“I’ve already called my parents. Dad is doing fine, and the day is already lined up with endless visitors,” Derek divulged, unable to wait any longer to appease his craving for what only she could give him. He removed the tray, along with its contents, placing it on top of her dresser. He’d removed his pants before his knee ever made contact with the bed. Her light laugh enveloped him as he pulled her underneath him, and she eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck to accept his kiss. “I told them I was going to be spending the day with you, getting caught up on old times.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Tessa whispered, drawing him down until their lips met. The sweetness of the syrup was easily discernable and somewhat addictive. “There are many things we should be catching up on, Derek Spencer.”
“I couldn’t agree more, sweetheart.”
* * * *
Tessa wasn’t ready for the day to end, but Derek had promised his parents he’d be home for dinner. She had turned down his invitation to join them. It was a very sweet offer; however, she didn’t want to overstep her bounds when they both knew this…whatever this was…would end next weekend. That was okay though, because she was very, very satisfied right at this moment.
“Tomorrow?” Derek inquired, his lips still pressed against hers. He deepened their kiss though, so she didn’t answer for some time. He finally pulled away before brushing his thumb over her sensitive lips. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday morning, and a light five o’clock shadow had developed. She liked it. A lot. “How about breakfast before taking a drive out to old man Ackerman’s farm? We can ride the trails on horseback and maybe even enjoy a picnic.”
“I’d love that more than you could imagine,” Tessa murmured, raising up on her tiptoes for one more kiss. Why couldn’t she get enough of him? “Drive safe out there.”
Derek stepped down before turning back around, a concerned expression crossing his handsome features in place of the satisfaction that had been there earlier. Reality was now returning, and she wasn’t ready for it.
“Lock the door behind me,” Derek directed in a rather abrupt tone, resting his palm above the doorbell as he continued to give her instructions. He was worried about her, but the day had gone by without incident. Granted, they’d spent most of their time in bed. Nonetheless, nothing had happened. “Should you feel unsafe for any reason, Tessa, you call me without hesitation.”
“I will,” Tessa promised, resting her shoulder against the doorjamb as she wrapped her arms around herself. She’d honestly forgotten everything that had occurred, even last night’s restroom episode. She certainly didn’t want to ruin the time they’d spent together last night or today. “Don’t worry. You know, it could have just been a prank gone horribly wrong.”
Derek looked like he was going to argue, but instead he stepped forward and kissed her one more time. She readily accepted and then couldn’t help but gaze after him as he strolled away with his tuxedo jacket slung over one shoulder. She smiled when he turned and continued walking backward with a cocked brow.
“I didn’t hear that deadbolt turning,” Derek called out, coming to a stop and sliding his free hand into his pocket. He pulled out the key to his rental car and swung it around his finger while waiting patiently. He really wasn’t going to leave until she was safely locked inside her house. It warmed her to know that he cared, and she pressed her fingertips to her lips, blowing him a kiss. “Good girl.”
Wow. Those two words had Tessa very close to calling Derek back into her house, but she closed the door before she made a fool of herself. She twisted the deadbolt into place and then turned around so that her back rested against the hard wood. So, this was what happiness felt like…but only for a week.
One week. That was length of time agreed upon, and she wouldn’t be the one to ask for more. She could accept that. She pushed off the door with a smile.
Tessa dug her phone out of her purse before she made her way into the kitchen. She was starving and had decided she would have the leftover lasagna she’d made two days ago. She quickly swiped the display on her phone, calling up Kate’s number and initiating the call.
Straight to voicemail. Damn it. Tessa took off the saran wrap before shoving the cold plate into the microwave. She then concealed it with a plastic cover so that the sauce wouldn’t splash all over the inside. One minute and fifty seconds on the timer gave her time to try and call Rae. Her voicemail picked up.
Where was everyone?
Tessa slid her phone onto the granite countertop as she retrieved a fork from the silverware drawer. She needed to talk with someone, but then again, maybe this was fate’s way of telling her that she shouldn’t share too many details of what had occurred. Maybe Derek wouldn’t want her telling everyone they were going to be briefly involved for his short period of leave at home.
Tessa’s thoughts drifted over the last twenty-four hours, recalling every caress, kiss, and orgasm that had taken place. Her body still tingled and it amazed her that it still hadn’t been enough. They’d spent time telling each other about their lives in more detail than just the cursory impersonal facts, delving deeper and really getting to know each other. How could someone she’d known most of her life suddenly become someone she didn’t want to live without?
Ding. Ding.
Tessa was startled when the microwave wasn’t the device chiming, but her phone. She automatically reached for it, only to stop short. What if it was the same person who had called her on Thursday? What if they were aware she was home all alone? She was hesitant about looking at the display, but she couldn’t help herself. Maybe it was Derek.
It was then that her heart fluttered upon seeing his name, the text immediately initiating a smile. Damn, but she had it bad. She needed to restrain herself and face reality, but she could do that tomorrow. Right now, she apparently had plans for later this evening, and she couldn’t be happier that she had this weekend off.
