Full Bloom

keys from her and got behind the wheel.
    "What a day," Emily muttered as she collapsed against the front seat.
    ""You sure know how to wake a man up in the morning, I'll give you that," Jacob retorted.
    "Don't blame me for that little scene in the garage. If you hadn't followed me downstairs, you would never have gotten involved. I had everything under control." Emily scowled as a thought struck her. "Come to think of it, why
did
you follow me downstairs this morning? I meant to ask you after the police left, but we didn't get a chance to talk. How did you happen to be there when I ran into Damon? Did you think I had forgotten something?"
    Jacob concentrated on fighting his way through the evening traffic. "Something like that," he said vaguely.
    Emily blinked suspiciously. "What was it?"
    "What was what?"
    "Don't play innocent with me, Jacob. What was it you thought I had left behind this morning?"
    "Nothing important. By the way, I went to the Pike Place Market today and picked up some nice fresh salmon for dinner. Wait until you see what I can do with a salmon. It's close to miraculous. You're in for a treat tonight."
    "Uh-huh. I can't wait." Emily turned in her seat, intent on pinning him down but they reached the garage just then, and Jacob was suddenly very busy using the automatic opener and parking the car.
    "By the way," Jacob said casually as he walked her toward the elevators, "the police phoned earlier. They've picked up a couple of suspects who fit my description of the two Morrell sent after me. I'm going to take a look at them tomorrow. Looks like a sure thing, though. Apparently one of them has already started talking. He never met Morrell. Everything was handled over the phone, but the evidence is building."
    "I'm so glad they've caught those two!" Emily exclaimed, momentarily sidetracked. She remembered her initial question as they walked into her apartment. "Jacob, I would like to know what you think you were doing following me this morning."
    "I'll get the wine," Jacob was saying, going past her into the kitchen. "I've got some chilling in the refrigerator. Oh, I also made the salad. All you'll have to do tonight is sit back and relax."
    "Sounds great," Emily said smoothly. But there was a militant gleam in her eyes when she kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot into the living room to put her feet up on a white hassock.
    "Here you go. Good Semillon Blanc. You're going to love it." Jacob ambled in from the kitchen with a plate of crackers, a glass of wine and a glass of Scotch carefully balanced. Emily let him sit down before she tried again.
    "All right, Jacob. Enough dodging." She leaned back in her chair and glared at him through her glasses. "What were you doing in the garage this morning? I want the truth."
    Jacob exhaled heavily. "The truth? I was following you."
    Instantly Emily bristled. "I knew it! Of all the nerve. Have you been following me down to the garage every morning?"
    Jacob shrugged but didn't say anything.
    Emily was not placated. "You have, haven't you? Why, Jacob? What in the world did you think you were doing?"
    "Looking after you," he admitted. He smiled with fleeting apology. "I can't help it, Emily. It's a hard habit to break. I never have liked the idea of you coming and going in that damned garage, even before I ran into those two punks down there. Furthermore, I wasn't convinced Morrell had really given up trying to find a way to break RI. I had a hunch he might still try something, even if it was just a shot at hurting you. I figured I'd keep an eye on you until we get out of Seattle."
    "So you've been following me? Sneaking around behind me? Checking up on me?" Emily was incensed.
    "Now, Emily, there's no need to get dramatic about it. I was just watching out for you."
    "You sound as if somebody gave you the job of being my guardian angel. Dammit, Jacob, I won't have it. Do you hear me? For the last time, I can take care of myself."
    Jacob gave her an oddly straight look. "Want to know something? Lately I've begun to believe you. Where did you learn that trick you used on Morrell this morning?"
    Emily had been about to launch into another tirade, but she paused at the question. Then her sense of humor took over. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled serenely at her husband. "I took a class in self-defense along with the class in assertiveness training."
    Jacob groaned. "I should have known. What have I let myself in for by marrying you?"
    "I thought you liked the idea