Page 47 of Hunting Justice
“Gladly. Dinner and a movie?”
“Perfect.”
Her phone dinged with an incoming text. She tapped in a response. “That was Alana. She’s on protection duty tonight and will be outside if we need her.”
And just like that, the events of the past two days came tumbling back. Someone had painted a target on him.
Would he survive long enough to get to the bottom of the serial killer case and help Noelle break free from her past? Or would he fail another woman in his life?
TEN
SATURDAY, 9:00 A.M.
Noelle placed her palms on the kitchen counter and lowered her head. The bold aroma drifting from the coffee maker did its best to clear the cobwebs from her brain. Yesterday had ripped her apart and gently started to piece her back together. After revealing her secrets to Matt and Decia, then spending the evening in Jonah’s arms watching a movie, her heart had begun to heal for the first time in fifteen years.
She lifted the carafe and poured a cup of java, adding a bit of French vanilla creamer to the brew.
“Got enough for me?” Jonah stood at the entry to the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt, but it was his sleep-mussed hair and bare feet that did funny things to her insides.
“Sure.” One would think after spending time together over the last year, she wouldn’t react to him that way. She hadn’t before—well, not exactly—but now? Last night. The way he’d tugged her over and she’d snuggled against him. His tender caresses on her arms. His attentiveness. He hadn’t kissed her again, except the soft kiss to her forehead when he’d said goodnight. But she’d felt loved for the first time in a long time—maybe ever.
She poured a cup and handed it to him. Their fingers brushed, sending a zing of awareness through her.
“Thanks.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I must have been more tired than I thought. I’m usually up by six.”
“Now, how did I guess you were a morning person? I mean, you did tend to be up early when you took care of me, but…” She shrugged.
“Want me to make you breakfast for old times’ sake?” Mug to his lips, he grinned.
The man might be an organizational chaotic mess, but he insisted on healthy, nutritious food. He’d changed her eating habits during those short weeks that he’d hovered over her. But he had one junk food weakness.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to deal with the donuts that Juliette left this morning before starting her shift.” Noelle slid the pink box toward him.
He peeked inside. “Oh, I want to kiss that woman. She got my favorite. Chocolate glaze with sprinkles.” He grabbed one and took a bite.
“Sprinkles?” That, she hadn’t known about. “You’re such a little boy.” Noelle shoved down the weird jealousy at his comment about kissing Juliette and shook her head.
“What can I say? I like what I like.” His gaze met hers for a long moment, then he retrieved a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Did you talk to the EG ladies after the movie last night?”
She sat at the table and chose a donut for herself. “Yes. They are now fully aware of my serial killer.”
“Your serial killer?”
“Well, what else would you call him? I’m not a fan of what the press dubbed him. Anyway, Alana and Juliette know. Which means Alana’s fiancé Cash knows, too.”
“Cash is a good guy. He and I became friends when he moved into town. He won’t say anything.” Jonah took another bite and groaned. The man loved his chocolate donuts. “I’m aware that you’re uncomfortable with the information being out there, but to be honest, I’m surprised it hasn’t leaked over the years.”
“Since I was underage and the detectives refused to put me in danger by announcing it to the world, it slid under the radar of the press. They knew a girl had survived, but the story was that I didn’t have any information that helped the case. Which was mostly true.” She swallowed the bite of donut and took a sip of her coffee. Sugar and caffeine: a necessity to get through the day. “Soon after, I moved away for college. Then got a job in law enforcement, where I met Lizzie Tremaine Lee. I stayed away from Savannah for a long time before moving back.”
Jonah snatched another donut. “That makes sense. I’d like to send those detectives a gift for keeping you out of the spotlight.”
“Trust me, I’ve expressed my appreciation over the years. They’re a couple of great men who are both enjoying retirement now.”
They sat in companionable silence, finishing the sugary breakfast.
Jonah gathered the trash, placed the donut box neatly to the side, wiped the table, and refilled their coffees.
She smiled. The man was trying. When he’d taken care of her last summer, he’d kept things clean but not tidy. This time was different.