92 Pacific Boulevard - Debbie Macomber [43]
“Did you get a real security system?” he snapped.
That she hadn’t done. This was a rental house and she had a six-month lease. She hoped to buy a home within the next few months. It seemed a waste of time and money to invest in a security system when she didn’t intend to live here much longer. And she didn’t feel an alarm system was the landlord’s responsibility.
“No,” she admitted.
“Then I recommend you do so.”
Faith nodded.
Troy turned to leave again.
Frightened, she didn’t want to be alone, but she didn’t know how to stop him. “Why are you so angry?” she cried out.
Troy’s back was to her. He held himself stiff, and then she saw his shoulders deflate as he faced her. He didn’t seem to have an answer.
“It was wrong of me to call you. I apologize, I really do.” She didn’t remind him that he’d been the one to make that suggestion. It had stayed there, in her mind, like a thorn caught on a piece of fabric. In her weakened state she’d done what she’d wanted to all along and now regretted it.
Still Troy didn’t speak, didn’t move or give even a hint that he’d heard her.
“I realize I shouldn’t have…”
He accepted her answer with a curt nod. “You’ve made it plain you don’t want me in your life.”
Heat rose in her cheeks, embarrassing her even more. “Yes, I know. I—”
“Then why, when you felt you were in danger, did you reach out to me?”
He was obviously determined to make this difficult. She told him the truth, since she couldn’t come up with any other explanation. “I feel safe with you.”
He glared across the room at her.
It felt awkward to be sitting while he loomed over her, even if he was on the other side of the room. Faith stood abruptly. She hated to let him see how upset she was by this latest disturbance.
“I need some coffee,” she said, knowing there was no point in going back to bed now. “Would you like some, Troy?” she asked, refusing to allow his anger to affect her.
“No.”
It didn’t sound as if he meant that, so she proceeded into the kitchen, immeasurably pleased when he came, too, a few paces behind her.
“I have the names of a couple of companies who install security systems,” he said. “I’ll have Megan pass them on to you.”
Faith continued to prepare the coffee. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you, Troy.”
He seemed on the verge of leaving again. She resisted the urge to stop him, although she didn’t want to be alone. No, it was more than that. She wanted Troy with her. She needed him.
“I saw the TV report about the cave and the skeleton on that Seattle station,” she said conversationally. “I hear everyone in the area’s talking about it. I hope all this media attention hasn’t caused your office any problems.” The reporter had started all kinds of speculation, and as a result Kitsap County seemed to be alive with rumors, some of them pretty ridiculous.
Troy didn’t answer, but he didn’t walk away, either.
She glanced over at him, waiting for a response.
“Mayor Benson isn’t happy about it,” he finally said. “Neither am I.”
“It puts a lot of pressure on you and your staff, doesn’t it?” She brought a mug to the kitchen table and set it down while the coffee filtered into the pot. “Is that the reason you’re so cranky?”
Again he didn’t answer.
“Or does it have to do with Will Jefferson?”
Troy’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak.
“You did see us, didn’t you?” she said.
Once more he declined to respond, but she went on as if he had.
“I thought so.”
Troy remained stoic. “I didn’t know the two of you were seeing each other,” he said tersely.
“As it happens, we aren’t.” She went on to explain that she’d run into Will at the restaurant. If her explanation satisfied him, he didn’t say. He seemed determined to keep her out of his life. Well, that was what she