A Matter of Trust: A Christian Romance (BlackThorpe Security Book 3) Read online

  He managed to get his wheelchair swung around and reached out to open the door. His gaze swept his room as he wheeled out of the bathroom. He noticed that the lamp beside his bed was on and then he saw her.

  She sat cross-legged on his floor against the wall at the foot of his bed. Looking over the top of her laptop, she seemed to be daring him to say something to her. Instead, he just rolled closer to the bed, noticing as he did that the air smelled sweeter, fresher than it had earlier. And then he saw the bed had been remade.

  He looked back over to where Melanie sat. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m just going to go to bed and see if I can sleep some of this off.”

  Melanie set her laptop on the floor next to her and got to her feet in one smooth motion. “Have you been able to drink anything?”

  He nodded. “I’m hoping that if I take a pill now, I’ll be able to keep it down.”

  “Do you want to try some crackers?”

  She moved toward him, her movements slow as if she was afraid of frightening him off. If only she understood that it wasn’t that he didn’t want her there. He wanted her there too much. That was dangerous ground for him to be on.

  “I think I’ll just stick to the water and a pill.” He wheeled himself over to the bed, glad that his arms didn’t shake too much with the effort.

  “Let me just go get you a couple more bottles of water,” Melanie said and slipped from the room before he could respond. He suspected she’d done that to give him privacy as he got into bed. He appreciated that she didn’t make a big deal out of it.

  Moving as quickly as his aching, weak body would allow, he lifted himself from the chair onto the edge of the bed. He swung his legs up onto the bed and then pulled the blanket over his lower body. Tyler wasn’t sure why he didn’t want Melanie to see his stumps. She knew about his prosthetics. Had worked with him as he’d learned how to put them on and take them off. Why he was trying to hide them from her now was beyond his fevered mind to grasp.

  When she came back into the room, she had two bottles of water in her hands. She set them on his bedside table within his reach.

  “Do you have a basin or something like that? So if you get sick, you don’t have to try and make it to the bathroom?”

  “Yeah. There’s one in the tub. I had used it earlier and rinsed it out.”

  “Okay. Let me get that for you.”

  He lay back against the pillows and watched as she grabbed a bag from the floor and disappeared into the bathroom. The water began to run then he heard some spraying and more water. When she returned, she carried the basin and a large towel. She went around to the other side of the bed and spread out the towel before setting the basin on it.

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  “No, I think I’m good. Thank you.”

  She came back to the night table on his side and snapped off the light. Then she pulled the door of the bathroom almost shut, leaving just enough light for him to see if he needed to use the basin or drink some water.

  Exhaustion pulled at him and the last thing he remembered was seeing Melanie pick up her laptop.

  When Tyler woke later, he lay still for a moment, waiting to see if his stomach was going to rebel on him. When nothing tried to surge up into his throat, Tyler pushed himself up and reached for a bottle of water. His mouth was drier than the Sahara, but he still just took tiny sips. He’d learned his lesson earlier about gulping it down.

  He looked at the wall at the end of his bed to see if Melanie was still there, but there was no sign of her. There was, however, an enticing aroma in the air. He hadn’t eaten anything since early Sunday morning when he’d realized that the boys on Friday night hadn’t been sick with food poisoning. The smell was tempting, but he wasn’t sure what his stomach could tolerate just yet.

  As he sat up and turned to the edge of the bed, Tyler toyed with the idea of putting his prosthetics back on. But when he bent down to grab one then sat back up, his head spun. Obviously the lesser of two evils—the wheelchair versus falling flat on his face—was to use the wheelchair. He maneuvered himself onto it and then grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed to cover his legs.

  Once settled, he sat for a minute to give his body a break before he pushed it some more. He could hear movement beyond his bedroom so knew Melanie was still hanging around. With a sigh, he pushed on the wheels and made his way out of the bedroom and down the hallway.

  “Hey! You’re awake,” Melanie said when she spotted him, a smile on her face. “How are you feeling?”

