I made a zipped lip motion and winked at him. He followed me into the kitchen where I pulled out a vase and put the flowers in water.

  They’re beautiful, I told him.

  “I’ll let Jenson know—that’s my sister. We call her Jennie. Or Jen.”

  I nodded, realizing he was filling the space, trying hard not to be uncomfortable with my silence. I wished I could talk aloud to him. Holding up a finger, I signaled for him to wait. I dug in my purse and pulled out a pad of paper.

  Do you have a big family?

  I slid the notebook toward him.

  “Yeah. Massive. There’s four of us kids in my family and just on my dad’s side, I have ten cousins. I guess that doesn’t seem like that many but when we all get together, it’s madness. Plus my brother is married. And my sister—Jen—has two kids. But she’s divorced.”

  He took a deep breath. “And there I go again.”

  I like it, I signed.

  “That’s good. As a bartender, I’m used to listening to people, but for some reason I just started word vomiting around you. Jesus.” He scrubbed his face. “Forget I said that.”

  Coming around the counter, I grabbed my purse and shoved the beat up notebook inside it. I touched his arm and smiled up at him, letting him know it was okay. To tell the truth, everything about Hudson, from his chatter to his frustration with himself and being unsure how to act around me, rang with him being genuine.

  I appreciated that more than I could ever tell him. Losing my ability to speak, along with everything I’d held dear, in middle school, right at the cusp of being a teen, had stolen all normalcy from me in so many ways. And when it came guys… Most saw me as either a challenge or a charity case. Both soon found they couldn’t deal with—or didn’t want to. On the other hand, I’d dated men who were deaf mute. That never lasted, either. The fact I might be able to speak again someday was a deal breaker—maybe a strike to their egos. I didn’t know.

  Hudson made me think that maybe I’d just had a terrible dating pool. Not everyone was like those I’d known. Hudson wasn’t.

  Four

  Hudson

  Driving west of the city, I headed toward the lakeshore. “I thought we could pick-up something to eat then head over to the drive-in. Does that sound okay?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “I promise I didn’t plan that so we’d be alone in a car and I could be an octopus on you. I just thought… Well we could talk without an audience and it might be more comfortable. We can do something…”

  Her hand covered mine, a pulse seeming to zing through me at the simple touch.

  It’s okay, she signed.

  “Okay, just so you know, you’re on deck once we park. Since I’m driving, I’ll give you the Hudson Ferrazzi run down.” I glanced over and she gave me a small nod, but her matching smile told me she was good with my plan. Mostly anyway. I couldn’t be sure if it was hearing about me or telling me about herself. I guessed the latter.

  “So, hmm… I don’t do this often. I’m twenty-four and I work at the Brewery—but you know that, since you saw me there. I’ve either worked in the front or done stuff in the back for as long as I can remember. And when I wasn’t doing stuff for my dad, I got sent over to the event center to do stuff there. My uncle owns that, but the whole thing—all the businesses are part of one conglomerate. It’s confusing. Separate but the same—if you stick around, you’ll eventually understand it. But that’s not about me.”

  My fingers tapped on the steering wheel. “I’m the youngest of four. My older sister is the one with the flower shop. And I have two older brothers. I’m sure you’ll meet them soon. They and my cousins are always in my business. Always. I hope that’s not going to be a problem because I can try to keep them in check but that’s almost impossible. My family doesn’t really get boundaries. Even my mom and dad. And my aunts and uncles, come to think of it.”

  I heard a funny sniffing sound from Sparrow, and when I glanced over, she was laughing. The hand not over her mouth circled, telling me to go on.

  “Oh, you think that’s funny. Just wait.”

  Honestly, I couldn’t wait until she met my family. Something about Sparrow had me thinking ahead with her. My mind couldn’t stop spinning possibilities since I saw her and lightning seemed to strike me. Hell, I’d even told my friend Armie about her when he’d joined me for a run this morning. And that was something because I’d learned to keep my shit to myself at a very young age, lest it be dissected by committee.

