Page 34 of Flynn

Ryleigh stiffened at that. “I would be very disappointed.”

“And you would go ahead without my consent.” Rosalyn sighed. “You have my permission as long as you proceed with caution.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” The woman warned as Ryleigh rose. “I might just live to regret it.

Don’t make me regret this, Ryleigh.”

The dire sound of the DA’s voice had her pausing as she reached the door, and for a minute, something akin to fear touched her heart.

“I won’t.”

*****

“One glass of wine.” She muttered as she poured the rich burgundy into the glass. “Just one and not a full glass either. It’s allowed, and I need it after the day I had it.” She was trying to justify the alcohol, she realized, but it had been a genuinely trying day. She was wrung out and exhausted, emotionally and physically.

The doctor told her that she could continue with her everyday exercises, which included yoga, strength training, and morning running as soon as she was up. Still, for the last week or so, she had been getting up late and feeling so lousy that exercising was the last thing she wanted to do.

She wondered if she was taking this case personally. She had gone to court and had been inside the courtroom for most of the afternoon and had forgotten entirely to have something to eat. The soup at the restaurant had barely been consumed because she was afraid she would disgrace herself by throwing up.

Then, when she was about to leave for the day, she received a call from Sophia telling her that Maurice Daley had been around, which was unusual for him, as if he knew something was afoot.

She had heard the woman’s panic in her voice and reluctantly asked if she wanted to back down. Sophia hesitated a fraction before saying no, but the hesitation had warned Ryleigh that the woman was afraid.

“What did he say to you?”

“He just wanted to know if I was comfortable and if I needed anything.”

“That does not sound suspicious. Certainly, it does not sound as if you should be afraid.”

“It’s the way he said it. And he was walking around my apartment as if expecting to see something out of place. He also asked if I made any new friends recently.”

“Do you think he has been watching you?”

“he might be. I don’t know. Maybe I am just being paranoid.”

“Sophia, if there is any time you feel the need to end this, then just say the word.”

That was when she hesitated before responding. “No. I need to do this.”

“I don’t want to risk your life.”

“I need to do this.” She had insisted.

And to make matters worse, she could have sworn she was being followed while on her way home. Maybe it was just the paranoia from the conversations with Rosalyn and then Sophia causing all this.

Still, she had taken some circuitous routes to throw off her would-be tail before driving into her garage and making sure everything was locked down tight.

Which, in hindsight, she realized would not make a difference. They already knew where she lived, whether it was Maurice Daley or one of his hoodlums, which was a terrifying thought. But now she wished and hoped fervently that Flynn was indeed coming to see her and spend the night.

She was not the type of woman to need the protection of a man, but somehow, his very presence brought her some sort of peace of mind, which is when he was not destroying her senses with his touches and his kisses.

Gulping wine, she folded the robe around her more securely. She was about to take another when the doorbell chiming had her jolting and rushing to her feet.

Her heart started behaving erratically, and her knees were trembling. Taking a deep breath and trying to steady herself, she approached the front door. Peering through the security hole, she ensured it was him before disengaging the alarm and opening the door.

“I wasn’t certain you ate.”