  “A bit like a truck hit me.” He lifted a hand to run it through his hair and, realizing that most of it was still held back by an elastic, he tugged it free. “You didn’t have to be at work today?”

  “My work goes with me,” she said with a motion toward the table.

  He looked over to see that her laptop sat open on his dining room table with papers spread out around it. “I’m sorry you had to leave work just to check in on me.”

  She went to the stove and gave the contents of a pot there a stir. “Actually, it’s worked out just fine. I was able to get some stuff done without interruptions like there have been at work lately. All the new security protocols have meant I’ve had a steady stream of people in and out of my office. The peace and quiet here has been welcome. I’ve been able to work through files that needed attention but have been pushed aside by distractions.”

  He hoped she was telling the truth and not making it up so he didn’t feel badly about her being there. “What are you making?”

  “Homemade chicken noodle soup. My mom swears it cures everything. If you’re feeling up to trying something in your stomach, I can dish you up a bowl.”

  “You made it yourself?”

  “No, the elves helped me out but they scurried away when they heard you coming.”

  Tyler chuckled at that. “Okay, fine. I apologize for doubting your cooking skills.”

  “That’s okay.” She tossed him a smile. “Most people don’t know that I can cook. In fact, I prefer to cook from scratch rather than eat prepared foods. It’s healthier for you.”

  “I’ve always thought you were a bit of a health nut,” Tyler said as he wheeled himself closer to the table. He was still trying to figure out if his stomach would be receptive to food or not.

  After she opened and closed a couple of cupboards, Tyler said, “Far corner.”

  Once she found the bowls, she set two on the counter and ladled some soup into each. “I believe in giving my body the fuel it needs to run properly.”

  “Are you the female version of Justin?” Tyler asked as she carried the bowls to the table. It was slowly dawning on him that perhaps the friendship he thought they had wasn’t quite as deep as he’d imagined. Lately, he was discovering more about her. It was both interesting and disconcerting.

  “It’s possible. Without the muscles anyway. And I think I probably eat healthier than he does.” She filled two glasses with water and set one next to his plate before taking the seat across from him.

  She looked at him expectantly, and Tyler realized she was waiting for him to pray. Suddenly feeling the intimacy of the situation, he quickly bowed his head and thanked God for the food and for Melanie’s help. He couldn’t say for sure that the worst had passed, but he sure hoped it had.

  “It seems you’re into self-defense and weapons as much as Justin is.” Tyler dipped his spoon into the bowl, allowing the liquid to fill it. He’d try the more solid pieces of the soup once he saw how the liquid did.

  “Well, I do think a woman should be able to take care of herself.”

  “Do you think every woman should learn how to shoot and carry concealed weapons like you do?” Tyler wasn’t sure if his questions were making her uncomfortable, but he was curious about this side of her that had really only come to light recently.

  “No,” she replied with confidence. “A woman should only carry a gun if she’s really prepared to
use it. If she’s armed and yet hesitates to use the weapon, it can be used against her.”

  “So you’re prepared to use the gun you carry?”

  Her brown gaze met his straight on. “Yes. If need be, I can and will use any of the weapons I carry.”

  Something about the way she talked had Tyler wondering how much more he didn’t know about Melanie. He hadn’t known she carried concealed until their birthday dinner, and now he sensed that there was a reason she felt so strongly about being able to protect herself. Would she tell him about it if he asked?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THEY ATE IN SILENCE for a few minutes as Tyler cautiously tried a carrot and a small piece of chicken. So far so good, but Tyler figured he’d be better off not pushing it. He finished the bowl she’d given him but declined any more. “I think I’d better not push my luck.”

  “I’ll put the leftovers in your fridge for later.”

  Without thinking, Tyler reached over and laid his hand over hers where it rested next to her bowl. “Thank you. I know I wasn’t very grateful earlier, but I really do appreciate you taking the time to make sure I was okay.”