  “I want to college locally, closer to the lakeshore, at Michigan Valley U, but I lived on campus for the first couple years. Kinda…dumb, I guess, since I drove into work a couple days a week anyway. When I was a junior, I got my own place in Rockford.” I slid a glance at her. “Don’t be impressed. My parents paid for it, and I’m repaying the loan to them. They did that for all four of us. Anyway…” I shrugged. “I got my degree in business with a minor in advertising. I was actually only a couple credits away from a double major. Just internships.”

  I glanced over again as I exited the highway. “Are you bored yet?”

  She made that laughing-sniff sound again and shook her head.

  “It might take a little longer, but do you care if we order curbside from Applebee’s or Red Robin or something?”

  Sparrow shook her head again, and I navigated toward the first restaurant. And parked near the pickup spaces so we could order then wait. Pulling up the restaurant app, I handed it over to Sparrow. “Order anything you want—including dessert and a drink. It’ll be a long movie.”

  Once she ordered, she handed the phone back to me and I placed my burger and drink order then paid. I dropped the cell in my cup holder and turned to look at her. “I like burgers and fries but I don’t like fast food. I know…weird, huh?”

  She shook her head once more.

  “Okay… you’re turn. Tell me everything.”

  Her face scrunched as she thought and I saw a shadow pass over her eyes before she blinked it away.

  “How about… How old are you? I guess that’s a place to start,” I prompted.

  She pulled her small beat-up notebook from her purse and set it on her lap, a pen clipped to the coils.

  Twenty-two, she signed.

  “Have you lived in the area long?” I wasn’t great at small talk, but I wanted to know everything about her.

  She indicated no. I’ve only lived here for four years.

  While we waited, I found out she had no family in the area, which made me want to get her roped into mine even more.

  “Spiderman or Iron Man?”

  Sparrow blinked at me. Depends on which Spiderman. Because Tom Holland… Duh.

  I grinned.

  “Duh,” I echoed. “Let me guess… It’s because of Tom Holland and not the character, right?”

  She held up a finger then wrote in her notebook. Umbrella lip-sync dance.

  I groaned and rolled my eyes, but we both laughed.

  Don’t hate me but I haven’t seen and of the Marvel movies, she wrote.

  I gasped dramatically and covered my heart with my hand. Sparrow’s shoulders shook and I knew we were off to a good start.

  “Next date or the one after that,” I said. “Marvel marathon at my house. Sound good.”

  Sounds good, she signed. And I took that as a good sign that I’d get to see her again after tonight.

  Five

  Sparrow

  I couldn’t stop smiling…and yawning. It was after two in the morning as Hudson drove back to my place after the movies at the drive-in. It might seem strange, but I’d never had a date when I’d had more fun. Hudson seemed to fully accept my handicap and dove in with a determination not to let it get in the way.

  My hand was firmly clasped in his. That had happened sometime midway through the first movie and our hands had rarely been apart since then, except when I we’d been talking and I’d signed to him.

  “So, tomorrow…” he started. One thing we’d talked about was that it was a rare Saturday off for him since he usually had Sunday to Tuesday off and worked Wednesday to Saturday. Once every three months, he had a free Saturday. “Can I pick you up around two?”

  What are we going to do? I signed.

  “Bowling then catch dinner.”

  That surprised me, but sounded like fun.

  “I’m terrible at it, but it’s fun. Um…my cousins might be there.”

  “Might?” I mouthed when he glanced over.

  “Probably. It’s a Sunday thing. And whoever shows, shows. There could be just you and me or there could be a dozen of us.”

  That sounded…terrifying. I took a breath and told myself to suck it up. If I wanted to get to know Hudson, I had to meet his family. But on the second date?

  “Or we can do something else,” he offered with slightly less enthusiasm.

  We pulled in front of my place before I could answer. He squeezed my hand when I went to open the door. “Hang on. I’ll come around and walk you inside.”

