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“It’s silly.”
He patted the bed beside him, and she sat down. Her heat wrapped around him and he savored the comfort it brought. “Tell me anyway.”
“I’m freaked out. Which is stupid since you’re the one who was held at gunpoint. But every noise is making me jump.”
“Want to sleep in here tonight?”
“Is that okay? What would Jasper think?”
“He’s gone for the weekend.”
She shook her head. “I knew that.”
“He knows about us anyway.”
“What? I thought we were keeping this a secret.”
“I needed someone to talk to.” He shrugged. “He’s my best friend. I couldn’t not tell him. I’m sure you told Olivia and Isla.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line. “Maybe.”
“So, if you want to stay, you can.”
She reached for the hem of her shirt, and his hand latched on to hers. Harper could always make him forget, but this time was different. No matter how big her smile, how warm her touch, he couldn’t get the image of that guy’s eyes out of his mind. Those eyes were always there watching his every move as if they were waiting for him to let his guard down again. “Not tonight. Let’s just sleep.”
Disappointment flared in her eyes, but it was gone in a flash. “Okay. Let’s sleep.”
He kicked off his sneakers and pushed off his shorts before climbing into bed. He lifted his arm, and she cuddled into his side.
He closed his eyes but never fell asleep.
Chapter 21
Milo’s eyes weighed heavy, and he fought the battle to keep them open. He hadn’t been sleeping well despite having Hal pick up all the night shifts. After the incident, Hal was more than happy to cover while Milo took time. He had hoped he’d be back in action by now, but the nightmares only seemed to be getting worse, and he refused to put anyone’s life in danger by not being hundred percent focused behind the wheel.
He dragged his ass out of bed and sat on the edge of the mattress, wiping the sleep from his eyes. Harper had been watching him like a hawk, and it was driving him insane. She stopped coming into his room at night, and he didn’t question it. It was for the best. The nightmares had been getting worse, and he didn’t want her to know about them. On top of everything on her already full plate, she didn’t need to worry about him, too.
It would pass in time. Until then he just had to weather the storm. Against all odds, he survived being hit by a car, and he’d survive this, too.
He grabbed the crumpled t-shirt off the floor and yanked it over his head, sliding his arms through the sleeves as he made his way to the kitchen. A fresh pot of coffee was already brewed and half gone. He grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup.
He thought about going outside and taking in the hot summer air but decided against it. Sunshine wasn’t going to fix him. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to push the negative thoughts from his mind, but as soon as he did, the distinct dark blue that belonged only to one person popped into sight, drowning out any attempt for positive thoughts.
There was no way Milo could sleep easy, knowing that bastard was still out there, possibly preying on another innocent victim. What if he came upon Harper walking down the alleyway between Pie in the Sky and The Book Nook? The thought sent an ugly chill down his spine.
Summer was his favorite season and had barely even started, yet he’d experienced two awful events. How could he ever look forward to a season that caused him so much distress? It didn’t seem fair. The memories would stay with him forever, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to shake the fear that lingered in his mind.
“Hey.” Harper’s cheery voice echoed through the kitchen.
Milo ran a hand over his face, hoping to wipe away the fear and unsteadiness. He turned to her and forced a smile. “Hey.”
She poured herself a cup of coffee and held the mug in her hand as she pressed her back to the counter. “How’d you sleep?”
“Good. You?”
“Great.” She took another sip of her coffee. Awkward silence hung thick in the air, a situation he hated on any occasion and was something he’d go out of his way to fill, but he didn’t have it in him to crack a joke or make small talk.
He downed the rest of his coffee and put the mug in the dishwasher.
