Page 55 of Fire Harbor
“I got you a card,” Linus offered, handing it off.
She clutched the envelope to her chest, but her gaze lingered on the flowers. “This might be the best peace offering I’ve ever received. But I can’t wait to read the card.”
Her fingers lifted the flap. Blinking back tears, she read the sentiment inside and then pivoted toward him, laying a hand on his cheek. “It’s not your fault people were saying things about me. I did a stupid thing. I’ll just have to ride it out until they find something else to talk about. It isn’t the first time.”
His hands went around her waist, pulling her closer. “Let them talk,” Linus said softly, falling into the blue depths of her eyes. “Who cares what they say? I should’ve let it go sooner.”
Lake’s shoulders relaxed as she leaned into his touch. “I’m glad you feel that way,” she whispered.
He took her chin, his lips curving into a smile. “From here on out, I’ll always have your back, no matter what happens, because I care about you. And what you said about me wanting to get involved in catching the serial killer was pretty accurate. I’m the one who suggested it.”
“Would you like to stay for dinner?" Lake asked softly. “We can discuss it over burritos.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Linus replied, his gaze never leaving hers. “I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome here again.”
“I had your dog. I knew you’d at least come by to pick up Farley,” Lake cracked.
They stood in the sunroom, surrounded by the delicate aroma of the orchids, their unspoken feelings rising to a fever pitch. In that fleeting moment, the fading light outside painted soft hues across the room, obliterating the tension that once clouded their morning. Like mist dissipating at dawn, it left behind a newfound sense of understanding and closeness that hadn’t been there earlier.
He pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft at first, an uncertain exploration of emotions that had been building. But as the warmth spread, it ignited into something more intense. Linus pulled Lake closer, his hands cradling her face as if she were the most precious gift in the world.
Lake melted into the embrace, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn’t known she was missing. The kiss held a promise of things to come, of unspoken words and shared moments that would bind them together in ways they couldn’t yet understand. As they pulled away, their eyes locked in a silent conversation filled with hope and longing.
“We could forego those burritos and head upstairs,” Lake suggested, wriggling her brows up and down. She latched onto his shirt. “Makeup sex. Cathartic for resolving underlying tension.”
“I said you were smart. This time we barricade ourselves in the bedroom without the dogs,” he muttered as he led her toward the back staircase.
“Now who’s the smart one?”
Later that evening, after dinner, they cuddled together in the living room in front of a fire surrounded by dogs. The crackling of the wood was the only sound in the room as Linus brushed his fingers through Lake’s hair, a tender gesture that spoke volumes without a single word being uttered.
Entwined on the sofa, Lake leaned her head against Linus’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. As the hours slipped by unnoticed, they found comfort in each other’s quiet embrace, a sense of peace settling over them like a soft blanket.
As the night deepened and the fire burned low, as sleep finally claimed them, they drifted off like kindred spirits. Neither had spoken about murder or seemed to care about catching a killer.
But somewhere out in the darkness, a killer watched his prey. She walked, without knowing her fate, down the dimly lit street to her car. With each step she took, his heart raced, the adrenaline pumping, and exhilaration building in his chest. Her day would come soon enough, he thought. His breath hitched with sick excitement as he pictured how her death would play out.
He had been following her for weeks now, studying her every move, learning her routines. She was oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, completely unaware of the imminent threat that loomed over her.
Holding a knife that glinted in the moonlight, he realized he wouldn’t need it. Just as he’d done before with a few of the others, he’d use his bare hands to wrap around her throat. That was the most satisfying aspect of all—playing God and watching the life drain from his victim.
Chapter Fifteen
The first light of dawn filtered through the living room as Linus stirred awake. Feeling the weight of Lake’s head still resting on his chest, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, reluctant to disturb her. Glancing down at her face, bathed in the morning light, he made a silent vow to cherish what they had together.
But first, he had to go to the bathroom.
He gently shifted his body to the edge of the couch, hoping the movement wouldn’t wake her. But when her eyes blinked open, his lips curved. “I can’t believe we spent the night on the sofa.”
Greeted by Linus’s smile, Lake lingered in that quiet moment of intimacy a little longer, savoring the love in his eyes that mirrored the love in her heart. “I still can’t believe you brought me orchids.”
Even as the memories of last night flooded back, Linus couldn’t help but admire how Lake looked in the soft morning light. Her tousled hair and sleepy eyes only added to her beauty, and he found himself falling for her all over again. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and planted kisses across her knuckles.
“And I’ll bring you a dozen more if it means seeing you smile every day,” Linus whispered, his voice sincere. “Although the flowers can’t make up for the way I acted yesterday. I do feel responsible for what happened with Derrick. It was my idea to help find a killer.”
She propped herself on one elbow. “You inspired me to dig up a backyard. No one but you could’ve done that.”
“I’m planning to confront Greta and ask her for that video back along with any copies she made.”