All I Need is You

by M. Malone

  He dialed and Harris answered on the first ring. He didn’t bother with a greeting. “I don’t know if this is related to what you sent me, but someone just blew up my car.”

  “Your location?”

  “My hometown. I need you to keep my name out of that police report.” The last thing they needed was the New Haven Police Department splashing his name and picture around as a person of interest in a bombing case.

  “Done. Did you see anyone beforehand? Or notice anything out of the ordinary?”

  “No. But then again, you and I both know if this is our friends, then I wouldn’t have seen anything. They’re too good.”

  “You need somewhere to stay?”

  “No. I’ve got that covered.” Eli hung up as a black Mercedes sedan pulled up to the curb next to them. Kaylee inched behind him, her fingers digging into the sleeve of his jacket. The window rolled down and Nick’s face appeared. “Need a ride?”

  Kay let out a soft sigh. “Hi, Nick.”

  Eli opened the door for her and ushered her into the back. He glanced behind him, his eyes roving over the people and buildings on the street. Was someone following them even now? A woman walked by with several shopping bags, and Eli peered at her. When she noticed his gaze, her fingers clutched her bags tighter as she scampered away. He ducked his head and folded himself into the front seat.

  “Still driving this clown car, I see.” Eli rolled his shoulders in the tight space, feeling like he’d bump out a window if he raised his arms too high. His brother liked his toys. Eli preferred his truck any day. The truck which was now blown to pieces in a restaurant parking lot. He sighed.

  Nick patted the steering wheel as he pulled out into traffic. “Don’t talk about my baby that way.”

  Eli snorted and then turned to look into the backseat. Kay sat behind Nick, curled up against the window. When their eyes met, she smiled tremulously, almost as if trying to reassure him. His chest tightened. She was holding up better than he’d expected, but she shouldn’t have to be this strong. She was the kind of woman meant for cozy nights by the fire and cuddling under soft sheets. Not running from danger and matching wits with criminals.

  It was no doubt going to come back to haunt him asking for Agent Harris’ help, but if making them think he was the target meant they’d use their resources to find the guy faster, so be it. He had no problem with a little creative restructuring of events if it meant Kay was safe. What if she’d gone out to the car with him? She could have died.

  More blood on his hands. Another life he couldn’t save.

  LATER, KAY WOULDN’T be able to recall exactly how she’d spent the next few hours. She remembered Nick picking them up and Tank being at the Alexanders’ house when they’d arrived. It had crossed her mind then just how calm everyone else seemed. Nick hadn’t acted as though anything had occurred outside of the ordinary. They could have been calling him for a ride for any reason. Tank was polite and direct, just as he usually was, although he’d seemed to have a gentler manner when speaking to her than usual.

  Eli himself had been at his gruff best, barking out orders on his cell phone to she could only guess who. There seemed to be no end to what he could make happen with just a phone call. Within a short period, he had a new black SUV delivered to them along with a suitcase full of clothes for Kaylee. She’d opened the bag, shocked to see her own things. Whoever had packed her stuff had also included things for Hope, including pajamas, diapers, and wipes.

  They’d driven to her parents’ house to pick up Hope. She definitely remembered her mother’s shock and dismay at the news that they were leaving town.

  “We don’t even know this young man. I know he’s been working to protect you, but this seems so drastic.”

  “Mom, we have to take drastic steps. Someone put a bomb under our car. It’s not safe for me to stay in the open.” Kaylee had reached over to take Hope from her mother.

  “And where will you be sleeping?”

  “Mom! I’m sure there will be plenty of room wherever we’re going. This isn’t… it’s not like that.”

  Henrietta had placed her hands on her hips, making Kay feel like a teenager who’d been late for curfew.

  “I’m not so old that I don’t know what’s what,” she scolded. “A man and a woman alone together is just asking for trouble. Think about how this looks. You’re just so impulsive, Kaylee. I don’t want you to do something else you’ll regret.”

