rethink his appreciation of her forthrightness. “Don’t people do that in Montana?”
“Kiss? Yep, lots of that going on in Montana.”
“That’s a start. I’m glad you recognized the gesture.”
“Don’t be obtuse, Sean. You kissed me right after you told me to stay out of your life. And I’m not saying people in Montana don’t send conflicting messages with their kisses, because they do. I’m saying I don’t.”
“Can’t I just excuse myself by admitting I’m a caveman? I acted on impulse without thinking.”
“But you’re not the impulsive type, are you?”
“I can be.” Especially looking into a pair of big blue eyes.
“If you’re so impulsive, tell me what upset you so much tonight.”
He cleared his throat. “It was another message from the killer. That’s the game he’s playing, but I’m glad he’s playing it with me now instead of you.”
“Whether we like it or not, I’m involved in this and I appreciate your openness.”
After Sean hung up the phone, he stared at it until his eyes ached and grew bleary. He hadn’t been open with Elise at all, and he had no intention of inviting her into his misery.
* * *
T HE FOLLOWING MORNING , a dull pain in Elise’s leg woke her up and the fear she kept tamping down in her semiconscious state welled to the surface. Closing her eyes, she massaged her thigh around the stitches and took a couple of deep breaths.
Last night she’d sensed Sean holding back, but she couldn’t force him to confide in her. She could get through this with or without Sean Brody. With would be better, a lot better.
She stretched her legs and swung them over the side of the bed. Then she shuffled across the hardwood floor and poked her head out the door of Courtney’s spare bedroom. Nothing but silence greeted her.
Determined to earn her keep, she shoved her feet into a pair of flip-flops and made her way down to the kitchen. She blended some plain yogurt with a few berries, sprinkled some granola on top and added a sliced banana.
She found a couple of stale bagels, dropped them into the toaster oven and began pouring water into the coffeemaker.
“Stop right there.” A sleepy-eyed Courtney lounged against the entryway to the kitchen, yawning. “The breakfast looks great, but I’ll handle the coffee. You don’t even drink the stuff.”
Elise backed away from the coffeemaker. “It’s all yours. I don’t want to mess with your morning elixir.”
Courtney brushed past her and grabbed a bag of coffee beans. “You did realize you’d have to grind the beans first, didn’t you?”
“Of course.” Elise dipped a spoon into the yogurt. “How old are the bagels? I figured we could toast away the staleness.”
“They’re not that old. I have some cream cheese, too.” She pointed to the fridge. “How’s your leg feeling?”
“Sore. I took some ibuprofen.”
“Are you going to stay home from school tomorrow?”
“No way. We have all kinds of activities planned for the last few days of school. It’s the best part of the school year.”
Courtney pursed her lips as she flipped the switch for the coffee grinder.
When the grating noise stopped, Elise crossed her arms and said, “What? Why are you looking like a disapproving schoolmarm?”
“Maybe you should just take personal leave for the rest of the school year and get out of Dodge.”
“You mean turn and run away with my tail between my legs?”
“You’re allowed to be a coward. Nobody expects you to hunt this guy down.”
Elise curled her fingers into her upper arms. “He had his second chance to kill me and he sliced my leg instead. He knows I already gave his description to the police, and he’s not worried about it because he was wearing a disguise. There’s nothing I can do to him now.”
“He doesn’t know what you told the police. For all he knows, you could remember more details. You’re a threat to him, Elise. And that makes him dangerous.”
The ringing phone made
“Kiss? Yep, lots of that going on in Montana.”
“That’s a start. I’m glad you recognized the gesture.”
“Don’t be obtuse, Sean. You kissed me right after you told me to stay out of your life. And I’m not saying people in Montana don’t send conflicting messages with their kisses, because they do. I’m saying I don’t.”
“Can’t I just excuse myself by admitting I’m a caveman? I acted on impulse without thinking.”
“But you’re not the impulsive type, are you?”
“I can be.” Especially looking into a pair of big blue eyes.
“If you’re so impulsive, tell me what upset you so much tonight.”
He cleared his throat. “It was another message from the killer. That’s the game he’s playing, but I’m glad he’s playing it with me now instead of you.”
“Whether we like it or not, I’m involved in this and I appreciate your openness.”
After Sean hung up the phone, he stared at it until his eyes ached and grew bleary. He hadn’t been open with Elise at all, and he had no intention of inviting her into his misery.
* * *
T HE FOLLOWING MORNING , a dull pain in Elise’s leg woke her up and the fear she kept tamping down in her semiconscious state welled to the surface. Closing her eyes, she massaged her thigh around the stitches and took a couple of deep breaths.
Last night she’d sensed Sean holding back, but she couldn’t force him to confide in her. She could get through this with or without Sean Brody. With would be better, a lot better.
She stretched her legs and swung them over the side of the bed. Then she shuffled across the hardwood floor and poked her head out the door of Courtney’s spare bedroom. Nothing but silence greeted her.
Determined to earn her keep, she shoved her feet into a pair of flip-flops and made her way down to the kitchen. She blended some plain yogurt with a few berries, sprinkled some granola on top and added a sliced banana.
She found a couple of stale bagels, dropped them into the toaster oven and began pouring water into the coffeemaker.
“Stop right there.” A sleepy-eyed Courtney lounged against the entryway to the kitchen, yawning. “The breakfast looks great, but I’ll handle the coffee. You don’t even drink the stuff.”
Elise backed away from the coffeemaker. “It’s all yours. I don’t want to mess with your morning elixir.”
Courtney brushed past her and grabbed a bag of coffee beans. “You did realize you’d have to grind the beans first, didn’t you?”
“Of course.” Elise dipped a spoon into the yogurt. “How old are the bagels? I figured we could toast away the staleness.”
“They’re not that old. I have some cream cheese, too.” She pointed to the fridge. “How’s your leg feeling?”
“Sore. I took some ibuprofen.”
“Are you going to stay home from school tomorrow?”
“No way. We have all kinds of activities planned for the last few days of school. It’s the best part of the school year.”
Courtney pursed her lips as she flipped the switch for the coffee grinder.
When the grating noise stopped, Elise crossed her arms and said, “What? Why are you looking like a disapproving schoolmarm?”
“Maybe you should just take personal leave for the rest of the school year and get out of Dodge.”
“You mean turn and run away with my tail between my legs?”
“You’re allowed to be a coward. Nobody expects you to hunt this guy down.”
Elise curled her fingers into her upper arms. “He had his second chance to kill me and he sliced my leg instead. He knows I already gave his description to the police, and he’s not worried about it because he was wearing a disguise. There’s nothing I can do to him now.”
“He doesn’t know what you told the police. For all he knows, you could remember more details. You’re a threat to him, Elise. And that makes him dangerous.”
The ringing phone made
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