Hope Flames: Hope Book 1 (33 page)

She took a deep breath, centering herself to find the calm balance she needed to confront him. “Let’s go sit down, have something cold to drink. Then you can tell me whatever it is you want to tell me.”

He tilted his head to the side and studied her, and once again she was struck by that faraway look in his eyes.

“Okay.”

She waited while he caught up to her, and it took everything in her not to run from him. Just being this close to him made her nauseous as the past rushed back to her. She forced it away, staying in the here and now.

“So you work here?”

“Yes.”

“It’s what you always wanted to do.”

“Yes, it is.” She had to fight to keep her voice under control, not to tremble because he was so close to her.

She opened the door to her office. He walked in and looked around. Picked up a few files, then walked to the
window before turning around to face her, his hands clasped behind his back. It reminded her so much of him standing at the front of the classroom. He’d been so commanding back when she was a lovestruck freshman. She’d hung on his every word, and he’d hooked her like a starving fish.

“So . . . you have an office. You’ve really come up in the world, Emma. You’re a success.”

“I’m just starting out.”

“Still, you’re on your own. Do you think you can make it without someone to take care of you?” He came around the desk and this time, she refused to cower or step back. “You always needed someone to look after you. You liked it when I did.”

No, she hadn’t, but she had no idea of his current state of mind, so she kept her opinions to herself.

She tilted her head back, met his gaze. “How about we have something to drink?”

“I don’t suppose you have wine in that mini fridge of yours,” he said, taking a seat.

She managed a smile. “No. Soda or water.”

“Maybe we can go back to your place. I stopped there first looking for you, but you weren’t home, so I came here.”

He knew where she lived. She wondered how long he’d been stalking her. “So . . . soda or water?”

“You’re not inviting me back to your home. Is your boyfriend there?”

She shifted past him and reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of water, unscrewed the top and held on to the bottle to keep her hands from shaking. Now she was next to her desk, inches away from the drawer that held her purse. And her gun. “That’s none of your business. Just like my life is none of your business anymore.”

“You’re brave now, Emma. Braver than you used to be. You used to let me control everything.”

She took a seat at her desk, using her knee to nudge the drawer. “That was a long time ago.” She took a sip of water.

“Not so long ago. What changed between us?”

“I think you know what happened.”

“Yes. You betrayed me.”

“I didn’t betray you, Vaughn. I ended our relationship. Now I’d like you to leave.” She nudged the drawer open farther.

He laughed, his tone growing more menacing. She didn’t want to have to take out the gun, but so help her she would if he made one move out of that chair.

“That didn’t work out too well for you before, little girl. You trying to tell me what to do. What makes you think it’ll work out so well for you now?”

“Because I’m here to back her up. Now get the hell up out of that chair before I kick your ass.”

Emma’s gaze shot to the doorway.

Luke.

Chapter 27

LUKE DIDN’T KNOW what the hell was going on, or who this guy was making threats against Emma, but based on the bits of conversation he’d picked up as he walked down the hall, he’d already figured out two things. One, Emma knew the guy, and two, she didn’t like him and wanted him out of her clinic. That was enough information for him to know he had to get this guy out of there in a hurry.

Seemingly unconcerned about Luke’s arrival, the guy stood. He was tall and lean, with a graying goatee. Looked like an academic type to Luke, and he had a sneaking suspicion it might be Vaughn, which sent his radar up to high. He laid his hand on the butt of his gun.

“You must be the boyfriend. I’m Vaughn Castille.” Vaughn extended a hand that Luke ignored.

“I’m pretty sure Emma asked you to leave.”

Vaughn resumed his seat with a smirk. “Emma doesn’t always know what she wants.”

“I know exactly what I want, just like I knew exactly what I wanted six years ago when I took out a restraining order against you to get you out of my life.”

Luke pulled out his gun and pointed it at Vaughn.

