Chapter Two, Part Two of Forgotten by Marti York
Over the next two days, Peter is busy with his team installing my new security system. He’s in my apartment for most of the workday, but we barely get to talk. I spend my time reading through the books I’ve published. Most of them are part of a cozy mystery series. But then there are the erotic romances. Super hot. I’m guessing I can thank them for how wealthy I am.
Daylight is just starting to fade on day two when Peter comes into the living room where I’m lounging on the sofa, books spread across the coffee table. He clears his throat, and I rest the book I’m reading on my chest, split open so the cover is visible. The couple there makes it clear what kind of book it is.
Without sitting up, I give him my full attention. “How’s it going?”
“We’re wrapping it up. If you have a minute, I can show you how the new system works.”
“Sure.” I sit up, sliding the book to the coffee table.
His gaze hones in on the couple. “Interest reading choice.”
“That’s one I wrote. Apparently, I’ve written some pretty erotic stuff.”
He lifts a brow, as if in a question.
“Yeah,” I tell him. “They’re super sexy. I wish I could remember if any of this stuff is based on my real life.”
All he can do is groan, which makes me laugh. “Now you’re wondering, too.”
His rare smile makes an appearance, and mine slips away. Not for the first time, I wonder what I’m doing. I’ve been lightly flirting with him since he first came to my apartment, and I can’t seem to stop even though I feel like I should.
I stand and slip my hands into the back pockets of my jeans because I worry they’re shaking. “Sorry,” I say. “Just a joke. Show me.”
Another lift of his brow.
“The new security system,” I clarify, feeling my face heat. “Show me the new system.”
“Right. The security system.” He holds out his arm in the direction of the front door. “Let’s start over here.”
We roam the apartment, looking at all the features of my new security system. Not that they’re not wonderful, but the new system doesn’t really make me feel any safer. This building has a doorman, and I’m on the ninth floor. I already feel relatively safe here. It’s the outside that scares me.
“Am I losing you?” Peter says.
I look up at him. “What?”
“You seem lost in thought.”
I sigh. “You’re right. I’m distracted. This is all great, but I can’t take it outside with me.”
“Ah. I see your point.”
I tuck my hands into my back pockets again. “I haven’t left my apartment since I got home from the hospital.”
“Molly, that was three days ago.”
I glance away. “I just can’t.”
“All right. We’re going to nip this in the bud right now.”
“How?”
“By going out.”
I look toward the window. “But it’s almost dark.”
“It’s only four o’clock. We have at least an hour. Besides, it wasn’t dark when you were mugged.”
He has a point. It was ten in the morning, and I was leaving Benny’s office after a meeting. I was just down the street when someone dragged me into an alley between two buildings not that far from Benny’s. Or so I’m told. I still don’t remember. The doctor said I’ll probably never remember that part.
My heart is pounding. My hands are sweating. And I don’t want to feel this way anymore. I don’t want to be afraid. I don’t want to panic whenever I think about going outside.
I force myself to face him again and say, “You’ll be with me out there? You won’t leave me?”
Something like pain passes over his expression, and he moves like he’s about to reach for me. But he catches himself before he can, even though I wouldn’t mind his arms around me right now.
“I promise you. I will be with you the entire time.”
I look into his eyes, and what I see there relaxes me a little. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he says.
Copyright 2024
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