Chapter 4
Ryan dumbly stood by the door, wondering if he should indeed leave or stay and wait until Tara came out of the kitchen. However, she certainly didn't look like she was in a state to fix herself anything to eat, although Ryan was sure she could use a good meal.
He did a quick scan of the living room. It was small and cozy, with a definite woman's touch. The dried flowers on the coffee table gave off the sweet smell of violets. The lace curtains allowed just enough of the harsh Miami sun to filter through and gave the room extra charm.
Something told Ryan that he should go into the kitchen to check on Tara but his feet remained frozen where they were. He didn't want to startle her or make her feel threatened. What if he went in and she came at him with a butcher knife? A knock on the door behind him startled him. At exactly the same time he moved to look through the peephole he heard a thump in the kitchen and the sound of a glass breaking.