Page 13 of Rescuing Baylee

Baylee headed back to her room and pulled a pair of jeans from the drawer. She also took the time to pull a bra on. Then, picking up her Glock again, she went back out to the door and opened it up enough for him to step in. Baylee shifted the weapon behind her hip but held it tight.

Detective Hunter was a big man, broad and tall enough to make her look up. Twelve hours after she’d come home, she was pretty sure he was still in the clothes she’d seen him in lastnight. He’d probably worked the crime scene all night and today. His dark brown hair was a little ruffled, like he’d run his hands through the almost-curls a few times, and there was dark stubble on his jaw.

He stepped inside the door but didn’t move any further. Baylee closed the door behind him, then shifted down the hallway a few feet. Color burned her cheeks as he glanced down her body.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” he said again, shifting on his feet. His deep navy eyes were tired. “But I wanted to let you know that it’s a bit of a circus at the hospital. The shooting made the national news, obviously, and things have heated up. I suggest you take the day off or something.”

Baylee shrugged lightly. “I’m off for the week.”

The detective blinked and frowned. “Did they punish you for what you did?”

She shook her head again. “No. But my boss thought I needed some time off.”

He eyed her.

“Do you think you need time off?”

Baylee wasn’t sure she wanted to answer that.

“I’m okay,” she said simply.

The cop had hard, intelligent eyes, like he’d seen a lot of shit, and he seemed to measure her. “Okay. It’s obvious you can protect yourself,” he said, glancing down toward her hip. Obviously, he thought she had a weapon.

“You have no idea,” she said, smiling slightly. “Thank you for checking on me, Detective Hunter.”

Baylee tried not to be too rude, but she wanted him to leave. Too bad the man didn’t seem to get the message.

“Call me Landon, please,” he said, and he held out his hand.

Baylee didn’t want to shake his hand, and it was weird anyway. They’d already met. Besides, he was asking for her gun hand. “I’m good,” she said, stepping back. Then she waited.

Landon cocked his head at her, giving her a probing look before he dropped his hand and reached for the door. “If you need anything, I’m just down the hallway.”

He pulled the door open and stepped out but paused. “Sorry I woke you.”

“No big deal,” she said, and closed the door behind him as he stepped out, snapping the locks. She sagged against the wood, her breathing erratic. She didn’t know if it was memories of the night before, or what, but he spiked her heartbeat.

Maybe it was because he was so damn good-looking, a little voice whispered as his footsteps faded down the hallway. Even after working a long shift, the guy was dangerously hot. After feeling numb all night, he actually woke something up in her, making her aware.

No, it wasn’t him. She wouldn’t let it be. Stalking into the bedroom, she set her gun on her nightstand, shucked her pants and went back to bed.

Landon staredat the door for a long moment, wondering what the hell he’d done to have such a cold reception. Had he pissed Baylee Mitchell off last night when he’d interviewed her? He didn’t think so. It had seemed like she’d been a little shocky. It was what had prompted him to come check on her today.

Even though she’d been in the Army, it didn’t make it any easier to kill a man, he didn’t think. He didn’t know what her experience was, but most people didn’t react well to that kind of situation.

Hadn’t her boss said she was a pediatric nurse? That was kids and babies. Weren’t baby nurses supposed to be super kind andwelcoming, or something? Nurturing. Maybe that was the word he was looking for.

Baylee was definitely not that today. There was a sharp edge to her personality. It was obvious he’d woken her up. Maybe she just wasn’t a morning person.

He had no idea, but the entire scene had frustrated him. There was something intriguing about Baylee Mitchell and he wanted to know her. He wanted to hear her stories and see her smile. That was what was frustrating to him. She’d smiled at him several times over the past few months, but now that she knew he was a cop, she didn’t. Was that it?

Landon headed back to his apartment, wondering why he’d even bothered contacting her.

CHAPTER FIVE

Baylee didn’t like being idle. Her life was her job, taking care of little people. It was what gave her satisfaction.

Being off work was hard. She loved her weekends, of course, but now that she’d beentoldshe couldn’t go to work, she wanted to even more. Why was that? Within twelve hours of being home, she was looking for something to do.