  She stared at their hands for a moment before lifting her gaze to his. “It’s what friends do. The other option was to call your mom.”

  Tyler pulled his hand back and groaned. “Yeah. Thanks for not doing that. As it is, I missed our weekly Sunday call. I’m surprised my phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook.”

  “It kind of has been vibrating a lot,” Melanie said as she got to her feet to grab his phone off the counter and hand it to him.

  It didn’t take long to see that his mom had called and texted several times with the last text twenty minutes ago. That one carried the threat of getting on the next plane if she didn’t hear from him by morning.

  Hoping to prevent that from happening, Tyler quickly tapped his contact list to call her. He knew it was likely late in London, but he also knew she’d accept his call whatever the time.

  “Tyler Devon Harris! Where have you been? Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

  “Sorry, Momma. I kinda came down with some sort of bug and have been under the weather. I spent most of yesterday and today trying to sleep it off.”

  “I’ll be on the next plane out.” He heard rustling and then, “Sweetheart, can you get me on a flight to Tyler in the morning?”

  “Momma!” He spoke loudly into the phone. “Hey!”

  “What? I’m just getting Hank to make arrangements to come see you.”

  “You don’t need to do that. Ryan and Melanie have been taking turns caring for me. I’m much better today.”

  “Ah, I knew she was a sweet girl. Thank her for me.”

  “I’ll do that, Momma. But don’t come. I really am doing much better than I was.”

  “Who is there with you now?”

  “Melanie.”

  “Perfect. Let me speak to her please.”

  “Uh…”

  “Now, Tyler.”

  “Yes, Momma.” With a sheepish grin, Tyler held the phone out to Melanie. “She wants to talk to you.”

  A grin crossed Melanie’s face as she placed the phone to her ear. “Hello, Shauna.”

  Tyler wished he’d hit the speakerphone button so he could hear what his mother was saying to her.

  “Yes, he wasn’t doing too well earlier, but he slept several hours and just now finished a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. So far it’s stayed down.” She paused, listening as his mother no doubt offered medical advice or asked questions he’d rather she didn’t. “Yep. He had a few moments of being a difficult patient, but he came around.”

  Tyler rolled his eyes at her. As he listened to her chat with his mom, he realized that Kelly would never have spoken to his mom like that. She’d hated when his mom would ask to speak to her.

  He looked away from Melanie, trying not to frown. Why was he comparing Melanie with Kelly? That was a road that led to nowhere good.

  “Okay, I’ll tell him.” Pause. “Give my regards to Hank.” Pause. “You take care too. Bye.”

  As Melanie handed the phone back to him, Tyler asked. “Tell me what?”

  “That you’re supposed to do what I tell you and stop giving me grief about helping you out.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at that, trying to figure out if she was making that up or not. Unfortunately, he could almost hear his mom saying those very words to him.

  “I’m trying to be better.” He reached for his glass and took a sip of the water. “I really am feeling a lot better.”

  Melanie tilted her head. “Don’t overdo it, though. I think you should stay home tomorrow just to make sure that you’re really on the road to recovery.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

  She stood and carried their bowls to the kitchen then began to put away the leftover soup. “I probably should get going soon. What can I do to help you out before I go?”

  “I think I’m fine. I feel almost human again.”

  “Keep your phone handy so if you need help, you can call. I’ll even add your number to my list of people whose calls will override the do-not-disturb set up on my phone.”

  “You mean I wasn’t already on that list?” Tyler asked with a grin as he watched her put the last of the dishes into the dishwasher.

  She closed it and swung around to look at him, a smile on her face. “Well, considering I figured I wouldn’t be high on your list of people to call in an emergency, I never saw the need.”

  “By the way, how did you even get in here?”

  Melanie sat back down at her laptop and began to gather the papers that were spread out next to it. “Ryan came by Sunday night to ask if I’d check on you and gave me the keys to his place.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.” She glanced at him before focusing back on the laptop. “He was quite worried about leaving you alone.”

