Hope Flames

Chapter 27

LUKE DIDN’T KNOW what the hell was going on, or who this guy was making threats against Emma, but based on the bits of conversation he’d picked up as he walked down the hall, he’d already figured out two things. One, Emma knew the guy, and two, she didn’t like him and wanted him out of her clinic. That was enough information for him to know he had to get this guy out of there in a hurry.

Seemingly unconcerned about Luke’s arrival, the guy stood. He was tall and lean, with a graying goatee. Looked like an academic type to Luke, and he had a sneaking suspicion it might be Vaughn, which sent his radar up to high. He laid his hand on the butt of his gun.

“You must be the boyfriend. I’m Vaughn Castille.” Vaughn extended a hand that Luke ignored.

“I’m pretty sure Emma asked you to leave.”

Vaughn resumed his seat with a smirk. “Emma doesn’t always know what she wants.”

“I know exactly what I want, just like I knew exactly what I wanted six years ago when I took out a restraining order against you to get you out of my life.”

Luke pulled out his gun and pointed it at Vaughn.

Seemingly unconcerned by the gun pointed at him, Vaughn laughed. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Ignoring him, Luke held the gun on Vaughn, pulled out his phone, and punched a button. “This is McCormack. I’m off duty, and I need a black-and-white at the Hope Small Animal Hospital on the highway. Violation of a restraining order . . . Yeah, I’ve got it under control until you send someone here.”

He hung up and kept the gun trained on Vaughn, who wouldn’t look at him, his gaze fixed on Emma, who in turn couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from Vaughn.

“Emma,” Luke said. “Come over here with me.”

She didn’t respond.

“Emma,” he said again. She finally dragged her gaze to his. “Come over here.”

She nodded, grabbed her purse out of the drawer, and went over to Luke.

“See how she obeys you? You haven’t changed much at all in that respect, have you, Emma?”

That seemed to pull her out of whatever trance she’d been in. She narrowed her gaze and made a move toward him. “Screw you, Vaughn.”

Luke grasped her arm and shoved her behind him. “Emma. Stay there.”

He heard the sirens, and Blake Howard came in.

“This your guy?” Blake asked.

“Yeah. Dr. Emma Burnett has a restraining order against him. Vaughn Castille.”

Blake jerked Vaughn toward him, flipped him around and cuffed him, then did a pat down to check for weapons. Once he was secured, Blake looked over at Luke. “I’ll take care of him.”

Luke nodded. “Thanks.”

“I’ll see you again, Emma,” Vaughn said.

Luke leaned toward him. “No, asshole, you won’t.”

Vaughn smirked. “I’ll definitely see you again.”

Emma turned away as Blake took Vaughn outside.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Emma nodded, and Luke went outside to talk to Blake. “Make sure that bastard stays locked up.”

“No problem. If he’s violated a restraining order, he won’t get out tonight. Or hopefully anytime soon.”

After Blake drove away, Luke went back inside. Emma was still leaning against the hallway wall, clutching her purse against her chest.

“Emma.”

Her gaze shot to his. “Thanks. I’m fine.”

“I know you are. Let’s go home.”

He followed her home, staying on her bumper the entire time. She drove slowly, really slowly, and he knew she was in shock. He should have left her truck and put her in his cruiser, but it wasn’t a long drive to the house, so he figured she could handle it. Plus, doing something routine would make her focus.

She pulled into the driveway, and he drove up next to her, got out, and was right there when she got out of the truck.

“I’m fine,” she said as she fumbled in her purse for the keys. He saw the gun in her purse.

“You could have shot him,” he said as he pulled his set of keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door.

“That’s why I invited him into my office. My purse was there, in the drawer. The gun is in my purse.” As they stepped inside and Luke shut the door, she lifted her gaze to his. “I thought about whether or not I could shoot him.”

“If he tried to attack you, I’m sure you could have done it.”

He took her into the living room and sat her on the sofa. Boomer and Daisy came over to her, and she absently petted them.

“How about a beer?”

“That sounds like a really great idea.”

As he grabbed two beers, he forced himself to calm down, but he was really damned pissed off about Vaughn showing up where Emma worked. He sat next to her and handed her the beer. She gulped down two or three swallows, then held the beer between both her hands.

She looked at him for the longest time, then let out a sigh. “He came here first. And he knows about you. He asked about my boyfriend at my house.”

“So he’s been stalking you.”

“Apparently.”

She took several more swallows of beer, emptying the bottle before placing it on the table. She took a deep breath, then let it out. He’d never seen her look more defeated than when she gazed up at him. “I’m tired.”

“He’s locked up, Emma.”

“But for how long? I know how the system works. He’ll be out on bail tomorrow. And then what?”

“Then . . . we’ll figure out a way to get him out of your life.”

“We?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. He’s my problem to deal with.”

“No. He’s our problem to deal with.”

“Not tonight. I don’t even want to think about him tonight.”

He wished they could continue to talk this out, but he understood she’d just gone through a lot. “Okay. Let’s go to bed.”

They stood, but she laid a hand on his chest. “I don’t want to upset you or make you angry, but would you mind . . . I need to be alone tonight.”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“I just need to be in my own head, to think some things through.”

In other words, she was pushing him away at a time when what she really needed was someone to hold on to, to be close to. But yeah, he got the hint loud and clear. “Sure. Come on, Boomer.”

Boomer, who was curled up next to Daisy, lifted his head. When he saw Luke head to the front door, he followed.

Emma leaned against the doorway. “I hope you understand. It’s nothing you’ve done. I just need some space right now.”

“I understand.” He opened the front door. “Good night, Emma.”

“Good night, Luke.”

The door locking behind him had a note of finality to it.

He’d been there for her when she’d needed him.

But maybe that was the thing—she didn’t need him, or want him. Maybe she’d already had a guy in her life who was there for her way more than she’d ever wanted, and maybe she never wanted to go down that relationship road ever again. He knew she was afraid—of men, of relationships, and what that meant. Hell, so was he. But he was taking the steps.

Emma just didn’t want to.

Fine with him. He’d never wanted a relationship in the first place. He and Boomer had been doing just fine as single guys.

He started up the truck and backed out of the driveway. He made a call to one of the guys on duty to keep watch over Emma’s house during the night.

Like it or not, he was still going to make sure she stayed safe, even if she didn’t want him in her life.

“To the single life again, Boom,” he said as he drove away.