I didn’t sleep well that night, but I realized something. Maybe it was good that I’d walked out on Blake because doing so left a sour taste in my mouth and the knowledge that I didn’t like living alone. Having him around had unleashed the possibility that I could be ready for a man in my life. Just not him.
BLAKE
You can only push a man so far. In Ezra’s case she’d gone too far, even for me. I knew she was scared, but the mixed messages were just too painful to deal with. One minute she looked like she might kiss me, the next like she might pull a knife from behind her back and stab me in the chest. But no matter what she said, I wasn’t going to leave her to deal with Tyler on her own. I’d watch from the shadows, I’d follow her if I had to. I had to keep her safe. I couldn’t protect my sister from her killer, but I could protect Ezra.
I thought I was getting close to finding out if someone had contracted David poole to kill my sister. It seemed she’d been keeping secrets from me too. She’d been visiting her ex-boyfriend in the psychiatric hospital he’d been resident in since he’d had a breakdown. He wasn’t mentally unstable, but one of the residents was. The police had already checked out his alibi and said it was impossible that he’d killed her, despite his obsession with her, which she hadn’t told me about, of course.
However, the recently released Tyler Black was a whole other story. Ezra had no idea how much danger she was in. She was stuck in a place where Tyler Black held her prisoner. But people change, and some for the worse. I’d discovered that Tyler was a prolific serial offender. He had attempted to kidnap a woman two years before Ezra. She’d been lucky enough to get away. Unlike my sister, she’d escaped her attacker with her life.
I had to speak to Ezra. I had to talk some sense into her.
EZRA
How did you sleep? Was the message that forced my weary limbs out of the door and down the hall. I was late for work, having called in to let them know I’d been running late. I’d felt so sure that I would grab my bags from Blake’s and not ever have to speak to him again, my pride getting in the way as usual, when I found the note left on my pillow, slipped there as I’d slept. Someone had broken in despite the security outside, despite the surveillance cameras hung in the entrance to my flat, and the alarm signal Blake had told me would alert him. The note emphasized how vulnerable I was. Despite wanting to appear a strong, capable woman, my blinkers had truly been stripped away that morning as I held the note in shaking hands, pounding on the door to Blake’s apartment, sure he wouldn’t want to speak to me.
When there was no answer I called Madison, but she wouldn’t arrive for another half an hour so I called the police. They came and went, assuring me there was no way someone had gained access to my apartment or been able to enter the building unless they were already inside. I couldn’t face going back inside the flat so I left through the fire escape and sat with one of the assigned officers outside while two police cars, each containing three officers, six in total searched the entire building, including the plant room beside the caretaker’s office. There was no sign of Tyler, but Blake appeared at the entrance after another phone call had finally drawn him away from his office.
He gave me a tight smile and lead me away from the building.
‘You can’t stay here. It isn’t safe. I’ve been assigned a job down South. Come with me.’
I was scared and upset. I said yes without a second thought. I let him into my apartment to collect some more of my things. He brought the bags I’d left in his flat down with him.
Outside the air was thick and humid. A late September sun cast a bright glow over everything and everyone as I made my way towards his car. I was sad. I’d hoped that putting up a fight would force Tyler to acknowledge he no longer had power over me, but I was wrong. He’d forced me from my home.
I phoned work and apologized, requesting compassionate leave. They had no option but to accept once I gave in and told them what was happening.
‘I can’t believe you’ve been dealing with this on your own,’ said Cherry, my boss.
‘I haven’t,’ I eyed Blake, who stood watching me for a sign I might at any moment crumble.
I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.
We arrived on the outskirts of Brighton by lunchtime. The car crawled along to a narrow winding road which lead to a quaint little cottage overlooking the sea. The wind swept my hair over my face as I took in the beauty of my surroundings. It reminded me of home. The Devonshire coast, I missed more than my aching heart would allow me to conceive. I had been born on the outskirts of Birmingham but had grown up in Bude.