Seemingly unconcerned by the gun pointed at him, Vaughn laughed. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Ignoring him, Luke held the gun on Vaughn, pulled out his phone, and punched a button. “This is McCormack. I’m off duty, and I need a black-and-white at the Hope Small Animal Hospital on the highway. Violation of a restraining order . . . Yeah, I’ve got it under control until you send someone here.”

He hung up and kept the gun trained on Vaughn, who wouldn’t look at him, his gaze fixed on Emma, who in turn couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from Vaughn.

“Emma,” Luke said. “Come over here with me.”

She didn’t respond.

“Emma,” he said again. She finally dragged her gaze to his. “Come over here.”

She nodded, grabbed her purse out of the drawer, and went over to Luke.

“See how she obeys you? You haven’t changed much at all in that respect, have you, Emma?”

That seemed to pull her out of whatever trance she’d been in. She narrowed her gaze and made a move toward him. “Screw you, Vaughn.”

Luke grasped her arm and shoved her behind him. “Emma. Stay there.”

He heard the sirens, and Blake Howard came in.

“This your guy?” Blake asked.

“Yeah. Dr. Emma Burnett has a restraining order against him. Vaughn Castille.”

Blake jerked Vaughn toward him, flipped him around and cuffed him, then did a pat down to check for weapons. Once he was secured, Blake looked over at Luke. “I’ll take care of him.”

Luke nodded. “Thanks.”

“I’ll see you again, Emma,” Vaughn said.

Luke leaned toward him. “No, asshole, you won’t.”

Vaughn smirked. “I’ll definitely see you again.”

Emma turned away as Blake took Vaughn outside.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Emma nodded, and Luke went outside to talk to Blake. “Make sure that bastard stays locked up.”

“No problem. If he’s violated a restraining order, he won’t get out tonight. Or hopefully anytime soon.”

After Blake drove away, Luke went back inside. Emma was still leaning against the hallway wall, clutching her purse against her chest.

“Emma.”

Her gaze shot to his. “Thanks. I’m fine.”

“I know you are. Let’s go home.”

He followed her home, staying on her bumper the entire time. She drove slowly, really slowly, and he knew she was in shock. He should have left her truck and put her in his cruiser, but it wasn’t a long drive to the house, so he figured she could handle it. Plus, doing something routine would make her focus.

She pulled into the driveway, and he drove up next to her, got out, and was right there when she got out of the truck.

“I’m fine,” she said as she fumbled in her purse for the keys. He saw the gun in her purse.

“You could have shot him,” he said as he pulled his set of keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door.

“That’s why I invited him into my office. My purse was there, in the drawer. The gun is in my purse.” As they stepped inside and Luke shut the door, she lifted her gaze to his. “I thought about whether or not I could shoot him.”

“If he tried to attack you, I’m sure you could have done it.”

He took her into the living room and sat her on the sofa. Boomer and Daisy came over to her, and she absently petted them.

“How about a beer?”

“That sounds like a really great idea.”

As he grabbed two beers, he forced himself to calm down, but he was really damned pissed off about Vaughn
showing up where Emma worked. He sat next to her and handed her the beer. She gulped down two or three swallows, then held the beer between both her hands.

She looked at him for the longest time, then let out a sigh. “He came here first. And he knows about you. He asked about my boyfriend at my house.”

“So he’s been stalking you.”

“Apparently.”

She took several more swallows of beer, emptying the bottle before placing it on the table. She took a deep breath, then let it out. He’d never seen her look more defeated than when she gazed up at him. “I’m tired.”

“He’s locked up, Emma.”

“But for how long? I know how the system works. He’ll be out on bail tomorrow. And then what?”

“Then . . . we’ll figure out a way to get him out of your life.”

“We?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. He’s my problem to deal with.”

“No. He’s our problem to deal with.”

“Not tonight. I don’t even want to think about him tonight.”

He wished they could continue to talk this out, but he understood she’d just gone through a lot. “Okay. Let’s go to bed.”

They stood, but she laid a hand on his chest. “I don’t want to upset you or make you angry, but would you mind . . . I need to be alone tonight.”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“I just need to be in my own head, to think some things through.”

