“I want you out of Brooksfield.”

Her gaze shot to his. “For how long?”

“For however long it takes to catch this guy,” Steve answered.

“I can’t just drop out of school because someone’s terrorizing the town.”

Frustration soured his mouth and he ran his hand through his hair. “Then why don’t you stay at my place?”

“Oh yeah, alone in the woods. That’s just where I want to be.” She rolled her eyes and dropped her gaze to the book in her lap.

“Can you just leave town for the weekend then?” Every nerve ending in his body shouted to haul her away against her will, but he knew the second he turned his back, she’d find a way to come back into the hot zone.

She sighed and met his gaze. “Where do you want me to go?”

“I’ll see if Murphy can arrange a safe house for you for the weekend.”

“You’re really serious about this,” she said, putting her book on the table.

“Yes, I’m dead serious. After we meet him for lunch, I’ll have him take you into protective custody for the weekend and I’ll personally pick you up on Sunday.”

“What am I going to tell Tracy?”

“I don’t know. Tell her you’re meeting your parents for the weekend.”

She bit her lip and nodded. “Fine. But I’m not running off and hiding every time you think I might be in danger, understand?”

He couldn’t help the smirk that surfaced. In twenty-four hours, he’d be able to breathe and concentrate on the case without worrying about her every waking moment.

“Don’t you have homework?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No. We have some stuff for the Public Relations class. Did you even look at the syllabus he handed out Tuesday?”

Steve laughed.

“I may be dating you and willing to surrender into protective custody for you, but I am not doing your homework for you.”

“I would never dream of asking you to do that.”

“Bullshit.”

He grinned. “Well, maybe.”

“If you’re here at the school, you’ve got to do the work.” She dropped her notebook on the table and rummaged for a pen.

He crossed behind her and laid his hands on her shoulder, leaning close and kissing her neck. “Maybe I’ll just make love to you for the next twenty-four hours.”

“Tempting as that may sound, I really have to get some work done,” she said over her shoulder and broke away from his playful grip. “I am actually a student, remember?” She disappeared into her room, coming out a few minutes later with the rest of her books and a laptop computer.

Steve wandered into the kitchen to assess what they had for food. He took four chicken breasts out and put them on a plate on the counter.

“What are you doing?” Jennifer asked from the kitchen door.

“I figured I’d make myself useful and make dinner tonight.” He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Go study, I have to make sure you have everything I need,” he said and continued his inventory, placing the ingredients that did not require refrigeration on the counter next to the thawing chicken breasts. He found a pad of paper, scribbled the few missing ingredients, and headed to the living room. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“Wait,” Jennifer said and tossed him her keys. “Take my keys so you can get in when you get back.”

“Where are you going to be?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I might not hear you knock.” She held up her MP3 player.

“Okay. I’ll be back.” He disappeared out of the apartment. The grocery store was just around the corner and it didn’t take long for him to get the items on the list.

Jennifer was on the couch reading one of her textbooks when he came in. She didn’t even glance up as he walked through the room with the grocery bag. That didn’t sit well with him. She needed to be more aware of her surroundings, especially with the level of danger in the air. He put the food away and came back out in the living room, standing and watching her, every second that ticked by increased his unease.

Finally, she looked up.

“You’re back already?” She removed the earphones.

“You didn’t even look up when I came in. That’s not smart, Jen. You always should be aware of your surroundings.”

“I’m studying.”

“What if it wasn’t me?” He took a seat across from her.

Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Who else would it be?”

“Sometimes you can be so naïve,” he said. “This is an apartment building. The front doors are open during the day. Anyone can walk in. Anyone.”

“So?” she replied with a shrug.

“Look, I know you think this place is safe, but it isn’t. My first bust was a serial rapist.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows.

“At Yale.” His eyes bore into her. “A college campus. Now, I understand your apartment isn’t on campus, but the security here is just as lax as most of those dorms were.”

“But the door automatically locks when you shut it.”

Steve hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “That lock is a cinch to pick. The deadbolt is a different story. You should have that engaged whenever you’re here alone and when you leave the apartment.”

Jennifer pursed her lips and mimicked Steve. “I should have the dead-bolt engaged.”

“I’m serious, Jennifer!”

She smirked and nodded. “I know.”

“You’re incorrigible.” He shook his head and crossed to the slider, scanning the view before turning back to her. “Do you ever use the deadbolt?”

Jennifer turned and shook her head.

“Not smart, babe,” he said. “I would hate like hell to see you get hurt like those girls did. They all thought it was safe where they were too.”

“That’s New Haven. This is Brooksfield, New Hampshire,” Jennifer scoffed.

“And the nice man who raped thirty four women was from some little unknown place in Pennsylvania, smaller than Brooksfield, as a matter of fact,” he snapped. “It doesn’t matter where you are. There are psychos everywhere. You could at least flip the deadbolt when you’re alone and lock it when you leave.”

* * * *

I’m more concerned about what may be in this apartment. Jennifer glanced at the hallway leading to the bedrooms and then at the door. The idea of the dead bolt preventing her from getting away from the thing in the closet was more unnerving.

She returned her attention to Steve and nodded.

“Promise?” he asked.

“Promise,” she agreed.

Steve nodded. “I’m going to go take a nap on the balcony.”

Jennifer watched him for a while and then went back to reading the textbook. By the time the clock read three, she had finished most of her work.

Tracy waltzed in from her classes, lugging her backpack and juggling extra textbooks. “Where’s Steve?” she asked, looking around. “I saw his car.”

“Out here,” he called.

“I’m studying, he’s relaxing.” Jennifer rolled her eyes.

“Must be nice,” Tracy replied.

Steve walked into the living room, grabbing a soda from the refrigerator behind the bar. “I’m cooking dinner tonight. Is Bill coming over?” he asked.

“You’re cooking?” Tracy asked.

“Yes. Is Bill coming over?” he asked again.

“Nah, he has prep to do for initiation tomorrow night.” She shrugged. “I’m surprised you’re here with all that going on.”

Steve glanced at Jennifer. “I’d much rather be here with Jen.”

“Ah, if only I could find a love like that,” Tracy said in a mocking tone. “He cooks, he dotes on you and my, my, my, he is just delicious to look at.”

Steve laughed. “So, it’s just the three of us.”

“Ménage a trois?” Tracy asked raising an eyebrow and licking her lips suggestively.

“No thanks,” Steve replied before Jennifer could admonish her friend.

“I thought that was every man’s fantasy.”

“I’ve only got one fantasy and she’s sitting right there.” Steve pointed at Jennifer.

“God Jen, he is just too good to be true.” Tracy plopped herself on the couch and flipped the television on.

“Soap opera?” Steve gawked at the television as Jennifer closed her books and leaned back to watch the program. “Ah,” he grumbled and went back out on the balcony.