Change of plans. I’ll be back at twenty-three hundred hours with a bottle of wine. Have the wineglasses ready…and yourself well-rested.
CHAPTER TEN
Three more days. Tessa tried not to focus on that number as she made her way across the parking garage to where her car was parked. Her twelve-hour shift had gone over by about two hours, and she was practically dragging her feet. Sleep wasn’t on her agenda, though. Derek was already at her house, most likely sleeping in her bed. She planned on waking him up with a little more than just a kiss.
Tessa wanted to take advantage of every piece of sand left in the hourglass. She never would have thought that her life would have changed so drastically over the last five days. There hadn’t been a moment of her spare time that she hadn’t spent with Derek, and she didn’t regret a single second…not one. He made her laugh at the most foolish things, he warmed her heart with just a smile, and a simple touch from him lit her soul on fire. She was a completely different person, and he’d opened her eyes to what she’d been missing.
Screech!
Tessa’s steps faltered at the high-pitched squeal. The keys in her hand jangled as she quickly palmed them in response. A slice of anger shot through her as piercing fear consumed her body. She hadn’t once thought of Bennett or the events that had happened prior to the reunion, because everything had gone quiet. She’d rationalized that the string of events hadn’t been related at all, just as Derek had done the same after days had gone by without incident.
She now forced herself to even out her breathing as she took in her surroundings, trying to explain away a noise that could have come from anything or anyone in a hurry. No one was around at four o’clock in the morning. Even the security guard was most likely in his booth near the exit. No other sound was heard, and she forced herself to pick up her pace, quickly making her way to the left of the garage where her vehicle was parked in the far row.
It wasn’t surprising that Tessa would be taken off guard at a noise that advertised someone else’s presence. She’d lowered her defenses. She’d spent a
lmost every non-working hour with Derek, who would then in turn spend his time with his family while she was on duty at the hospital. Her schedule had worked out for the both of them, but had it been a detriment to her welfare?
Tessa finally reached her car, immediately pressing the appropriate button on her key fob. The blaring click of the opening locks ricocheted off the other vehicles and around the open space. It was still a somewhat comforting sound. It meant security.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t going to be able to close herself inside her car. She wasn’t going to be able to lock the doors so no one could get inside. She had been so busy looking over her shoulder that she’d been too preoccupied to see what was directly in front of her.
Blood.
Blood was dripping down the side windows of her car, but the red, sticky substance wasn’t what scared Tessa most. It was the one word message left behind that somehow spoke volumes and let her know that she hadn’t been wrong in assuming she was in trouble. She was in danger. And apparently, it was only a matter of time before this person took these somewhat innocent pranks to an entirely different level.
Soon.
* * * *
Derek slammed his car door, frantically searching for the one woman who had literally almost caused his heart to fail. His mother almost had someone else to cry over in a hospital bed. He’d never experienced such panic as when his cell phone rang, answering only to hear Tessa’s terrified voice coming over the line trying to tell him something about blood, her car, and the fact that someone wanted to kill her.
“Tessa!”
Derek had spotted two uniformed police officers and the security guard. He jogged up the small incline, finally catching sight of Tessa’s blue scrubs she’d left for work in yesterday afternoon. Her pale features and the manner in which she was holding herself caused his chest to tighten in a torrent of emotion, but foremost was relief that she was physically unharmed. He didn’t have to make his way through the three men blocking his way, for she had immediately ran forward into his open arms.
“I wasn’t imagining it, Derek,” Tessa whispered in a somewhat stilted tone. She was thrown off balance, but it wouldn’t be long before she developed that fighting spirit he’d seen the night of the reunion. “Someone is after me.”
The driver’s side window confirmed Tessa’s declaration. Soon. What the hell did that mean? The blood had somewhat dried, if it even was blood. It could very well have been paint, but it was in that moment that he’d caught the slightest scent of copper in the air. Damned if it wasn’t blood.
“What do you have?” Derek asked Officer Gusten, who was now facing them with his square features practically set in stone. It was easy to make out his nametag. The other policeman had turned away and was talking into the mic attached to the shoulder of his uniform. Derek held Tessa close as he continued to ask his questions. This had to be resolved before he went back to Afghanistan. “Have you checked the video surveillance?”
“We have,” Gusten confirmed, unclicking his pen so that he could slide it back into the pocket of his uniform. “The incident occurred around ten o’clock last night, right at shift change of the guards. Unfortunately, the perpetrator was dressed in all black and had one of those ski masks covering his or her entire face.”
“His or her? The camera couldn’t even make out a shape?” Derek shot a quick glance over at the security guard, who didn’t appear in the least fazed by the fact that this misconduct had happened at the beginning of his watch. “You can’t tell by the size of the body?”
