Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

He shrugs, bewildered. “I don’t know, but they could be, and if they are then we need to be really careful because this could end up being very dangerous for us. I know you think I’m being a fool by holding back in alerting the authorities, but these groups are far reaching and I want to be sure that we are safe.”

“Okay, that makes sense,” I have to admit, because it really does. He has better instincts than I thought. “So, what do we do right now? I mean, while we’re here and waiting it out.”

“I guess we try and get some sleep… which I already know sounds crazy and impossible, but we need to have our head’s on straight for tomorrow. Whatever we decide to do, we need to be alert. We need all of our faculties about us. Especially if we decide to talk to the police.”

I nod, my body aching with exhaustion. My brain might not be tired or able to ever switch off again, but my body is so desperate to lie down it’s incredible. I don’t want anything else in the world.

“Can I rest on your couch then? I don’t really want to go home if you have a good security system here.”

“You can sleep in my bed. I will take the couch.”

“I don’t mind…”

He shakes his head. “No, I insist. I want you to be comfortable after the night that you’ve had.”

I’m too tired to argue so I let him take me into his room. As I lie on the bed, he wraps his arms around me to reassure me and hold me close. I snuggle into him, needing him more than I could ever know. So much so that when he stirs to move, I cling to him and hold him close. I don’t want him going anywhere. I need his warmth, the feel of him, the knowledge that I’m not alone.

I cannot be alone right now.

25

Carter

“We’re going to work?” Raelyn asks me, stunned. “You must be joking me, Carter.”

“I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but just hear me out…”

“Hear you out? Carter, it sounds like you haven’t had any sleep at all. I can’t keep going along with this.”

She might be right on the lack of sleep part. I just couldn’t switch off. That’s when I started to do my research in to the organized crime groups, just to see what I could find out. Of course, it wasn’t much. I’m not Lee, who I will contact later on if I decide that involving someone else is the right thing to do, but I got enough to make me even more scared. If those assholes chase after us, we’re screwed. It’s bad enough what they’ll do to me, never mind what they’ll do to Raelyn. It doesn’t even bear thinking about it.

No, we need to work out what sort of trouble we’re in before I plan my next move.

“I have contacts,” I try my hardest to reassure her. “I want to find out what position we’re in.”

She chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment. All I want to do is rub my thumb along her bottom lip to make sure that it’s okay, but it seems that romance has taken a back seat for now. Understandably.

“And while you’re doing that, we just go to work and act like all is okay?”

“We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves, do we?” I ask her. “The guy might already know who I am, since I’m pretty sure that he saw my face.” There’s no point in making this worse by saying both of our faces. “So, he may be able to find me at work today. I don’t want anyone to get hurt on my behalf.”

“But I guess you’re prepared for you to get hurt? And maybe me too?”

“No one will hurt you, believe me. I will make sure of it. I’ll have extra security on.”

“Won’t that be suspicious enough? People will suspect.”

“They will be discrete, Raelyn. I can assure you of that. I know what I’m doing.”

But she doesn’t look convinced and I don’t know how I can change that. It’s very challenging to make her see that I’m doing the right thing when I don’t fully know that myself. I think I am, but any move could be wrong.

“I just don’t get it, Carter. I don’t understand. I want to, but it’s hard.”

I lean in and take her hands. Her eyes meet mine and I can see the sheer terror there. “I know you don’t, Raelyn, but please just know that everything I’m doing is for you. I want to keep you safe.”

“Right sure. So, all I have to do is act like everything is normal and that my life didn’t completely up end last night.” She gasps in, trying to get buckets of air. “Easy peasy. I’m sure I will pull that off easily.”

“Come on, I will drive you home first, then you can get changed. Have a shower, put on some fresh clothes, then we can try our best to face the day… even if just for a little bit.”