacted.”

“You overreacted? I tore the curtain down and pulled a naked woman out of the shower over a spider.”

“True, shame on you.” She giggled. It felt so good to not be afraid of how he might react.

“Yeah, shame on me,” he repeated, and stared into her soft eyes. He wanted so badly to touch her. To reach out and pull her into his arms to slow his pounding heart. Although based on his attraction to her, that would probably only result in it speeding back up.

He did his best to put the shower curtain back up and then turned to her. “Finish your shower.”

“Thanks, Harley.”

“You’re welcome, Norah.”

“Harley?” she asked as he turned to leave.

“Yeah?” He stopped and faced her. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him. He stood for a moment, eyes wide before he returned the hug.

“Thank you for saving me from that mean spider.”

He laughed. “You’re welcome. If he comes back, tell him I’m coming for him.”

Norah laughed and released him. Her towel slid down slightly, revealing some delicious-looking cleavage. He turned to leave before he did something they both might regret.

---

NORAH STOOD UNDER the spray for as long as she could stand it. The heat and soap had done a good job washing away the events of the last day. She laughed to herself as the image of Harley bursting heroically through the door to rescue her from a spider came to mind. True, she felt bad for screaming like that with everything else going on. She hadn’t thought about it; the damn thing had landed on her and she had always hated spiders.

She turned the spray off and stepped out of the shower, pulling on the sweatshirt and yoga pants Harley had set out for her. He had arranged for Gerry to pick her up quite a few outfits, and she was impressed when they had all been her size.

She pulled the door the rest of the way open and stood to study Harley, who was busy making the pullout couch into a bed. He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt from earlier, and watching the way his muscles bunched underneath the dark fabric had her mouth nearly watering. How did he have such an effect on her? She had not once felt this way before. Even with Clayton, it hadn’t gone past base attraction. The way she felt towards Harley seemed more primal.

Harley turned to face her and his eyes widened slightly. Was it possible he felt it too?

“You can have the shower now.”

“Any more visits from the perverted spider?”

“Nope, seems you scared him away.”

“Good.” Harley smiled at her.

“I finally got out of that damn dress.”

“I see that. I’m glad.”

“I’m going to shove it in the trash can so I never have to see it again.” She looked down at the balled-up gown in her hands.

“Seems like a good plan.”

She nodded, and tears filled her eyes.

“Norah.” Harley crossed towards her and pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t think it’s all hit me yet. Everything that happened at my apartment and then at Hewitt and Hewitt.”

“It’s a lot.” He rubbed her back as she leaned against him.

When she pulled away, Norah felt the chill from not being in Harley’s embrace.

“Would you mind sleeping in there with me? I’m scared, and with you nearby I don’t feel so alone.” She looked down at the floor, afraid to see his eyes. Would he be disgusted? Angry with her for asking? She had asked Clayton to share her bed once, not for sex, but just because she was lonely, and he had gotten angry and told her she was trying to tempt him.

Norah felt fingers under her chin and looked up into Harley’s soft eyes. “I will. Let me get a shower and I’ll be in afterwards.”

She nodded and headed for the pulled-out couch. She could wait here for him. Norah leaned back against the pillows. Damn, she was tired. How was she still tired after taking two naps? The shower turned on, and the white noise was enough to have her giving in and closing her eyes.

---

TEN MINUTES LATER, Harley came out to see Norah sleeping on the pullout couch. He couldn’t help but be amused. Seems she needed sleep, he couldn’t blame her after everything she’d been through. He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Once he had her tucked under the blankets, he stood staring at the empty space he was supposed to occupy.

This was going to be torture, he thought to himself. To lie so close to her, but not be able to touch her. Still, it was better than sleeping on the couch, so he climbed into bed and rolled to his side to face the wall.

It was going to be a long night.