“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Galleria and The Cheesecake Factory?” she asked hopefully.
He sighed. “As long as you don’t plan to make my ass go ice skating, I’ll take you to the Galleria.”
She grinned and leaned up to kiss him. “I have one more request.”
He gave another exaggerated sigh. “And that is?”
She stared intently at him. “Take me to bed and make love to me.”
His green eyes glittered. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Ten
Ellie swept the last of the glass up from the floor into the dustbin then dumped it into the nearby trashcan. With a rueful smile, she examined the broken TV for any more loose pieces of glass before returning the broom to the kitchen.
Though she wasn’t prone to fits of rage, that one had felt good. She’d been much too quiet and withdrawn until then. Maybe she should cut loose more often and allow the bottled emotions to burst out.
Jake would be here soon, and she still had to finish doing her hair and brush her teeth. The afternoon away with him was a source of relief. She was being a coward, locked away ever since Ray’s interview more than twenty-four hours ago, but she wasn’t ready to face the open speculation of the small-town populace.
As she ran the brush through her hair for the last time, the doorbell rang. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, amused by the pink that had rushed to her cheeks.
She hurried to the door, stopping only to collect her purse. She opened the door, a welcoming smile on her face.
“Are you ready to—”
The smile died as quickly as the words broke off. Her purse hit the floor beside her. A bolt of terror blew through her body with the speed of a bullet. Ray Hatcher stood on her doorstep, a bleak expression on his face.
“Ellie, I need to talk to you,” he said.
His voice shook her from the paralysis that had taken over her. She rammed the door shut, fumbling for the lock she couldn’t make work.
“Ellie! I need to talk to you,” he said louder. His voice carried through the door, and she backed away from it.
She stumbled over the rug and went sprawling onto the floor. Nausea welled in her stomach, and her pulse pounded in her head.
The door opened, and she screamed in fear. She rolled to her feet and snatched the phone from the kitchen bar. The bathroom. If she could make it to the bathroom…she could lock the door and call 911.
She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. She made sure it was locked then retreated to the most distant point from the door. The shower stall.
She curled into a protective ball as her shaking fingers punched in the phone number.
“Ellie?” Ray’s voice sounded closer. He was just outside the bathroom door. “Ellie, there’s something I need to say.”
Oh, God.
“911, what’s your emergency?” The dispatcher’s voice came over the line.
“This is Ellie Matthews,” she blurted. “My husband is here. He’s not supposed to be here. He’s trying to hurt me.” The hysteria made her voice rise another octave. “Don’t let him hurt me again!”
The dispatcher’s voice faded into the background as Ray’s voice got louder. The phone slipped from bloodless fingers as she heard the dispatcher assure her the police were on their way.
“Ellie, please listen to me.”
Ray’s voice had a pleading quality to it. She buried her head in her arms and rocked back and forth, praying the police would make it in time.
There was a long silence on the other side of the door. She was frozen, her skin so cold, every muscle in her body tensed in the most awful of fears. Memories of the last time she’d tasted such fear seared a path through her mind like the sharpest blade.
“Ellie, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Ray jiggled on the doorknob, and a fresh wave of terror assaulted her all over again. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out. She wrapped her arms protectively around herself and curled into the tightest ball she could manage.
“When I saw the playback of that interview…when I heard the things I said…Ellie, I’m sorry.”
She heard a scuffle. Police officers identifying themselves. Bumps then a crash. The door jiggled again.
“Ellie, open the door. You’re safe now.”
She continued to rock. Sobs wracked her body. Sobs she hadn’t known were coming from her. She buried her face further into her arms.
A few seconds later, the door flew open. The shower stall door opened, and a hand gripped her shoulder.
“Ellie, it’s me, Wes Hoffman. We’ve got Ray in custody. He can’t hurt you, honey.”
His soothing voice slid over her, but she was locked in her fear. She couldn’t make herself relax.
His hand smoothed over her hair before he carefully pulled her into his arms. “We won’t let you down again, Ellie,” he said quietly. “We won’t let him hurt you.”
Another man spoke a short distance away. The sound was muffled to Ellie’s ears.
“Jeremy, get him the hell out of here before Jake shows up or Jake’ll kill him,” Wes directed.
Wes’s hand tightened around her. “Ellie, honey, let me get you out of here. You’re safe now.”
She tensed. She was slow to process what went on around her. Was Ray still out there? She began to shake uncontrollably as what had happened started to sink in. Ray. On her doorstep. Oh God.
She heard the thump of heavy footsteps and then Jake burst into the bathroom. She felt him as much as she heard him.
“Oh God, Ellie!”
Wes pulled away from her and suddenly she was in Jake’s arms. She threw herself into his embrace and held on tight. Hot tears coursed down her cheeks, wetting his shirt.
He stood up, picking her up with him. She clung to him, hoarse sobs ripping from her throat.
Jake carried her into the living room and sat down on the couch, her body cradled against his chest.
“Ellie, sweetheart, did he hurt you?”
She shook her head against his chest. Her hands crept around his neck, and she tried to control her trembling.
He caressed her hair over and over, and he smoothed kisses across her brow.
“You’re all right now, Ellie. The bastard can’t hurt you. I’ve got you, sweetheart. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
She finally relaxed against him, her eyes closing in relief. She lay limply in his arms, so worn out, so emotionally drained, she couldn’t have moved if she wanted.
“Jake, I’ll need a statement from her so we can hold the bastard,” Wes said.
“Not now,” Jake said harshly. “Can’t you see she’s scared out of her mind?”
She raised her head, surprised at how weak she felt. “No,” she said softly. “I’ll answer his questions.”
“Are you sure?” Jake asked. His eyes held such tenderness, such love. Her chest tightened, and tears welled in her eyes once more.
She nodded and turned to Wes who sat across the living room in the armchair.
“Did he threaten you? Did he hurt you in any way?” Wes asked.
Jake tensed against her.
“No. He kept saying he was sorry,” she mumbled. “I thought it was Jake at the door. I opened it and Ray was there. I lost it. It’s just that…”
“You don’t have to defend your reaction,” Jake said gruffly. “Not after what he’s done to you.”
“I grabbed the phone and hid in the bathroom,” she continued. “He came to the bathroom door, but you got here before anything happened.”
Wes nodded. Then he sighed and ran an aggravated hand through his hair. He looked apologetically at her and Jake.
“Best we can do is bust him on violating a restraining order. He’ll be out before the paperwork is dry.”
Ellie stiffened and turned her face back into Jake’s chest.
“Just make damn sure he stays the hell away from her,” J
ake growled. “Tell him to go back to New York where he belongs and to leave her the hell alone. Because if I ever see him back here, I’ll kill the son of a bitch.”