  Kay hadn’t had the mental energy to reassure her mother. Their car had just been blown up. Something her mom didn’t seem to be taking all that seriously if her only concern was whether Kay was running off to “shack up” with some man.

  No matter what she did, her mother would always assume the worst. She shivered and pulled her coat closer. In her mother’s eyes, her life was defined by her mistakes. She’d trusted the wrong man and ended up pregnant and unmarried. In Henrietta’s world, that was something shameful. Something to be hidden. Nothing she could do now would ever make up for embarrassing her mother in front of her conservative church friends.

  It was a chilling thought to realize that she’d never be good enough.

  “Are you cold?” Eli turned up the heat and pointed the air vent in her direction.

  “I’m okay,” she whispered. Hope had been restless the first hour of the trip, whimpering and crying the entire time. She’d finally settled for banging her teething ring against the side of her car seat. Kay was afraid to talk too loud and attract the baby’s attention again. Her head was still ringing from the past hour of crying.

  “Who knew about your date tonight?” Eli took her hint and lowered his voice to a near whisper as well.

  “No one, really. Danny, of course. I told Sasha and I also e-mailed Mara and Ridley about it, too.” She fell silent. It wasn’t hard to understand why he was asking the question. It would have taken some planning to put an explosive under their car in the short time they were in the restaurant. Someone had to have known where they’d be and planned ahead.

  Only she hadn’t even known about her date until today. It had been a last-minute thing, after all.

  “Danny asked me to dinner over e-mail today. It wasn’t something we’d planned in advance. What if I hadn’t gone tonight? Would they have blown up my apartment, instead?”

  “It’s possible.” Despite his harsh words, Eli’s face was gentle as he turned to her. “I’m sorry, Kay.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. She’d initially balked at the idea of going into hiding. It was so drastic, to just up and leave her job, family, and friends.

  But Eli’s argument had been simple yet persuasive. If she stayed, her family and friends would be in the crosshairs.

  Leaving was safer for them.

  Kay turned her face to the window, watching the faint shadows of the trees pass by in the darkness. She wasn’t entirely sure where they were, just that they were on Interstate 95 on the way to Eli’s house in Northern Virginia. With every mile they traveled, they drove farther away from all the things she knew and cared about.

  Just a few days ago, her biggest worry was finishing her album and saving enough money to start a college fund for Hope. There were days when she’d grown frustrated, of course, but she had so many things in her life that kept her grounded. Her daughter, her friends and family. Her songwriting. Now she had no idea what she was. Rootless. Homeless. With one act, some faceless person had taken away her foundation.

  She’d been working on lyrics in the car on the way to the restaurant earlier. All she could think about was that notepad, blown to ash and scattered to the wind.

  Just like the rest of her life.

  CHAPTER TEN

  WHEN THEY PULLED up to the single-story bungalow with blue shutters, Kay’s first thought was that Eli was stopping at a friend’s house. It wasn’t until he grabbed their bags and then pulled out his keys that she figured out where they were.

  It had to be Eli’s house.

  She carefully unhooked Hope’s
car seat from its base and followed him, eager to see the inside. When she’d imagined Eli at his place, she’d expected something more modern. A cool condo or one of the newer-construction homes that all looked the same with perfectly square lawns. This little house looked homey and inviting. It looked like a family with a toddler and a dog should live there, not a bachelor.

  Then Kay realized with a chill that perhaps Eli’d had a family at one time. She’d never asked him if he’d been married or engaged before.

  After opening the door, Eli keyed something into a security panel next to the door. Then he motioned for Kay to follow him inside. “Home sweet home. Make yourself comfortable.”

  Kay set the baby carrier next to the stairs and shrugged out of her coat. Eli took it and hung it on the banister. After whimpering in the car for the first hour of the trip, Hope was finally sound asleep, so Kay wasn’t in any hurry to disturb her just yet.

