Highland Shifter (MacCoinnich Time Travels #4)(19)
Author: Catherine Bybee

For a big man, Simon moved with slow grace as he ducked into every corner of her apartment, making sure they were alone.

“Empty,” he finally said.

She released a breath. “What was he doing here?”

“Who was he?”

“My boss, Philip.”

“The man you work for?”

Helen turned a full circle, searching for anything out of place. “That’s usually what the title of boss means.”

Simon stepped to the window and peaked through the curtain. “Do you see him?”

“No.”

“He could have parked out back.”

Simon darted around her and out the door. “Where are you going?”

“Your car.”

The books!

Helen followed Simon as far as the stairwell. “He’ll recognize me.”

“Go back to your apartment and lock the door.”

Nodding, Helen grabbed the heavy boxes and hustled to disappear into the quiet of her home. She dropped the boxes and double keyed the lock.

* * * *

Simon reached the door to the parking garage and swung it open. The hinges squeaked in protest with the force of his arm and the sound echoed in the cavernous parking lot. Glancing side to side, he walked in the direction of Helen’s car.

The man who’d left her apartment stepped into the garage and scanned the cars.

Simon watched from behind a concrete pole until he noticed the other man walk toward Helen’s car. Without pause, Simon made his way in the same direction, determined to divert the intruder.

Like anyone trying to escape notice, the man saw Simon and twisted his face away.

Simon kept walking toward the car. The intruder made a show of patting his pockets as if searching for keys, and then turned and walked away.

To make certain he left, Simon followed him.

Outside the parking lot, Simon leaned against the building and waited. Helen’s boss glanced over his shoulder once before jogging across the street to a dark car. He jumped in and drove off.

Satisfied he wasn’t returning, Simon retrieved the books and returned to Helen’s apartment.

****

“Oh my God, what took you so long? Did you see him? Did he see you?” She spat out questions faster than he could answer them. Helen grabbed for the box and tossed it on the couch as if it were in her way of getting his attention.

“Calm yourself, lass.”

“Calm myself? Calm myself! Are you kidding me? My boss, who knows I’m out of town by the way, just committed a crime by breaking and entering into my home, and you’re asking me to calm myself?”

“’Tis easier to think with a clear head.”

“Yeah, well, mine ain’t clear, kilt boy, mine is full of whys, what ifs, and how comes. Not to mention a heavy dose of ‘that sonofabitch’.”

Simon took her hand and led her to the kitchen. “Why don’t you make some coffee, or tea.”

“You’re thirsty?”

No, he was trying to calm her down. Giving her a task was the only way he knew to do it.

“Please.”

Helen grunted and swung away. As she stomped around the kitchen preparing coffee, Simon eased his way over to the front door and inspected the lock. There didn’t seem to be any forced entry. “What is your boss’s name?”

“Philip Lyons.”

Mr. Lyons knew how to pick a lock. Wonder where he acquired that skill? “Are you sure he doesn’t have a key?”

“Positive.”

Simon walked around the room, attempting to catch the man’s scent. If Helen knew about Simon’s other skills, he’d have shifted into a wolf and heightened his senses. Glancing her way, he noticed how she shoved the coffee grounds into the maker, agitated. This probably wasn’t the best time to reveal his many talents. He was able to distinguish the smell of the man’s soap, or maybe it was cologne. Either way, the scent didn’t belong to Helen.

“Where are you going?”

“Checking to see if anything looks out of place.”

Helen finished her task all too soon and stepped to his side.

Philip’s scent was stronger in Helen’s room, especially around her dresser drawers. “Do you keep valuables in here?” he asked reaching for the first drawer to pull open.

Helen’s hand stopped him. “No, just my underwear.”

And from the tug of her hand, she didn’t want him searching farther. A corner of his mouth lifted, and Helen seemed to forget about the drama of having her boss in her home, long enough to blush.

“You search here. I’ll look in the bathroom.”

Helen nodded and waited for him to turn his back before pulling the drawer open.

Simon looked around the bathroom. He could smell the other man but couldn’t tell where he lingered.

“I don’t see anything missing.”

They searched the entire place and found nothing. Why would a man search a woman’s apartment and take nothing? A sick thought penetrated Simon’s mind. “Is it possible your boss has feelings for you?”

“Feelings? What do you mean?”

“Care for you? Has Philip ever shown interest in you as a woman?”

She opened her mouth to deliver what Simon thought was going to be an instant denial, than snapped it shut. “Eweh, are you thinking that he wants—?”

“He does desire you.”

“No, I mean in a sick way?” She shook her head and her face grew pale. “I’m good at picking out perverts, and Philip didn’t strike me as one.”

Simon met her troubled gaze. “But he was here when he knew you weren’t, searching through your things.”

“We don’t know if he was in my things.”

Yes, Simon did. He could smell him nearly everywhere. “I see this two ways. He was either here for some sort of perversion…”

Helen cringed.

“…or he was searching for something and didn’t find it. I don’t like either option.”

“I don’t accept either option,” Helen denied.

“Do you have another?”

She paused, and glanced at the ceiling. “There has to be something we’re missing.”

“How well do you know him?”

“Better than most, I guess. He seems to do okay for himself. Single. Doesn’t date much that I’ve seen.”

“Do you know where he lives?”

Helen nodded. “He had a Christmas party last year.”

Simon stood and nodded toward the door. “Let’s go.”