He was going to be fine.
The past few days had been a whirlwind of craziness. Her life had changed overnight. By now her sister must have seen the news and reported it all to her mother, and though Angela didn’t like the idea of causing them worry, calling either one of them at this point would only serve to put Jason in further jeopardy. They had come too far for her to see him carted back to prison before he had all the information he needed.
“Hello!”
Angela made her way back inside the house.
There was only one word for the woman standing in the entryway—beautiful. Tall and slender, her thick blonde hair pulled back from her face. Perfectly sculpted brows and high cheekbones framed a pair of amazingly blue eyes.
“I’m Sophie.”
Angela offered her hand. “Angela.”
“Where’s Jason?”
She pointed down the hall. “He’s asleep in the bedroom at the end of the hallway.”
“Colin told me he was hurt. Is he going to be okay?”
“After a few days of rest, he should be fine.”
The woman was at the top of Angela’s list of suspects. But Sophie was either a pretty good actress or she really was deeply concerned about Jason.
Sophie set her purse and a bag of clothes on the floor near the couch, then gestured toward the bedroom. “Is it okay if I peek in on him?”
“Sure. He’s been asleep for a while. I was just about to make him some soup.” Angela lifted her cup of tea. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve helped myself to some tea.”
Sophie waved a hand through the air. “Use whatever you need.” She hesitated, and then, before heading down the hall, said, “Your face has been all over the news. There’s been a lot of speculation about the two of you. Jason didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Of course not.”
The woman looked relieved. “I’m glad you’re both okay.”
An awkward moment hovered between them.
“Is it true what they’re saying?” Sophie asked. “That he forced you to go with him?”
“He didn’t have a choice. He needed a car.”
“But you didn’t know him, did you? You must have been scared to death.”
“It was fairly obvious from the start that Jason wasn’t a dangerous man.”
“They said they found evidence in your apartment that he had tied you to the bed.”
“He never hurt me.”
Sophie rested a hand on her chest. “I would have been scared to death. A strange man demanding I give up my car, then tying me to the bed.”
Angela had nothing to say to that.
Sophie lifted a brow. “Have you two formed a relationship?”
Angela’s eye widened. “Why do I get the feeling I’m being interrogated?”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business.”
“What are you two discussing?”
They both looked in the direction of the bedroom. Jason, wearing boxers and nothing else, made his way toward them, his gait slow and steady. His side was covered in bandages.
Angela helped him to the living room. “You shouldn’t be out of bed. You need to rest.”
“I heard voices.” Once he was settled on the couch, he took a good long look at Sophie. “It’s been a long time.”
“It’s good to see you, Jason.”
“Is Colin coming?”
“He couldn’t get away. They’re still watching the house.”
“I see.”
“Colin said you needed clothes, so I stopped at the store and bought you some pants and a couple of shirts. I hope it all fits.” She gestured toward the bag on the floor.
“Sorry about your mom.” Jason tried to get comfortable but wasn’t doing a very good job of it. Not until Angela disappeared and then returned with an armful of pillows and a blanket. “As you can see,” Jason said, “I’m being well taken care of.”
Angela blushed as she worked the pillows around him just so. Once she was finished, she straightened and then plunked her hands on her hips. “How’s that?”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“I’m going to give you two some time to catch up,” Angela said. “I’ll be in the kitchen heating up some soup. You’re probably hungry.”
“Starved.”
***
As soon as Angela disappeared, Sophie took a seat on the edge of the couch.
“You shaved your head.”
He rubbed the palm of his hand over it. “Still not used to it.”
She smiled. “Even without hair, you look handsome.”
Before he could respond, she added, “I’m sorry I haven’t been to prison to see you in a while. Life tends to get in the way. Before you know it, days become months, and months become years.”
He gritted his teeth.
“You’re angry, aren’t you?”
He met her gaze. “You could say that. I’m rotting in prison and suddenly you drop off the face of the earth without a word, without a goodbye, and you think ‘you’re sorry’ covers it?”
Her spine stiffened.
“How long have you and Colin been seeing one another?”
Surprise lit up her face. “What?”