  “So this is your house.”

  Eli grunted a reply and walked off, leaving her by herself. Kay huffed out a breath. Then she pulled out her cell phone to call Sasha. If she didn’t let her friend know she was out of town, she might come by the house or her job. She didn’t want her to worry. After a quick conversation, she hung up and looked around.

  If Eli wasn’t going to offer her a tour, she would just be nosy and show herself around.

  The dining room had a simple table and chairs but no mirror on the wall or decorations of any kind. There was a small living room on the other side of the stairs, similarly barren of furniture and decorations. It smelled like it had been recently painted. She turned around and followed the sound of Eli’s voice until she found him in a bright, modern kitchen. Kay perked up at the sight. The surfaces gleamed and the appliances looked brand new.

  “Wow, this is a nice kitchen. Do you like to cook?” Kay hopped up on one of the barstools at the island.

  Eli looked amused at the question. “Not really. It’s more of a necessity than a joy. I just redid the kitchen because I plan on selling the house soon.”

  “Oh. You mentioned you were moving back home at Christmas, but I wasn’t sure how soon you were planning to come back.”

  “As soon as the house sells.”

  He didn’t offer any other information so Kay shifted uncomfortably on her stool.

  “Let me show you how the security system works.”

  Kay hopped down and followed Eli to a small panel in the living room, next to a hallway. It looked just like the one near the front door. Her arm accidentally brushed up against him and he shifted slightly, bumping against her full breasts. Eli looked pained.

  “Sorry. Um, anyway this is where you enter the security code. I’m an early riser, so you won’t have to disarm it most of the time. The only time you should have to worry about it is if you need to get something from the kitchen in the middle of the night. The motion detectors cover the main living area and the kitchen. If you don’t disable the alarm first, you’ll set it off.”

  Kay nodded and repeated the code aloud several times. “I really hope I don’t forget it.”

  “I’ll quiz you later today to make sure you remember it. Now, let’s get your bags and get you settled in your room.”

  Eli retrieved her bags from the entryway and then walked down the hallway that she assumed led to the bedrooms. Kay followed silently, peering into the open door of the first room they passed. It was a nice size. She could put Hope in there. Eli stopped at a door at the end of the hall and opened the door. She followed him into a room with a queen-sized bed, a dresser, and a night table. He set her bags on the floor.

  “I’m right across the hall if you need anything.”

  Kay turned and stared at the closed door behind her. “Oh, that’s close. Do I get a tour?”

  Eli’s lips curled up. “No.” Then he walked out.

  Typical Eli.

  A soft cry rang out from the front of the house. She trotted back up the hallway and reached her daughter just as she scrunched up her face to let out a full-on wail.

  “Let’s get you settled so you can stretch out.” She checked Hope’s diaper and then carried her into the family room. Mrs. Alexander had given them a portable gate system to take along, so a few minutes later she had a sizable section of the room blocked off.

  After settling Hope in the middle of the gated area with her teething ring and a set of soft, squishy blocks, Kay looked in the refrigerator. She pushed aside a six-pack of beer and a package of browning celery. “Okay then. I guess I’m not hungry.”

  “My assistant is bringing groceries. I asked her to pick up the basics for us. I was expecting her to do it before we arrived.” The doorbell rang. “This should be her now,” Eli said and walked up front.

  Kay heard the door open and felt the telltale cold draft of air. She heard the other woman before she saw her, her voice soft and husky as she fussed at Eli about something or other.

  When she entered the kitchen, Kay’s heart sank. The other woman was beautiful. Not that she’d expected anything different. Slim with long, toned legs and large breasts, she was exactly the type of woman a man like Eli would go for.

  When she looked at Kaylee with assessing eyes, it became clear exactly why she hadn’t delivered the groceries earlier.

  “Kay, this is my assistant, Carly. Carly, this is Kaylee Wilhelm.” His phone rang and he snatched it off his belt. “Excuse me for a moment.” Then he disappeared into the front hallway.