  Warmth filled Tyler. He hadn’t expected Ryan to go out of his way to make sure he was alright while Ryan was on his trip. “He’s kinda like the brother I never had.”

  She smiled at him again as she pressed the lid of the laptop shut. “Siblings can come in handy on occasion.” It wasn’t long before all her things were back in her bag. “Make sure you take water with you. Oh. I’ll just switch over the laundry before I go. I forgot all about that earlier.”

  Tyler grabbed her wrist as she walked past him. “You don’t need to do that.”

  “It will only take a minute, and it’s one less thing for you to think about.”

  She didn’t jerk her arm away but stood staring down at him. Tyler let his hand slide away, brushing his fingertips across her fingers.

  “Thank you.”

  Something had changed in her gaze, but Tyler had no idea what it meant. She gave him a quick smile before walking to the hallway where the washer and dryer were. He wheeled himself to the fridge and pulled out a couple more bottles of water. There was a stack of three containers with the leftover soup. Hopefully, he’d be up to enjoying more of it tomorrow.

  “Okay, the dryer’s on so you’ve got clean sheets there if you need them.” Melanie picked up her bag and looped the strap over her shoulder. “I guess I’ll go back out Ryan’s side so I can set the alarm.”

  As she walked past him, she rested a hand briefly on his shoulder. When she didn’t remove it right away, Tyler looked up at her. “You call me if you need anything. Seriously. I’ll give you a call in the morning so make sure you answer.”

  Her brown eyes held his gaze, an expectation in them. “Yep. I’ll be sure to do that.”

  With a squeeze of his shoulder, she said goodnight and headed for the stairs that led to the basement. Tyler wheeled around to watch her go, suddenly finding the quiet of the house oppressive. It wouldn’t have been right for her to stay the night, but he couldn’t deny that it had been nice to have her there once he’d gotten over his early objections.

  With a sigh, he went to check that the alarm was set
on his door, pausing to watch the sweep of headlights as Melanie backed out of the driveway. He turned off the lights as he made his way back to the bedroom. Thanks to whatever Melanie had done earlier, his room didn’t carry the heavy odor of sickness it had early. He definitely owed her big time.

  The question was…would she let him pay her back?

  ~*~*~

  Melanie made it home in time to still be able to get her workout in. As usual lately, her thoughts kept wandering to Tyler. She hoped that he would be okay overnight. He had seemed much better than when she’d first arrived. Hopefully, that meant he was on the mend, but she also knew relapses weren’t uncommon with something like what he had.

  With sweat dripping down her face and back, she made her way into the bathroom. She washed her hands thoroughly then removed her contacts, rubbing her eyes with relief. She looked in the mirror and met her own—now blue—gaze. These brief glimpses of her true eye color were always a bit disconcerting. She’d worn her brown contacts for so many years now it always felt like her blue eyes were the imposters.

  She ran her hands through her hair, lifting the damp strands from her scalp. Once she washed it, her blonde roots would be evident. She was due for a touch-up but hadn’t had the time to go yet so she’d relied on temporary color to keep the roots hidden. When she’d been younger, she’d just used the cheap hair coloring from the store and had begged her parents for the colored contacts. They hadn’t understood, but at that point they were so glad to have her safely home that they gave her anything she asked for.

  Unfortunately, the one thing she’d wanted above all else was a guarantee that nothing like that would ever happen to her again. No one had been able to make that guarantee for her, so she’d done what she could to make sure that if it did, she would at least have a fighting chance.

  Once the sweat was washed away and she’d had a nice soak, Melanie wrapped herself in a thick robe and sat down at her desk. She owed Jenni an email. After she’d sent her the short email earlier, another one had come back the next night as long and rambling as the first. And now again tonight, there was another one. Concern ramped up in Melanie as she read through it. Her friend was holding on by a thread. After nearly fourteen years, something had triggered this downward spiral.