Hooking Him (How to Catch an Alpha #3)(15)

“But did I? You said she was breathing. You never said she was awake.”

“You’re very observant,” he says, studying me in a way that makes me feel like he’s trying to figure me out.

“I had to learn at an early age how to read between the lines. A lot of times, people tell you what you want to hear. Still, they always leave hints so that if they’re ever caught and things are brought to their attention, they can say they never lied.”

“Have you been lied to a lot?”

“No, but I’ve been told a lot of half truths.” I shrug, taking another drink.

“I see.” He nods, and for some reason I think he does.

“So what did you need to talk to me about? Do I need to fill out a report or something?”

“No report, but I do have a few questions about how you came to know Amy, and your interaction with her parents.”

“Can I sit down?” I ask. My legs feel like jelly, and there is no way I want to seem weak around him. Falling on my face again would for sure make me seem weak.

“Yeah.”

I walk past him to my bed and take a seat on the edge, wrapping my arms around my bare middle. I frown as he walks toward my front door, and I start to ask what he’s doing but stop myself when he grabs one of my hoodies off the hook and brings it to me. I glance down at myself, wondering how I could possibly forget that I’m not dressed, that all I have on is my bikini.

“Thanks.” I take the gray sweatshirt from him when he holds it out to me, then quickly pull it over my head and tug it down to cover the tops of my thighs.

“Now, why don’t you start from the beginning?” he prompts, leaning back against the wall in front of me, making me feel small.

“Can you sit down?” I blurt, then quickly add, “It’s just . . . it feels like an interrogation with you hovering like that, and—”

“You don’t need to explain.” He slides to the floor, and then, with his legs bent and his wrists resting on top of his knees, he asks, “Better?”

I lick my lips, not sure I like this position any more than the previous one. Honestly, I don’t know if him being anywhere in my place would feel okay. The room is too small for his large presence, and with my bed taking up most of the space, it makes this feel too intimate, especially with the conflicting emotions he brings out in me. Who am I kidding? I’m not conflicted; I’m just crazy, because he’s the first guy I’ve ever wanted just because I want him—not because he checks a box or fulfills certain criteria.

“Anna.”

I jump slightly and focus on him. “Sorry.” I lick my lips. “From the beginning?”

“Yeah, baby, from the beginning. And take your time.”

I drag in a breath, then tell him everything that happened. I start from the moment Amy asked if I was a mermaid and end at the moment I passed out. More than once, I pause, because his anger seems to engulf the room, making it almost hard to breathe. But he always reassures me that he’s okay before urging me to continue. When I’m done, he stands, and I grab hold of his hand before he can disappear, like he has a tendency to do. “Can you find out about Amy for me?” I feel desperate for good news. I want to know she’s okay.

“As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know.” He slides his thumb over my pulse, and I swear it skips at the touch.

“Thank you.” I try to let his hand go, but his fingers tighten around mine.

“I’m going to give you my number. If you need to talk, call me; I don’t care what time it is.”

“I’ll be okay,” I assure him.

He shakes his head. “Anna, I have no doubt you will forever be okay. What I want you to know is that I’m here if you need to talk, no matter the time.”

“Okay,” I agree, and he releases my hand. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet to take out a card.

My fingers grasp it, but when he doesn’t let go, I look up at him, and his voice is so soft, so regretful, when he speaks that I feel the sincerity in each word. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but I need to get to the station to file some paperwork.”

“I understand, and seriously, I’ll be all right,” I say, and then my lips part in surprise when he leans down to touch his to my forehead.

“I’ll see you soon, Anna.”

I don’t nod or say a word. I watch him walk to the sliding door, open it, and close it behind him, and then I continue to watch him through the glass until he disappears out of sight as he heads down the steps to the beach.

I fall back against my bed and rub my eyes, trying to remember if I ever had so much excitement in my life before I moved here. I don’t think I did. Really, my life in Chicago was pretty boring, considering everything that’s happened recently.

“Anna Belle!”

I jump up when my name is shouted and run to my front door when Edie starts to pound on it. I swing the door open, and my knees weaken when I see the look on her face.

“What happened?” I ask, startled by her expression.

“You’re okay!” She wraps her arms around me, squeezing me so tight I can’t even breathe.

“Edie, you’re freaking me out.”

“I’m freaking you out?” She leans back and shakes me from side to side. “I just heard what happened and rushed home to make sure you’re okay.”