by Lily Black
As Drew gave details about the tire and answered the detective’s questions, Alexa listened carefully. She was no expert in these matters, but it sounded as if the detective was probing Drew to see if he could be the stalker, and for the first time, Alexa considered that thought. After all the things she’d said about him, he certainly had reason to dislike her. And he’d been close at hand after the two previous attacks, so it was possible he could have arranged them in order to play the part of the gallant knight and save her.
But even before hearing his alibis—complete with people who could vouch for his whereabouts when the attacks had taken place—she knew Drew hadn’t done it. She may have found him the most aggravating person in the world, but she also knew he wasn’t the kind of man who would frighten or stalk a woman. Whatever his faults were in the romance arena and however much he might have bruised her heart, he wasn’t creepy like that. She could sense in her core that she was safe with him in the room. It was a wonderful feeling—one she knew could become addictive if given the chance.
When Drew finished retelling the events of the day, Detective Rawlings flipped her notebook to a new page. “There’s no sign of forced entry,” she told Alexa. “You’re sure it was locked?”
She nodded.
“Does anyone else have a key? Or know the location of your spare? Is there anyone who has regular access to your keys and could have made a copy?”
Alexa had started to shake her head, but she froze at that last question and made a rueful sound. “When I’m acting as head instructor in the dojo, my keys hang on a hook just inside the office door. Anyone who needs to get into the storage closet can grab them then put them back. You don’t think…?”
Detective Rawlings nodded. “You’re right. I’ve seen students and instructors grab the set hanging there, though I didn’t know they were yours. Someone could have made a wax copy to be made permanent later or just borrowed your house key off the loop for an hour or two then put it back. It could even have been someone off the street who knows your habits.” She exchanged a grim look with Drew. “We have to assume that they have a complete set and can come and go from your home as they please. At least until you can get the locks changed.”
Alexa’s blood suddenly chilled, and she was uncomfortably aware of how exposed she was, sitting with her back to the window. Her stalker could be watching her right now.
She shifted in her seat, resisting the urge to get up. Her hands balled into fists. Police were crawling all over the house, checking for fingerprints and looking for any evidence of the stalker. The haven she’d come home to every night since moving to Willowdale was no longer safe.
It was happening again. This was what she’d felt like after Jason Stone’s attack—as if there was nowhere safe, and every situation could go from normal to terrifying and dangerous without warning. It was the worst feeling in the world.
Detective Rawlings leaned forward, and her voice took on a gentle tone. “Do you have someone you can stay with tonight? Someone you can trust, whose home is secure?”
Alexa shook her head, a sharp negative. “I won’t put my friends in danger.”
She rose and paced the length of her living room. It had suddenly gone from cozy to confining, as if she were trapped. “Besides, whoever made a copy of my keys knows me and could guess where I’d go. If they knew to take my keys, they could have taken the keys of any other black belt instructor—they’re all my closest friends.”
Drew spoke up from his stance against the bookcase. “You can stay with me.”
Chapter Five
Alexa gave Drew a sharp look. “What?”
The way he stood, his broad shoulders tense beneath his shirt, his body ready for anything—it reminded her that he’d been a soldier. However, it was the warmth and fierce protection shining in his eyes that made her drop her gaze. “Thank you, but no. We’re not even friends.”
Detective Rawlings’s eyes were speculative when she looked at Drew. “You realize that if something unexplained happens to her, you’ll be our first suspect?” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to answer. “Moreover, the escalation of the attacks indicates some shift in the stalker’s psyche. Slashing Alexa’s tire may have been done to isolate and scare her. When she accepted your help instead of being frightened—and received an offer of help from Stuart—the stalker stepped up the threat and attacked her in her home. If he were to find out she’d taken refuge with you… let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. You understand my meaning?”
Drew nodded, his jaw set in determined lines.
Detective Rawlings turned to Alexa. “I realize there’s some rivalry between your schools, but you couldn’t find a better bodyguard in Willowdale than Drew Cosimo. We’ve had him working with the police force on self-defense and de-escalation techniques, and he knows his stuff. The point that you’re not friends would also work in your favor. The stalker is less likely to guess where you are.”
“My granddad’s house is sturdy and secure,” Drew said, speaking almost as if he couldn’t help himself. “It’s down a private drive with a good view of anyone who might try to approach the house. I’ve added a safe room and replaced the old windows with shatter-proof glass.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug when Alexa looked at him in surprise. “I wanted to know how hard it would be to set it up properly, since home security is something people ask me about.”
Alexa shifted where she stood. She had it on the tip of her tongue to refuse again, but her mind took that moment to replay the cries of her cats and the sound of running water behind a locked door. Underneath those sounds were the old images of a knife flashing down and a face contorted with rage. She walked to the window.
