Part 35 (1/2)
He felt a smile curve his lips and thought about that. He discovered he smiled a lot whenever Serena was around. That is, when she wasn't making him frown with worry and exasperation. And outright fear for her life.
Dominic pulled into Serena's driveway. Once inside, he made her wait while he cleared the place. Thankfully, it didn't appear that anyone had been inside. He made the call to Katie while Serena got busy in her kitchen.
”So you're going to stay there awhile? Till 11:00?”
He heard something in her voice but couldn't identify it. ”Yes. I've got her covered until then.” He frowned. Was Hunter right? Was Katie interested in him as more than a fellow cop and friend?
”All right. I'll be there at 11:00.”
”Thanks, Katie.”
”Right.” She hung up and Dominic just sat there for a minute.
”Everything all right?”
He looked up to see Serena in the doorway. Her beauty took his breath for a moment. He smiled. ”Yeah. Fine. Katie will be here at 11:00.” Serena bit her lip and looked away. Dominic frowned. ”What is it?”
”She's in love with you,” she said softly.
He froze. First Hunter, now Serena. ”What makes you say that?”
She let out a puff of laughter. ”I'm a woman, we notice these things.”
He stood and walked over to her, took her hands in his, and said, ”I'm not in love with her.”
”I know.”
He lifted a brow. ”You do?”
”I'm a woman, we notice those things too.”
”Really?” He had no doubt she was observant.
”Really. Besides, you wouldn't have kissed me on the boat if you were in love with Katie. You're not that kind of man.”
”You're absolutely right. I wouldn't have kissed you on the boat. Or now.” He pulled her closer and leaned over to capture her lips with his. She returned the kiss, lifting her hands to cup his face. When he pulled back, he said, ”I want you to be safe, Serena. I don't want to lose you now that I've found you.”
Tears misted her eyes. ”I know.”
”So,” he cleared his throat and backed up a step, ”would you like to go to church with me in the morning?”
”I would love to.”
30.
SUNDAY, 8:30 A.M.
Serena glanced in the mirror one more time, satisfied that she'd done a pretty good makeup job. The bruise on her cheek was only slightly noticeable. She padded into the kitchen and opened the drawer where she'd shoved Jillian's package.
Tomorrow she'd take it to the bank and put it in a safe deposit box.
Her doorbell rang and her heart flipped as she pulled the package from the drawer. She really needed to put it someplace safer.
Rus.h.i.+ng into the foyer, she spied the small table and mirror her grandmother had pa.s.sed down to her. Slipping the package behind the mirror, she let it rest against the bottom piece of wood that protruded to hold the mirror slightly off the wall.
Stepping back, she looked at the mirror and decided it was a good hiding place for now.
She opened the door to find Dominic standing on her porch. ”You're the most punctual person I know,” she said.
He laughed. ”Come on. I'm going to enjoy going to church with you.”
Serena smiled. ”Yeah. It'll be nice to wors.h.i.+p and totally focus on G.o.d for a while.” She sobered. ”And pray for the capture of a killer.”
Dominic's smile slid. ”I've been praying that for a long time now.”
As they climbed into his car, her phone rang. She s.n.a.t.c.hed it from the side pocket of her purse.
Covenant House.
”h.e.l.lo?”
”Serena? This is Mrs. Lamb. Camille is here and said she had to talk to you. She said the guilt is eating her up inside.”
Guilt? Concerned, Serena said, ”Tell her I'll be right there.”
Dominic lifted a brow when she hung up. ”We're not going to church, are we?”
”I'm not.” She frowned. ”I'm sorry. Camille's at Covenant House and I really need to talk to her. Why don't you let me get my car and I'll meet you at church after I finish with her.”
”You're kidding, right?”
She read the look in his eyes. ”You're going to take me, huh?”
He simply lifted a brow.
Ten minutes later, Dominic pulled into the parking lot. ”I'll walk you up and then come back out to make a few phone calls.”
”That's fine. There's a security officer on campus at all times and the entrances and exits are monitored. Visitors have to be buzzed in, so if you decide to come in, press the white b.u.t.ton by the door.”
He looked relieved. ”Sounds like you'll be secure.”
”Secure enough.”
They walked to the building and Serena showed her ID. After being buzzed in, she headed toward the family room, stopping several times to speak to the girls who recognized her.
”Hey, Ms. Serena, I got a job!” Serena turned to give a too-skinny black girl a hug.