  I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to, but I really appreciate it. Nodding, I waited then took his hand when he opened the door and reached out to me. At the security door, I unlocked it. I looked up at him, thinking he’d leave me now that I was there, but he indicated inside. His fingers clasped around mine while we took the flight of stairs to the second floor.

  Near my door, he sucked in a breath and pulled me back, putting me behind him as he backed us away.

  “Does someone else have a key to your place?”

  I shook my head.

  “I watched you do both your locks when we left. Now your door is slightly ajar.”

  Instant terror sliced through me, taking me right back to the last time someone had broken into my home and the horror that person had wreaked on my life. I tugged at his arm, pulling him back toward the stairs.

  “Hudson,” I whispered, the sound a ragged rasp that startled us both.

  His brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he pulled out his phone and called the police.

  “We’re outside on the sidewalk,” he told the dispatcher after he identified himself and explained the problem. “No. We won’t go in. We’ll wait.”

  He hung up and stuck the cell in his pocket. Anger played on his face when he turned on me. “You spoke. You said my name. What is this? Is it all a game?”

  I opened my mouth to talk to him, but no words came out. Tears pricked my eyes because the terror that had allowed me to speak the warning was still there but the wall around by voice had rebuilt as strong as ever.

  Wanting to explain, I pulled out my notebook. He pushed my hands down. “No more games. Just fucking talk to me.”

  I jerked at his anger then jolted back out of his reach.

  Not a game, I scribbled. Let me explain.

  He crossed his arms, his feet planted like and immovable wall.

  I scrolled through my phone to bring up an article about my parents.

  These are my parents. They were murdered when I was 12 and the person was never caught. I saw it, but the man who did it didn’t know. I…since then, I don’t talk. Can’t. Not to people. I don’t know how I said your name. My therapists says I have a block because I had to be quiet and now I can’t—well, we’re working on it. I’ve been seeing her for a few years, and this was the first time.

  Hudson stonily looked at my phone then glanced at the note I’d written, his cynical anger fading as he looked from the article to my words, then back. His lips parted on ragged breaths. He closed the distance between us, and pulled me into his arms, my phone and notebook still grasped in one of his hands.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry. I promise you’re going to be safe. I’m so sorry,” he repeated. “I can’t imagine.”

  I shook my head, not wanting him to imagine it. The horror was more than I wanted anyone to endure, and I’d lived with it every day for ten years. Turning my head, I rested my ear over his heart and hugged close to him while we waited.

  Taking deep breaths I breathed in his masculine smell, a mix of his personal smell and the remnants of the cologne he must have put on earlier today. Focusing on that, I tried to let it soothe me while I attempted to force away the terrifying memories that were never far from me.

  It seemed like forever before flashing lights filled the lot as several cruisers pulled into the lot with sirens off. I turned in Hudson’s arms, readying myself to interact with them. I reached for the notebook he still held and shoved away my phone.

  “You called about a break-in,” one of them say as he approached us.

  “Yes, I called. It’s my girlfriend’s apartment and I was walking her up and noticed her door partly open. I watched her secure both the locks before we left.”

  Girlfriend?

  The officer, Latten according to his badge, looked at me.

  “Anyone else have the key?”

  I shook my head.

  “Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to break in? Seen anything suspicious?”

  I shook my head again.

  “And your name?” he asked, starting into that part of the report while a few other officers went inside, apparently using the information Hudson had given dispatch.

  “It’s Sparrow Rose,” Hudson told him.

  The cop frowned at him then looked to me. “Miss…”

  “She doesn’t speak,” Hudson told him. His eyes met mine. “Do you think it’s the person who…murdered…” He whispered the word, clearly not wanting to say it. “Your parents.”

  The cop stiffened at that, but I shook my head.

  That was in Chicago, I scribbled onto my notepad then showed him. Realizing the officer would need the info, I turned the paper toward him.

  “We still need to take that into account,” he said. “Let’s go sit and we can get this all down.”