The detached building was hidden from view by acorn trees and ferns. A wide, overgrown willow hung it’s threaded grassy head over a tyre swing. It was remote. Secluded by a heavy steel gate which lead from the dirt drive and onto the path. I imagined how long it might take me to run for help down to the narrow winding road where little traffic passed.
I looked up catching Blake’s eyes tracing my movements.
‘What do you think?’
‘It’s amazing.’
‘I knew you’d like it.’
But could I spend the entire autumn here alone with only Blake for company?
Sensing my sudden sadness he said, ‘Madison can come and stay whenever you want.’
And I realized, I hadn’t told her where I was going. Nobody had any idea where I was. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
I still had no idea how I would support myself. My small amount of savings would dwindle fast, but Blake had an answer for everything.
‘It’s all in hand,’ he said.
He showed me in through the wooden door to a country decorated living room in shades of lime green, blood orange, and sunflower yellow.
‘I bought it to rent out. I thought it might come in handy one day when I retired.’
‘I thought you were renting it out to pay for your apartment in London?’
‘Their lease ended four weeks ago. I thought the place might come in handy. Good job I did, eh?’
‘You weren’t expecting to live here yourself so soon?’
‘Needs must,’ he said as if this was the most normal set-up in the world. Two strangers living together, breathing the same air. One more damaged than the other. Though I knew he was hurting. He’d already told me about his findings, but I sensed he was still keeping something from me. Something regarding the name of his sister’s killer.
‘I like it.’
The interior design was similar to the style I would have chosen if I’d have been asked. A knot of anger took over me then, thinking that I might not be able to return to the job I loved because of Tyler; because of my past, which always seemed to get in the way of everything. I was jealous too of the fact that Blake had chosen someone else to decorate this homely isolated cottage.
‘I’d have chosen baby blue,’ I said, fingering the curtains.
He didn’t reply, but I sensed the smile before I saw it plastered on his face.
‘If I’d have known you a month ago I’d have asked you to help me.’
I followed him upstairs and turned the corner of the whitewash oak-panelled staircase.
‘This is your room,’ he said, walking into a small, but perfectly adequate room with a window overlooking the back garden.
I looked down and spotted a herb garden. Rows upon rows of mint, thyme, sage, rosemary and lavender now bleached from the sun, met my eyes. It didn’t look like a house. It looked like a home.
He dumped my bags on the bottom of the bed with a thump.
‘Where will you sleep?’ I meant this as an observation but his eyes narrowed slightly at my words.
‘Downstairs, in case …’
‘Oh.’
When he said that he wanted to keep me safe I hadn’t expected him to go so over the top. But I could see it made sense. Blake could apprehend him before Tyler reached the bedroom if he found out where we were hiding that is. Which, of course, I hoped he wouldn’t.
I followed Blake ba
ck down the stairs and into the kitchen. Stirring a freshly made pot of tea he turned to me and said, in a no-nonsense manner, ‘I don’t want you exploring.’
‘Why, what am I going to find?’
‘Just stay put until I get back.’
‘I’m not going to be kept prisoner.’
‘I don’t want anything to happen to you when I’m not here to protect you.’
‘Chivalrous,’ I said.
I was beginning to suspect that living with Blake came with conditions. Conditions I must meet otherwise, he’d turf me out onto the street.
‘I’ll just sit pretty and wait for you to come home then, shall I?’
‘Are you okay with that?’
‘Sure.’
‘You know what the consequences will be if you don’t?’ he said, forcing a smile my way.
I nodded, visualizing Tyler dragging me away inside a van.
‘Great. I’ll get some shopping on the way back from meeting my client. You can take a look around and make yourself at home.’
So I did. As soon as he left, I plonked my backside down on the sofa to enjoy the peace and quiet. I gazed out of the window to the lawn. The scent of freshly mown grass entering the half-open window. I was safe there. Free to do as I pleased. Tyler had no idea where I was.