“The security feed is recorded in black and white, making it hard to decipher the figure of the assailant, especially considering the manner in which the camera was angled.” Officer Gusten tapped the small notepad he held in his hand against his other palm as he addressed Tessa. “Ma’am, I’m aware of the other circumstances you reported over the last month. You mentioned previously you thought Bennett Harris might have something to do with them. Is that still your understanding? We’ll speak with Mr. Harris to confirm his whereabouts last night, but is there anyone else you think could have done this?”
Tessa shook her head, her fingers pressed against her pallid lips. It was all she could do to keep it together, and Derek could sympathize. She’d dealt with this harassment basically on her own for over two weeks, only to have everything stop when they started spending time together. She wouldn’t have expected what had transpired tonight, so she was entitled to be a bit shaken.
“Someone had access to a lot of blood, which would indicate it’s most likely someone from inside this hospital. Could we see the video footage?” Derek inquired, wondering if there was something about the aggressor that Tessa could identify, maybe something in their mannerisms. She was familiar with a good portion of the residents in Catfish Creek. Chances were good, especially considering what had taken place at their high school reunion, both of them knew the identity of her pursuer—someone from their graduating class who worked at the hospital. But why? What could his or her motive be in tormenting Tessa? “There might be something in his or her bearing Tessa recognizes.”
The security guard looked over at Officer Gusten for approval, who was already nodding his head in confirmation. Derek wanted a moment alone with Tessa before they followed behind, so he let them know they would follow along shortly. He then drew Tessa back into his arms, savoring the fact that she hadn’t been hurt and making a silent promise to see to it that it stayed that way.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” Derek murmured softly against her temple. “We’ll figure this out quick.”
“Will we?” Tessa asked harshly, resting her forehead against his chest. He rubbed her back as she wrapped her arms around his waist, going over their options. “This person keeps getting closer and closer to me, but I have no idea who they are or what they want.”
She had a point. What did her pursuer want? There had been juvenile incidents with vague threats that amounted to nothing. He and Tessa were missing something vital that could no doubt unravel the reason she was being targeted.
“Let’s go look at the video footage,” Derek insisted as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, guiding her to where the two officers and security guard were waiting for them. “We’ll then sit down and go over every single detail of what’s happened, mapping it out the way we would process raw intel on an insurgent or terrorist. The answer is right in front of us, Tessa. We just have to look for it.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Derek waited until thirteen hundred before ascending the stairs to Tessa’s bedroom. He’d held her until she’d finally fallen asleep, which she’d fought against with every fiber of her being. Fortunately, exhaustion had taken over, and her body had eventually succumbed to slumber. He would check on her before going back to the list he’d been cross-referencing—their graduating class versus the hospital staff.
It hadn’t been easy to find the employee directory. He ended up calling in a favor from another Marine who had gone through advanced training at Dam Neck, Virginia. In his capacity as an 0291 Intelligence Chief, he had access to virtually every business server inside the United States without leaving a trace of his passing. The relationship between most businesses and the military had started decades before with ARPAet—the infancy of the Internet. Hospitals, along with other businesses, had been eager to have their information computerized and networked in a secure manner.
Access was key, and Derek had people in position to look at virtually every digitized word on every server in the country. The information they needed wasn’t technically classified, but it was proprietary to the hospital and protected by access.
Once his friend had a copy of the directory, Derek simply copied the file across and emailed it to his own Gmail account. Now came the hard work of deciphering what information might benefit them.
Derek quietly made his way into Tessa’s bedroom by silently pushing open the cracked door. She was in the exact same position he’d left her at zero seven hundred. Her
brow was still creased in worry, though she had a flush to her cheeks that signified her color was finally returning. He resisted the urge to reach out to her, not wanting to wake her. She’d already informed her supervisor that she wouldn’t be on shift this afternoon, so there was no reason for Tessa not to catch up on her sleep. He turned to head back downstairs when her fingers wrapped around his wrist.
“Have you heard anything?” Tessa inquired softly, her blue eyes searching his for any sign of information. He had nothing to give her and regrettably shook his head in response. “Do they know where the blood came from?”
“No, but that much blood didn’t come from a simple cut. The police are checking access logs and video surveillance for the blood bank and morgue.” Derek laced his fingers with hers. He would have sat on the edge of the bed, but she scooted over and drew him down until he was lying next to her. “Sweetheart, why don’t you try to get some more sleep? I’m going over a list of hospital employees against those from our graduating class. It shouldn’t take too long to compile a list of people for the police to question.”
Tessa had lifted his arm so that she could lie against his chest, wrapping her arm around his waist. She snuggled against him, her body warm from being cocooned in the sheets. Derek understood about needing a timeout every now and then, and this moment was hers for the taking. He held her close, offering her comfort and security.
What would happen come Sunday when his flight departed for the first leg of his flight back to the UAE for briefing and then into country?
It wasn’t something Derek could look forward to, knowing her life was in danger. The police would have to figure out who was responsible and succeed on their own in putting the culprit away for a very long time.
Honor (Bad Boy Homecoming Book 4) Page 8