The Edge of Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page A

said to her in a long time. He meant it. She was sure of it.
    "Thank you."
    "Look, what was the name of that inn you mentioned?" He asked, getting to his feet. "The Baxter Inn? Let me call them and see if they've got a room. That way, at least you'll know I'm still in town and where I am in case you need me."
    She told him where to find the phone book, in the desk tucked under the stairs, and when he went to get it, she wondered who he was. For a moment, he reminded her of Sam. Something about the way he was so determined to take care of her, maybe. Sam was like that.
    She'd always known she could count on him and was afraid she'd disappoint him when she told him what had happened—as if it were her fault. She knew that was silly, but dammit, that's how it felt. Like something she'd allowed to happen to her, when she should have been able to prevent it.
    Rye came back and called the inn.
    "Two nights. That's it. Then they're booked." He hung up the phone, then started writing on the notepad. "I'm leaving my cell phone number and the number at the inn just in case. Sure you won't change your mind and call someone?"
    "I'm not going to let him run me out of my own house," she said.
    "Okay. I want to check the locks on the doors and the windows, just in case." He started in the living room, pushing aside the pretty lace panel curtains and jiggling the locks on the windows. "I still don't like leaving you here alone."
    "I'll be fine. It scared me, because I didn't see it coming at all. But it really wasn't that bad."
    "It looks like it must have been bad, Emma," he said, heading for the dining room.
    It held a wide mahogany table that seated twelve, an antique passed down from Rachel's great-great grandmother, an old-fashioned sideboard to match, a dainty lace tablecloth more for show than anything else, and silver candlestick holders. Emma thought about the familiar room. Home. She was home. So why was she still shaking? Why didn't she feel safe? Rye could see that, and she felt like she owed him some explanation.
    "What you're seeing?" she began. "Me falling apart? It's not all about what happened yesterday. It's..." It was about what happened before. She was sure the extreme nature of her reaction was mostly about long-buried memories of when she was a child.
    He didn't say anything, but came to stand in the wide opening between the living room and the dining room, watching her and waiting.
    "Please don't ask me anymore."
    "Okay," he said. "But even if it wasn't that bad, you're still scared to death, and I still don't like leaving you."
    "The inn's not ten minutes away. The sheriff's department's even closer. If anything happens, I'll call." That should have made her feel better, shouldn't it? She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince herself or him.
    It wasn't working on her, probably not on him, either, because he checked the kitchen. She heard him in the family room, in the sunroom.
    He came back and pronounced the first level sound and locked up tight.
    "You can check the upstairs if you like, but it's just the same way. Sam wouldn't have it any other way."
    "Okay. If you're sure. How about some aspirin for your head before I go?"
    "That would be great." She directed him to the cabinet above the refrigerator, where the medicine was stored, and he came back with two aspirin and a glass of water. "Thanks."
    "Anything happens, you'll call? Promise me?" he said, standing over her and looking grim.
    "I promise."
    * * *
    Well hell, he thought as he finally made himself walk out the door. Even if he'd wanted to leave now, he couldn't. Not after seeing the look on her face when her ex-boyfriend called.
    He'd been up close and personal with men who made a pastime of beating up on women. It was like they thought they had a right; the woman was theirs, after all. What if Emma's ex was like that? If he didn't stay in Chicago? If he came here and hurt her again?
    He really didn't need this.
    Sam McRae couldn't possibly be worth it,