BLAKE
I hadn’t expected Ezra to make herself at home with such ease. I was returning from the shopping precinct when I found her sprawled out on the window seat, leafing through a copy of an out-of-date newspaper. I imagined what it might be like to wake up beside her, but shook the thought from my head. Ours was obviously a platonic friendship. There was no way she’d be able to stay put for long, but I didn’t want her thinking my demands were unreasonable. That might be enough to push her away, and that was the last thing I wanted.
I’m not a difficult man to live with. It’s human nature for a man to want an easy life. But Ezra thrived on drama. And that was going to get her into trouble.
EZRA
The next morning I was awoken by the soft sound of birdsong. The rustling of a tree branch rubbing against the window of the small cottage. I left the bed and made my way downstairs to find Blake sitting at the oak table, sipping coffee. Two slices of toast popped up to greet me and I almost jumped back in fright. He offered me a plate and buttered the toast for me when he saw my hands shaking.
‘The internet’s down again. It must be something to do with the cable outside. It gets damaged every winter,’ he said, closing down the laptop in front of him.
I wondered what he’d been looking at as I planted myself down beside him, but his face didn’t give anything away.
I was hoping he’d leave soon. His client was meeting him for a consultation at 10:00am, so he kept reminding me, adding that he’d like the place looking nice in case Mr Rogers wanted to come back later for a drink. I nodded and smiled a sarcastic sickly grin and said, ‘yes sir.’ But I think he quite liked my mild manner.
I’d been looking forward to slumping down in front of the TV, gorging on crap and perhaps reading one of the books I’d spotted in Blake’s bedroom as I passed it that morning, but it seemed I was now expected to live as his unpaid skivvy.
‘Could you vacuum the crumbs up?’
‘Sure,’ I said, noticing the mess I’d made of my jogging pants and the tiled floor beneath my bare feet. ‘Anything else you’d like me to do?’
He ignored my obvious disdain.
‘Do the dishes too, shall I?’
‘If you wouldn’t mind,’ he said, calling out from the open front door, that sexy smile beaming on his face.
‘I’m not your fucking slave,’ I said, once he was out of sight.
It wasn’t like me to hold something in until the person I was aiming it at had left. I must be getting soft, I thought. But really, it must have hit home how defensive I’d become. And how fear leaves you bare for all to see. Maybe Blake was right, I thought. Maybe I did need to tone it down a bit. I didn’t want to put men off entirely. But then again, shedding my thick skin was going to take time.
I listened out for the sound of Blake’s car driving away and took my time to climb the stairs to the bedroom where I dressed in a light pink cotton dress, hoping to catch the last of the early autumn sun before it was replaced with rain and gale force winds.
I snuck into Blake’s bedroom, glancing over my shoulder as if he’d been hiding behind the door ready to pounce on me. I wasn’t being nosy, but I found some very interesting literature in the bookcase.
I stumbled into the bedroom, knocking a silver pen and fancy notepad from the bedside cabinet as I crossed the cream carpeted room to where I imagined Blake leafing through the paperbacks, choosing what to take to bed with him, then shaking my head. I couldn’t imagine him reading an erotic novel.
I picked it up, curious to know more, taking it with me to the garden where I lay back in a recliner on the patio, the sun beating down on me from above.
I opened the book and glanced down the list of contents, settling on a chapter titled: Mine.
I awoke to the sound of Blake’s voice, carrying me away from the image of a blindfold over my eyes as he ran a feather down my spine.
I opened my eyes, burning from the glare of the sun to see Blake stood over me.
‘Oh my god!’
‘What?’
‘You’re burned. How long have you been out here? Christ. Get inside.’
It took me a while to find my footing as I swerved through the patio doors, hitting my head on the glass cabinet containing a pretty dinner set. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. The clock on the wall read 1:15pm. Shit, no wonder my skin felt raw.
‘Ow,’ I said, running my hand along the dry blotchy red skin of my shoulder.
