Page 31 of Tempting Fire

“You went to the station today, I should have made food,” she said as she pushed away from the desk.

“I didn’t ask you to come to Dallas so you could cook.” He followed her into the dining room, and noted that she wasn’t favoring her injured foot in the slightest.

“Thank God, cooking has never been my thing. Even when I was firing on all cylinders mac and cheese was usually as good as it got. Zoe was the chef.”

“I remember.”

It gave him hope to hear her talk about herself not firing on all cylinders. It was the most self-aware statement she’d made since he’d found her in bed back in Jasper Creek. Maybe this conversation would go better than he’d been thinking it would.

“How did you become such a good cook?” Chloe asked.

Another good sign, she was asking questions. “We take turns at the station. One of the older guys named Gus, he’s close to retirement, is a great cook. He made sure that when it wasn’t his turn to cook, that the rest of us could produce a good meal. The hard part is learning how to make something for just one or two people.”

“What do you mean?” Chloe asked as Zarek forked two slices of ham onto her plate.

“At the station I cook for fifteen grown men, here I’m just cooking for me. So I screwed up the first couple of times I tried to reduce the recipes. I ended up with enough spaghetti for five nights the first time I made it here at home.”

When he poured the cheese sauce on her broccoli, she motioned for him to scoop another spoonful. He laughed. “Like cheese much?”

“Hey, you’re the one who wanted me to eat.”

“Touché. But you’re still only eating half the calories your body needs.”

She set down her fork and looked at him with hurt eyes. “I’m better than I was.”

“You’re locked away in the den playing solitaire most of the day. You don’t talk. Your sisters call. Not just Trenda and Zoe, but Maddie, Evie, Piper and even Drake has called. You won’t talk to any of them.”

“I don’t have anything to say.” He could barely hear her. Dammit, she had just been interacting, now she had crawled back in her shell. So much for hope.

“Chloe. You need help. Real help.”

“You told Trenda that I needed time, space and care. I heard you.”

“Well I’ve given you time and space, now you need care.”

Her eyes flashed. “What are you going to do, drag me to a doctor?”

“You just admitted that you aren’t firing on all cylinders. Aren’t you getting tired of that?” She opened her mouth to lie to him. Before she could, he held up his hand and said a phrase from their childhood. “Answer me true, Chloe Rose.”

She closed her mouth.

“Answer me true. I’m asking you not to lie. Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired?” He asked the question in the softest and gentlest tone that he had inside of himself.

“I…I…” Her head dropped, as if her neck was a broken stem. Slayer whined and Zarek was beside her in an instant.

He tilted her chin up so that their eyes met. “Chloe, answer me.”

“I don’t know what to do,” her eyes shimmered with tears.

“Do you trust me?” he whispered softly, his breath mingling with hers.

“So much more than myself. I’m broken Zarek.”

“No you’re not. You’re just dented,” he gave a soft smile.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. He was relieved at her admission. She was so brave to admit her fright. He was so proud of this woman.

“It’s going to be all right, Chloe. I promise.”