Read Online Danger on the Mountain by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online
Authors: Lynette Eason
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location of the windows and the way the furniture was arranged. Then he moved on to the kitchen.
When he reached her office, he paused, wondering if he should ask permission to invade her space.
“Reese?”
At her quiet voice, he turned. The questioning look in her eyes had him flushing. “Hey.” He held up his notebook. “I’m making some notes.”
“On what?”
“On how to get you some security around here.” He nodded to her office. “Do you mind if I take a look?”
“No, I don’t mind. Go ahead.”
“You need a security system.” He looked at her. “I know they’re kind of expensive, but I’ll check with Eli and see if he knows someone who could give you a good deal along with excellent security.”
Maggie gave a slow nod. “You’re right. A security system would help me feel much safer.”
“Also, you need motion sensors outside. I can put those up later tonight after I finish my shift.” He could feel her eyes on him, watching him. He fidgeted, her fixed gaze making him a little uneasy. “What is it?”
“Why are you doing this? I don’t think most deputies would take such an...interest in a victim.”
But she wasn’t just a victim to him. She was—well, he wasn’t sure what she was to him yet, but it was more than a victim. “Because...I want to. Maybe it’s because I was in the bank with you.” Maybe it’s because he was attracted to her and was trying to figure out his confusion about that fact. But one thing was certain. “None of this is your fault, and you shouldn’t have to be afraid.”
She bit her lip and looked at the floor. “If he really wants to get to me, he will.”
Reese felt his jaw go tight. Reaching out, he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Don’t think like that. We’re going to do everything we can to keep you and Belle safe.”
He wondered if his determination to succeed in that was a matter of leftover guilt that he hadn’t been able to do anything for his wife or baby. His complete and total helplessness in the face of their deaths.
Probably.
But Maggie needed him, and he was going to be there for her.
Her eyes flickered and she swallowed hard as she gave a short nod. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay.” He walked past her into the master bedroom. His first thought was: peace. The room was tasteful, warm and feminine. She’d done the room with colors that reminded him of peaches and cream, and he suddenly felt like a blundering intruder. He made his notes fast from the door. She said, “The window is stuck. I’ve tried to get it open, but short of using a crowbar, I think it’s pretty secure.”
He gestured to it. “May I?”
She frowned, but nodded. “Sure.”
Reese walked over to the window and pushed the curtains aside. Two quick, sharp tugs and the window slid up.
Lightning flashed, the sound of rain pounding the earth filled his ears. Cold air rushed in, and he quickly shut the window. Over his shoulder, he said, “I think we’ll add this window to the list.”
She stared, the nonplussed expression on her face almost making him smile in spite of the reason for checking the window. “I guess I need to start working out,” she said.
Before he could stop the words, he heard himself saying, “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
She flushed and cleared her throat as she walked toward him, then past him and into the hall. “You’ve been in Belle’s room, so you know what it looks like.”
“I think I’ve got everything I need.” He paused. “I hate to ask this, but what kind of price range is doable for you?”
She tilted her head and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter—” Maggie paused, then sighed. “Why don’t you get me a couple of quotes, and I’ll pick one.”
Reese nodded. “I can do that.” And then he’d make up the difference if he had to. She was going to have whatever security system it took to keep her safe. And give him a little peace of mind.
* * *
Later that afternoon, after
When he reached her office, he paused, wondering if he should ask permission to invade her space.
“Reese?”
At her quiet voice, he turned. The questioning look in her eyes had him flushing. “Hey.” He held up his notebook. “I’m making some notes.”
“On what?”
“On how to get you some security around here.” He nodded to her office. “Do you mind if I take a look?”
“No, I don’t mind. Go ahead.”
“You need a security system.” He looked at her. “I know they’re kind of expensive, but I’ll check with Eli and see if he knows someone who could give you a good deal along with excellent security.”
Maggie gave a slow nod. “You’re right. A security system would help me feel much safer.”
“Also, you need motion sensors outside. I can put those up later tonight after I finish my shift.” He could feel her eyes on him, watching him. He fidgeted, her fixed gaze making him a little uneasy. “What is it?”
“Why are you doing this? I don’t think most deputies would take such an...interest in a victim.”
But she wasn’t just a victim to him. She was—well, he wasn’t sure what she was to him yet, but it was more than a victim. “Because...I want to. Maybe it’s because I was in the bank with you.” Maybe it’s because he was attracted to her and was trying to figure out his confusion about that fact. But one thing was certain. “None of this is your fault, and you shouldn’t have to be afraid.”
She bit her lip and looked at the floor. “If he really wants to get to me, he will.”
Reese felt his jaw go tight. Reaching out, he lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Don’t think like that. We’re going to do everything we can to keep you and Belle safe.”
He wondered if his determination to succeed in that was a matter of leftover guilt that he hadn’t been able to do anything for his wife or baby. His complete and total helplessness in the face of their deaths.
Probably.
But Maggie needed him, and he was going to be there for her.
Her eyes flickered and she swallowed hard as she gave a short nod. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay.” He walked past her into the master bedroom. His first thought was: peace. The room was tasteful, warm and feminine. She’d done the room with colors that reminded him of peaches and cream, and he suddenly felt like a blundering intruder. He made his notes fast from the door. She said, “The window is stuck. I’ve tried to get it open, but short of using a crowbar, I think it’s pretty secure.”
He gestured to it. “May I?”
She frowned, but nodded. “Sure.”
Reese walked over to the window and pushed the curtains aside. Two quick, sharp tugs and the window slid up.
Lightning flashed, the sound of rain pounding the earth filled his ears. Cold air rushed in, and he quickly shut the window. Over his shoulder, he said, “I think we’ll add this window to the list.”
She stared, the nonplussed expression on her face almost making him smile in spite of the reason for checking the window. “I guess I need to start working out,” she said.
Before he could stop the words, he heard himself saying, “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
She flushed and cleared her throat as she walked toward him, then past him and into the hall. “You’ve been in Belle’s room, so you know what it looks like.”
“I think I’ve got everything I need.” He paused. “I hate to ask this, but what kind of price range is doable for you?”
She tilted her head and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter—” Maggie paused, then sighed. “Why don’t you get me a couple of quotes, and I’ll pick one.”
Reese nodded. “I can do that.” And then he’d make up the difference if he had to. She was going to have whatever security system it took to keep her safe. And give him a little peace of mind.
* * *
Later that afternoon, after
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