Page 120 of Sterling Heat

“I do. My baby and I were just taking an evening stroll, but it’s almost time for another feeding for her.”

He gives Adara a quick glance before offering me a tight smile. “I missed you at Milton’s Roadhouse the other night.”

“Oh.” I anxiously chuckle, pointing at Adara like she was my excuse. “I didn’t make it.”

“Maybe we could have that drink now?” He hitches his thumb toward the woods, but the last place I’ll be venturing with a stranger is into the trees.

The racing of my heart tells me to run, only I can’t sprint with Adara strapped against my chest. Logic warns me if I trip or fall, I’ll crush her, and I blink back the sudden burn of tears. It was so stupid to travel this far, even on my own property. I’m equally upset that I can’t freely traipse over my land. Not after someone walked into my home.

Stone called me earlier, but I’d been in the shower, and I hadn’t called him back yet. I wanted to give Adara and myself some fresh air, but I suddenly regret my decision to take a walk, and not tell anyone about it. Even though the deputy sheriff’s car is parked outside my house, I made a rash decision because my current position is blocked from the car’s view.

Twisting toward the house, I say, “Maybe you’d like to come to my place for that drink. We could sit on the porch.” The porch will put us in sight of the sheriff’s vehicle and might even deter my visitor from accepting the invitation. At the least, the situation would limit his visit.

He shrugs and slips his hands into his back pockets. “Sure.” He steps closer to me, but I try to keep some distance between us.

“So, you apparently know my name and I assume that’s because I’m the new girl in town. I feel awful, but I don’t remember yours.” He hadn’t told me his name but I’m trying to be cautiously polite.

“My friends call me Rodger Neil.”

I tightly smile at the emphasis in his name. What a strange way to quantify his name? If his friends call him one name, what’s his real name?

“Are you from around here?”

He squints and looks off in the distance. “Used to be. It’s been a while since I’ve been back, though.”

“Oh. Did you grow up here?”

Rodger peers at the house. “Not exactly.”

This doesn’t make sense. Either he grew up here, or he didn’t, which negates him saying he’s from around here.

As we near the house, I head for the front yard, but Rodger catches my elbow. The touch isn’t hard but firm. He fixes his gaze on me.

“Maybe we should go inside. The heat. It’s not good for the baby.” He nods, acknowledging Adara for the first time.

“But it’s so pleasant outside and she’s comfortable against me.” Thankfully, she’s fallen asleep although I can’t believe the thumping of my heart hasn’t kept her awake. The rhythm pulses in my ears. “The front porch is a great spot to enjoy the night.”

His fingers tighten at my elbow. He tips his head forward as if he can see around the house. As if he knows the sheriff’s car is out front. “I just want to talk.”

“And we can do that on the front porch.” My voice betrays my discomfort.

His eyes drift to Adara. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then don’t.” The retort is too quick, too sharp. I’m not in a position to poke a bear, and his fingers digging into the flesh above my elbow suggests he’s containing himself, but thinly.

“Take me inside.”

No is on the tip of my tongue. I could run. I could scr—

“Don’t think about it.” His gaze falls to Adara again. “Like I said. I just want to talk. Inside. Now.” His demeanor shifts from the charming man who’d asked me out for a drink and donated to a college fund into someone else. Someone who exudes trouble and I’m about to let him into my house. No breaking and entering necessary.

He leads me to the back door where the blinds have been drawn shut. Pressing at the lock box, like he’s been here before, he chuckles. “See you got smart and changed the code.”

I’d read Sebastian’s text earlier. First words in almost two full days and all he had to say is change the lock, like he doesn’t want to be tempted to enter my home again.

Upon Stone’s advice, I’d already changed it to a date only two people would know. Sebastian and me.

“Open it,” Rodger demands.