Blind Date(27)

Ace nods, and then pulls out his phone, typing something in. "I'm going to make some calls in the morning, see if I can find anything out. I'll talk to security in this place, see if they've picked up anything. Is there anyone else you can think of, anyone at all, who might be doing this? No friends thinking it would be funny to play a joke on you?"

I shake my head right away. "I don't know anyone that would be that cruel, and that's the honest truth. I haven't met anyone new outside of those few dates I mentioned."

"And you're sure they didn't feel off to you?"

I purse my lips. "They were a little weird, but not in a stalker, come-into-your-house kind of way. One was a little obsessed with younger women, and did message me on social media apologizing for being shallow, but I don't feel he was a bad man, you know?"

Ace nods again, and tucks his phone away. "I'd still like all their details. Do you feel safe sleeping here tonight?"

I hadn't thought of that, but the second he asks the question, my chest tightens. I'm not sure I do feel safe sleeping here, thinking that someone might have been in my house, or worse, someone is trying to torment me in some way. I mean, if there is someone behind this, then they've been in my house  …  while I was in it. That thought does not make me feel good inside, at all.

"Not really."

"You got anyone you can call?"

I could call Taylor, though she's probably working, considering she's a nurse and works strange hours. That leaves Jacob. Is it too soon to call him? Would that seem weird to ask for his help? I don't know. We're casually dating, and I really like him, but the passion is hardly exploding out of the room. I'm certainly not ready to go "there" with him yet-would he think that if I asked him to come and stay over?


      ///
       
         
       
        

Ace must sense my hesitation, because he stands, crossing his arms and then uncrossing them. "I'll be back in ten."

I blink up at him. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'll. Be. Back. In. Ten."

"Why?" I whisper-hiss.

"To sleep on your damned couch until the morning, when I can sort out your security properly and figure out what's going on."

I gape at him. "No. No way."

Those eyes roll to the ceiling again. "Woman, you're testing all my patience. I'm a cop. This is what we do. If anyone can keep you safe for one night, it's me."

I give him a skeptical look. "You could be anyone  …  how do I know you're really a cop?"

He gives me a truly scathing look. "I'll bring my badge over, if you insist."

"Just because you're a cop, doesn't mean you're not  …  I don't know  …  some kind of killer, or rapist, or-"

"Fuck. Me."

I blink again. "Seriously, does it have to be you?"

He exhales, clearly trying to gather some patience. "Do you want someone here, or not? I'm happy to leave you and your sassy mouth here on your own, if that makes you feel better."

Dammit, it doesn't.

It really doesn't.

I sigh. "Fine, but I'm locking my bedroom door."

He stares at me, then shakes his head and walks out of my house muttering.

Great. Just great.





ELEVEN


I toss and turn in my bed-left to right, right to left, onto my stomach, onto my back-finally I sigh and sit up.

I can't sleep, there is just no way it's coming to me tonight. Not when I know Ace is out there sleeping on my couch. How is anyone supposed to concentrate with that kind of distraction? I pull my phone from the bedside table and glance down at the time. It's just past three. I shoot a quick text to Taylor, knowing she's at work.

H: You awake?

A minute later, a response comes through.

T: Yep. On a break. You're a creeper texting me just as I sat down. Why are you awake so early?

H: Don't freak out  …

T: Oh my god. I'm freaking out! What! What is it! Speak!

H: Ace is on my couch.

A minute ticks by. Then another.

Then my phone rings. I answer it with a soft laugh, not because I'm actually feeling good, but because only Taylor would ring that quickly given such news.

"Tell me right now why he's on your couch?" she demands. "I swear I've only got a few minutes so you better speak fast, woman!" 

"He's here because some more weird things have been happening. I found Raymond's laptop tonight, and I know for a fact it was not where I found it-someone put it there. In fact, I don't remember the last time I saw it. So, I didn't really want to be left alone, and there weren't many people we could call, so  …  he stayed."