Emery gestured toward the bed. "I see that."

The nurse eyed her suspiciously.

"Listen, I'm his DFCS caseworker," she said, fatigue seeping into each word. "I was coming to tell him about what happened today. Do you know who he left with?"

"Ma'am, you know I can't divulge patient information," the nurse responded brusquely.

"Fine." Emery felt tears well up in her eyes, but she fought it. She wandered down the hall but turned back when she thought of something, quickly closing the distance between her and the nurse.

"You know the cop that brought him in, right?"

The nurse looked up from her paperwork. "Excuse me?"

"The cop that brought Lucas in last night and hung around the room until I could get here. You know him." Emery remembered seeing the nurse in a heated discussion with Tim when she left.

"Yes, I know him."

"Can you give me his phone number so I can call and determine where Lucas is and who he left with?"

The nurse squared her shoulders. "Do you have guardianship papers?"

Emery didn't have guardianship papers with her. "No, all I need is his number."

"I'm not giving his number to you," she snapped.

"Well, could you at least call or text him and let him know that I'm asking. He was very helpful with Lucas last night and I know he'll care."

"He's off," the nurse responded. "He worked two twelves in a row. He's sleeping."

"Please, just do it." Emery refused to budge.

The nurse begrudgingly texted, then stared at Emery for the minute they waited for his response.

"He said to get your number and he'll call you and give you all the information," the nurse grumbled.

Emery wrote the number down for the nurse and thanked her. As she walked toward her car, her cell phone rang.

"Hello."

"Emma, this is Tim. Lucas's mother picked him up from the hospital today."

Emery was completely stunned. "Well, can we arrest her?"

"I've sent officers over to find out what's going on, but there was no one home."

"I don't understand."

"She was able to discharge him from the hospital before the order was issued and now she's not home with him," Tim explained. "It doesn't mean she's hiding, it just means they aren't home."

"Tim..." Horrible scenarios flashed through her mind.

"I'm just telling you what I was told, Emma," he said, his voice gentle.

"This is bullshit!" she erupted.

"Yeah, it is."

"Okay, well, thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it."

"Emma, we'll find him."

Emery hoped they would find him, but she didn't think the mom was the real problem. It was the boyfriend who was the physical threat.

"Emma? Have you eaten?"

"Dinner?" The question took her off guard. She looked at her watch and realized it was 8:30.

"At all?"

She shook her head without answering him.

"Can I take you to dinner?"

Emma smiled weakly at his attempt. "Tim, I'm exhausted, Lucas isn't here, and all I want to do is crawl in bed."

"Well, you have to eat. My grandmother made me dinner and I have fantastic leftovers."

Emery didn't want to eat, she wanted to sleep. "No thank you, Tim."

"Please? I'll just drop the food off and you can eat it by yourself."

"Tim..."

"I'm a cop, you're safe with me."

"Do you use that line with all women?" Emery opened the car door and slid into her seat, unable to keep the smile off her lips.

"What?" He feigned horror. "No way."

Silence.

"It's fried catfish, collards, and cornbread," he tempted her.

"Shit, I can't say no to that." Her stomach growled just thinking about it.

"So..."

"So I'm at 315 Lorch, just text me when you get there." She exited the parking lot and headed home.

"Wow, I got your number and your address in the span of ten minutes, you must really want me."

"Never mind, then." Emery laughed.

"I'm kidding. One to go plate on the way. I'm only a few blocks from you anyway."

There was a comfortable silence as she took in the fact this guy was about to come to her apartment. No one had been there except Rachel and Derrick and she couldn't help feeling like this was a really bad decision.

"Okay, Emma. I'm headed your way. I'll text you."

"Tim..."

"Yes."

"Thank you," Emery said into the phone and she meant it. She knew he was off and he didn't have to get that information about Lucas for her. He didn't have to bring her dinner.

"You're welcome, Emma Simpson."

Emma Simpson.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN.

Strategery

Emery had just taken off her suit jacket and kicked off her heels when her phone dinged with a text message. Her throbbing feet were a reminder why she never wore them to work.

I'm downstairs.

She blew out a breath. That was fast. Emery walked gingerly down the stairs barefoot, her feet pulsing painfully with every step. As she stood in front of the door to let Tim in, she wiggled her toes and took in his gray cable knit sweater and a matching wool cap pulled down over his brown hair and ears. The September air carried the hint of the fall. He was looking toward the street and she drank him in without him noticing. His features were too perfect; she needed something to be really wrong with this guy. When he glanced toward the door and saw she was standing there staring at him, he smirked.

Emery opened the door and stepped back, letting him in. He entered quickly, his entire body moving like he was shaking off the cold.

"I know, it's so cold for September! I was wearing shorts last week," Emery said, making small talk. She was really bad at small talk.

Tim opened his mouth to respond, but then his eyes changed, darkening as he obviously took in the camisole she'd been wearing under her suit and her bare feet.

The few seconds he looked her over seemed to last hours and they twisted and turned in her mind. His eyes scorched her skin with something she couldn't determine and it made her take a step back from him. Then he looked down at her left arm and the moment broke in two and clattered on the floor.

"Emma, I-"

"Thank you so much for bringing over this food. You definitely didn't have to do this," she cut him off. "I really just want to get in bed, so it's awesome that I don't even have to pour cereal, which is probably what I would've done."

"You're welcome." He took a step toward her and closed the gap she'd created.

"Tim, I know you didn't have to help me today. Thank you." She moved to open the door again so that she let him out, but he put his hand on her left forearm. The touch was exactly what she needed after the last 24 hours. She wanted to touch someone-anyone. She was so lonely. Emery was desperate for this sort of connection, but she knew she couldn't have it. She pulled her arm back from him.

He moved with her, not letting her separate them. "Emma, let me talk to you while you eat."

He was still touching her and she wanted him to continue to touch her. Emery closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is a stupid, stupid idea."

Tim's mouth turned up and he leaned into her ear. "I think this is one of the best ideas I've ever had."

"Tim." Her breath caught in her throat as he ran his fingertips over her scars. There was something so intimate about that one touch that it stole her breath. She couldn't help it when her nipples made what she was feeling apparent to anyone in the room.

She moved the plate he'd brought to her so she could cover herself.

"We'll just talk, Emma."

There was something about him that made her calm and comfortable, which scared her because she didn't know him. There was something else that made her so turned on she knew she needed to stay away from him. Without a word, she turned and walked up the stairs.

She voxed Rachel as she was driving to a school for an observation.

"What do you mean he just came up and talked to you while you ate?" Rachel asked, incredulous.

"I mean exactly that." Emery blinked back the tears that threatened for no reason.

"You mean he was a perfect gentleman?"

"Perfect," she confirmed.

"Then he left? He didn't try to kiss you?"

"Nope." Emery had been both relieved and disappointed that Tim really did just talk to her, but she knew it was for the best.

He'd filled her in on his family. They were from around the surrounding area. His parents died when he was twelve. He hadn't told her how or why, but Emery felt like there was a story there, one that drove him to be a police officer. She knew about secrets, about things that she'd never tell anyone else. He hadn't pushed her for any information other than work stuff, and it was all light conversation on her end. She didn't have to lie at all last night. It made her feel whole in a way she hadn't felt since Nashville.

It left her shaken.

"Did you want him to be perfect?"

"I wanted him to take my clothes off and touch me everywhere," she admitted. "I'm glad he was perfect."

"Well, will you see him again?"

"I have to see him often because of work, so it's probably best to stay perfectly friends."

"Oh." Disappointment filled Rachel's voice.