Chapter 21

I felt his eyes on me while I worked in the kitchen, and a few minutes later, he disappeared out the front door. Once I heard it close, I leaned against the sink and sighed. Was this a mistake, trying to force a man to take some human kindness? Maybe it was.

The kitchen sparkled when I was done, then I went down the hall. Murphy hadn’t returned yet, and I was curious as to his habits. I looked into the bathroom he was using for the time being and everything was neat and tidy. He’d emptied the trash and cleaned the tub like he’d said. The door to his bedroom was open and I peeked inside. Nothing was out of place. The bed was neatly made and his saddlebags were stacked tidily in a corner. Somehow, the room looked forlorn.

I went to my bathroom and took a quick shower. As I was walking back to my room, I heard the front door open and close. I paused before my bedroom door, if nothing else but to make sure that Murphy was safe and sound, whether he wanted me to care or not.