In other words, she was pushing him away at a time when what she really needed was someone to hold on to, to be close to. But yeah, he got the hint loud and clear. “Sure. Come on, Boomer.”

Boomer, who was curled up next to Daisy, lifted his head. When he saw Luke head to the front door, he followed.

Emma leaned against the doorway. “I hope you understand.
It’s nothing you’ve done. I just need some space right now.”

“I understand.” He opened the front door. “Good night, Emma.”

“Good night, Luke.”

The door locking behind him had a note of finality to it.

He’d been there for her when she’d needed him.

But maybe that was the thing—she didn’t need him, or want him. Maybe she’d already had a guy in her life who was there for her way more than she’d ever wanted, and maybe she never wanted to go down that relationship road ever again. He knew she was afraid—of men, of relationships, and what that meant. Hell, so was he. But he was taking the steps.

Emma just didn’t want to.

Fine with him. He’d never wanted a relationship in the first place. He and Boomer had been doing just fine as single guys.

He started up the truck and backed out of the driveway. He made a call to one of the guys on duty to keep watch over Emma’s house during the night.

Like it or not, he was still going to make sure she stayed safe, even if she didn’t want him in her life.

“To the single life again, Boom,” he said as he drove away.

Chapter 28

EMMA HAD RECEIVED a call from one of the sergeants on duty at the Hope Police Department the next day. She needed to go in and file a report. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, Luke was nowhere around in the precinct.

She’d spoken to her lawyer, who told her Vaughn’s violating the restraining order could send him to jail, for a short or possibly long time. That was up to the judge. But he would make bail today, and there was nothing Emma could do about that other than be on guard.

She wouldn’t be caught off guard again, that was for certain. Him showing up at the clinic last night freaked her out and reminded her how hard she’d worked to become independent and gain back her self-esteem. It had taken years of therapy and dragging her ass back to school, starting over when she had allowed herself to get so far behind, to get where she was now.

And she had almost taken a step back again, had almost allowed herself to fall in love again, to put her heart in the hands of a man who could possibly break it. Where had her
vow gone to never fall in love, to never have a relationship, to never trust a man again?

Luke had made it so easy. He’d been there for her time and time again, including last night. He’d walked in just in time to save her from Vaughn, who would have done God only knew what if he hadn’t stepped in.

But what if Luke hadn’t shown up at the clinic? What might have happened? Maybe . . . just maybe, Emma could have handled the situation.

She’d never know now.

Well, goddammit, she didn’t need any man to protect her. She had a gun, she had a license, she had taken self-defense classes. She was a grown woman, a business owner, and she could damn well take care of herself. She didn’t need some knight in shining armor to show up on his white horse and rescue her, then tie her down and make her fall in love and forget all her carefully orchestrated plans for her future.

And it might have stung like crazy when she’d kicked Luke out of her house last night, and she might have lain awake the rest of the night because she realized she’d been so wrapped up in herself and her own misery that she hadn’t bothered to ask him about the sting operation at the pharmacy, which made her realize she was a terrible girlfriend, and he should have been the one breaking up with her.

That revelation had made her toss and turn and feel even more miserable. Even worse, she missed him in her bed, but she’d just have to get used to that because independent women like her didn’t need a man and didn’t need love. And even if she had realized she was in love with Luke, she once thought she was in love with Vaughn, too, so she wasn’t exactly the best judge of that whole love thing, was she?

“Are you all right, Dr. Emma?” Leanne asked as they dealt with a particularly ornery chow who didn’t want to have his shots or his temperature taken or his ears inspected.

Emma fought back the tears that had been threatening all day long. “I’m fine. Allergies or something.”

“Oh, those are the worst. Do you need to take something?”

Yeah. A vacation. On some deserted tropical island. “No, I’m good. Let’s just take care of Barney here so the poor guy can go home.”

Work was an endless day of dogs, cats, birds, a snake and, for a fun change of pace, a lemur with a diarrhea problem. After that, she went home, fed the dogs, then grabbed a glass of wine and sat on her sofa, determined to do nothing but watch mindless television all night.