‘How long were you out there?’
‘About three hours?’
He eyed me suspiciously but didn’t say anything.
Make it five.
‘I’ll get you some Aloe Vera lotion from the cupboard. Apply it liberally.’
He reappeared with a large bottle in his hands.
‘I’ll see you in the kitchen,’ he said, his voice a whisper to my throbbing skull. I hadn’t worn a hat either.
‘You need to take better care of yourself because I can’t be here 24/7.’
I winced from the truth. It hurt almost as much as the sunburn.
‘It’s going to take days for you to heal. I think you should remain indoors for the time being.’
‘So I can play house?’ I didn’t mean to spit those words out. I was angry and in pain. It was just the way he spoke to me sometimes, it irritated me.
‘You don’t want to be here.’
‘I wanted to relax … to, oh, hell, I don’t know.’ I was hot and sore.
‘I get it. You wanted to unwind. But you’re careless. I won’t have you endangering yourself.’
I didn’t have the energy to fight him this time.
‘Okay.’
‘You know I’m only saying this because I care.’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re so used to taking charge of your own destiny you haven’t a clue how to accept help.’
I nodded.
‘I’m not trying to take over.’
That was exactly what it felt like.
‘I’m sorry.’
But I wasn’t. I didn’t know what else to say.
‘I feel like sometimes, there’s this wall. Like I say something and you’re just not listening.’
I felt the same way about him. The spark I thought was there when we first met in the corridor of our apartment-was gone. All that was left was a slow burning flame ready to ignite at any moment. He was too bossy. Too controlling. Too possessive. I couldn’t deal with it.
‘Maybe it’s better if I leave.’
‘I don’t want you to go.’
‘Then what do you want?’
He took a deep breath and pulled me towards him.
‘Isn’t that obvious?’
&nbs
p; I shook my head.
‘I want you. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. But you won’t let go. You keep fighting me, and I’m not sure I have the strength to keep holding you up.’
‘Then don’t.’
‘But I can’t let you go. I can’t let you walk away, back to that apartment with that maniac …’
He looked spent.
‘Are you finished?’
I turned to walk away, but he held me still. He wasn’t going to let me go. And a part of me was glad.
‘You’re sending me mixed messages. You’re hot then cold. I’ve no idea what you want from me. It seems crazy but I’m infatuated with you. I can’t get you out of my head.’
A beat of silence fell between us. The pause leaving me feeling more unable to speak by the second. Until I realised that sometimes actions speak louder than words. And sometimes you have to make the first move, even if you don’t want to.
I shoved him backwards. He slumped against the wall. My lips found his, tasting mint on his breath. I kissed him hard, nipping his soft lips with my teeth. He responded as my tongue slipped into his mouth, licking and sucking. He kissed me back, hard. I opened my eyes and saw him staring right into mine. It turned me on more knowing he’d been watching me for signs of arousal. His kisses were urgent and unafraid, unlike mine. He sensed the change in me and pulled away.
I leapt forwards and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him close, refusing to let go.
He forced his wet tongue into my mouth, thick and hot, and I wondered what his cock would taste like. He pressed his body against mine, manoeuvering me forwards until I felt the cool painted wall on my back.
‘You want this?’ he said, between kisses. His hot breath on my neck as he lowered his lips down to the sweet spot beneath my earlobe and began to nip at the skin with his teeth.
‘Yes.’
‘You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for,’ he said.
But I didn’t listen. I didn’t care.
BLAKE
I’d left Mr Rogers just before 1:00pm. I was still smarting from Ezra’s sarcastic comments as I’d left asking if she’d mind tidying the place up a bit. We were both responsible for keeping the place orderly after all. When I returned to the cottage to find her burnt to a crisp, asleep on the recliner I almost lost my cool and snapped at her, but caught my calm back just as I’d opened my mouth.
The Man I Need (The Man I Need #1) Page 6