  Carly didn’t speak, just stood staring at Kaylee. After a few awkward moments, Kay pulled the first grocery bag toward her. It was filled with all the staple items like milk, bread, eggs, and raw ground beef. She’d even purchased snack food. When Kay pulled out the package of chocolate-chip cookies, she decided she didn’t even care that the other woman was obviously lusting after Eli. After all, it wasn’t as if she could fault the girl for her taste.

  “Thank you so much for bringing the groceries. It would have been hard for us to go out with the baby.” Kay grabbed a few more items and started stacking things in the empty refrigerator.

  “Baby? What baby?” Carly eyed her suspiciously.

  Kay pointed to the living room where Hope was standing on her tiptoes, trying to see over the side of the baby gate. “Peek-a, Peek-a!” she squealed when she caught sight of the newcomer.

  “She’s trying to say peekaboo, I think. She always does that when she sees someone new.” Kay pulled out the nonperishable items and stored them in the small pantry.

  “Oh, well that’s adorable,” Carly admitted grudgingly.

  Eli appeared in the doorway then. “Thanks for bringing the food, Carly. Is there anything you need me to sign?”

  Carly glanced back at Kay once more before she pulled a sheaf of papers from her tote bag. “Yes, just a few things.”

  Eli scanned each page before scrawling his name at the bottom. When he got to the last page, he signed it and handed the whole stack back. “That should do it. Remember, I don’t want anyone at HQ to know I’m back in town. It won’t be for long.”

  “Oh? You’re going back home again then?” There was no disguising the disappointment in the other woman’s voice.

  Kay turned back to the refrigerator and fiddled with the containers she’d just placed in there. Even though she didn’t want to leave the other woman alone with Eli, it didn’t mean she didn’t empathize with her. She knew exactly what it felt like to want a man, all the while knowing he was way out of your league.

  Although she didn’t really understand why the other woman was acting threatened by her being here. His assistant was slim and pretty with the kind of body that Kaylee could only wish for. If that wasn’t good enough for Eli, then her own chances with him were officially less than zero.

  “I’ll be going back home soon, yes. I’m not sure when though. Either way, I won’t be accessible by phone or e-mail for a while. Just tell everyone I’m on vacation.”

  “Vacation?” The incredulity in her voice was hard to miss. “Bu
t you never go on vacation. Not really. You were checking e-mails on Christmas.” There was a long silence before she said, “I guess you really are going home.”

  Kay didn’t turn around until she heard the front door close quietly. Eli still stood at the counter, his shirtsleeves pushed up to reveal his thick forearms. His eyes rose to hers. “Sorry about that.”

  “When did you guys break up?”

  A small smile tugged at the edges of his lips. “Was it that obvious? I should have known you’d catch on. Smart girl.”

  Kay ignored the sharp thrill of pleasure his words brought. She shouldn’t care so much that Eli thought she was smart. “I have some experience with being rejected.”

  Eli stood up straight, his jaw tight. “I hope you’re not comparing me to the asshole you were dating last summer?”

  “No. You’re nothing like Craig. I’m just saying that even when the guy is trying to let you down easy, it still hurts to want something you can’t have.”

  Eli came over and planted a hand on the counter next to her, blocking her in. Kay took a deep breath and then immediately regretted it. He was so close and he smelled so good. Now she would have his scent on her brain for the rest of the night.

  “Kay, about the other night—”

  She held up a hand to stop him. “I think we’ve already said all we need to say. You’re not interested in settling down. I get it.”

  He opened his mouth to protest, then seemed to think better of it. “Like I said, it’s just not possible.”

  “I think we have different ideas about what that word means. You say not possible, but I say not interested. And that’s okay.”

  Eli regarded her with a tense look before he finally gave a sharp nod. “I set up the playpen in the third bedroom already. My mom sent along some sheets and baby blankets in case you need those.”