  Six

  Hudson

  This date had gone from exciting to comfortable to terrifying and back to exciting.

  I unlocked the front door of my house, disabled the alarm then ushered Sparrow inside while I carried her small bag. She stepped hesitantly into the foyer and looked around while I reengaged the security system, her shoulders tense. I knew she was unsure about the whole situation—about me, staying here, what she should do. After tonight though, she couldn’t stay at her place.

  The cops hadn’t found anyone inside, but when the let us in, it wasn’t the cute place I’d seen when I picked her up. The whole apartment was trashed. The vase of flowers I’d brought smashed against the wall. Most of her furnishings destroyed. With out a close inspection, I didn’t think much could be salvaged.

  Even if Sparrow hadn’t been shaking harder than a leaf in a violent storm, I couldn’t have let her stay there. If she hadn’t agreed to stay with me, I would have talked her going to my parents’ home or my sister’s. Thankfully, it hadn’t taken much convincing.

  We’d packed her a bag and I’d brought her here as soon as the cops had given us the go head.

  “Let me show you to the guest room. Then I’ll grab some linens for you. My brother stayed over last week after he got in a fight with his wife, and I have remade the bed since I stripped it.” I shrugged. “I don’t have people over often.”

  Thank you for letting me stay. I…

  She paused as if unsure.

  I didn’t want to stay there. Would have gone to a hotel.

  I didn’t have to read between the lines to guess she might have disappeared. During our date, I’d learned that both of the jobs she did were online. She could do that from just anywhere.

  Unfortunately, her computer had been destroyed, which would make that more difficult. Hopefully, she could access what she needed through the cloud, and she could use my laptop. Hell, I’d buy her a new one.

  Pulling her into my arms I buried my nose in her hair. “I’ll keep you safe. We’ll figure out this whole thing. I know people. We can call them in the morning.” I glanced toward the front windows where I could see the faintest gray-purple of the sunrise starting to finger into the horizon. “Later this morning, anyway. Or early afternoon.”

  I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep after seeing how her couch and bed had been violently slashed. Swallowing hard, I forced myself not to tighten my arms around her. My chest rattled with shaky breaths, and I stepped back.

  “Let’s get you upstairs.”

  Thank you, she signed.

  Reaching out, I drew my fingers along her hair, smoothing a silky lock behind her ear before tracing the length to the end with between two of my fingers. “Anything you need, Sparrow.”

  A small, wane smile curved her lips. God, I wished I could hear her voice again—not in terror, but in regular conversation. She’d said she was working with a therapist. Maybe, someday, then… And I’d be there. Deep inside, I knew I wouldn’t walk away from her and I’d fight for her if I had to.

  So much feeling, so fast. I wasn’t sure what to do with it other than to roll with what came my way. We’d wait and see, and I’d keep her safe. I’d even take time off from work if I had to. The worst was, there were no clues as to who it had been.

  “Hopefully, we’ll hear from the police later this morning,” I said, carrying her bag toward the stairs while I kept her small hand clasped in mine. One of the police investigators planned to question her neighbors to see if they’d seen or heard anything tonight.

  Officer Latten, who’d relayed the information to us, said they hoped to at least pinpoint a time so they could pull traffic cam footage from the light at the entrance to the complex, but I wasn’t so sure how that would help. They didn’t know who they were looking for.

  “This is you,” I said, opening the first door on the left. “It’s not a lot, but the mattress is at least decent. The bathroom is directly across the hallway. Feel free to use anything in there. We’ll pick up anything else you need from the drugstore later.”

  And I was jabbering again. Annoyed with myself, I put down her suitcase and turned to the linen closet beside the bathroom, to grab out sheets and blankets.

  Together we made up the bed then I stood at the door, not wanting to leave her alone. Sparrow watched me, looking as if she didn’t want me to leave her alone, either. But maybe, that was my wishful imagination. I just wanted to wrap my arms around her.

 

1 2 3 4 5