Night had fallen on her little neighborhood, but a warm light shone onto the street from the many windows in her neighbor’s houses, and the old-fashioned streetlights added to the glowing look of a tiny Christmas village. It was really the perfect neighborhood for a single woman. It allowed her to be completely independent, yet she was still in the middle of a caring community. But as she stared out the window, the pools of shadows seemed to darken. The trees, which had felt so sheltering, now seemed to tower over the little homes.
She had worked so hard to gain back a feeling of security and sanity after the attack that day in the bookstore. Was she really going to run from her home and abandon everything she’d worked for? On the other hand, she knew her training was limited to hand-to-hand, which would do little good against someone who was armed with a gun. She also knew from her time sparring that it was tough for a woman to overpower a bigger, stronger man, and doubly so if he was psychotic and she had a normal aversion to causing someone harm.
What did Keri say? Something about not letting my fierce independence prevent me from accepting help when I need it.
She took a deep breath then faced Drew and Detective Rawlings. “I’ll go pack a bag.”
Drew watched Alexa as she left the room and hoped the surprise he felt didn’t show on his face. He wasn’t entirely sure what had prompted him to offer his place as her hideout, but he definitely hadn’t expected her to take him up on it.
He wanted her somewhere safe, and he wasn’t being arrogant in his belief that he could best provide that, but was this really a good idea? Alexa was a mess, and she hated him to the core. He couldn’t entirely blame her. He hadn’t treated her well at the end of his leave. He’d thought he was all that. He’d graduated Ranger school, for crying out loud, but he’d still been kind of a punk kid underneath the uniform.
And of course setting up shop in Willowdale as her rival hadn’t helped their relationship. He wouldn’t tell Alexa, but her little digs had found every sore spot that remained from his youth as an army brat. Every army kid dealt with some flak from civilians, and in his case, there was plenty of that to go around since he’d been raised by a single father, who didn’t have time to teach his so
n smoother manners.
Alexa’s contempt had rubbed salt into old wounds he had thought were healed. He rolled his shoulders to ease the tension growing there. He would treat protecting her like a mission. She was just another hostage he had to keep alive and safe until the job was done and she was out of his hair.
“So, a safe room, huh?” Something in Detective Rawlings’s voice snagged Drew’s attention.
“That’s right.” He couldn’t read the detective’s expression. Was she laughing at him? “Nothing fancy, not like the movies. Just a room that’s been reinforced where possible. I installed a sturdy frame and a solid, reinforced door. Then added two deadbolts that slide straight into solid wood.”
Detective Rawlings nodded. There was definitely a glint in her eye, and a smile played about her lips. “And that room would be… where? Not the kitchen or living room?”
“My bedroom, actually.” Drew caught the suggestion in her look and shook his head emphatically. “Only to be used in emergencies. Besides, the guest bedroom is also a safe room.” He didn’t add that he only considered the guest room a backup, considering it was on the main floor and had a window with easy access to the ground.
The detective grinned. “I only ask because I don’t want to save Alexa from the stalker only to charge her with assault and battery. She doesn’t like you very much.”
Drew winced. “I’m aware of that. But I know how to keep my cool and neutralize a situation. I’ll keep things on the level and keep Alexa at arm’s length.”
The detective nodded again then flipped her notebook shut and stood. Her face turned serious. “I wouldn’t have pushed her to stay with you, but my gut doesn’t like what I’m getting here. The bathroom door was shut and locked when the two of you tried to get in, but the one kitten was out and free.” Her voice had a careful note, indicating she was sharing a guess. “I suspect the stalker had only just exited the house when you arrived. The water hadn’t had time to swamp the tub, and he might have been looking for the escaped kitten. If Alexa hadn’t stopped on the doorstep and talked to you, it’s even possible she would have walked in on him.”
Drew felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach. His mind began supplying scenarios in which the stalker attacked Alexa as she walked through the door or waited to surprise her when she headed for the shower. With each ugly scenario, his protective instincts went up a notch, and he had to remind himself that nothing had happened. Alexa was safe, and she would stay that way.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Do you think Alexa realizes?”
Detective Rawlings shook her head. “I doubt it. At this point, she’s just coping with the obvious and trying to absorb her new reality. Try to get her to eat tonight. And make sure there’re plenty of blankets in that guest bedroom in case she feels chilled in the aftermath of what’s happened to her cats, not to mention the emotional shock of having been forced from her home.”
Drew nodded. Thankfully, he kept a well-stocked fridge and knew how to cook. He’d learned during the year he spent taking care of his dad, after his dad’s cancer was diagnosed as terminal. Offering food that was one hundred percent homemade had been the only way he could coax his picky and ailing father to eat.
“Do you carry?”
The detective’s question brought Drew back to the present. Of course she would want to know if he kept a gun on him. He nodded. “I’m not carrying today, but I always keep my permit on me.” He pulled it from his wallet and held it out. “I have a couple concealed holsters I’m comfortable using.”
The detective looked over his concealed carry license then handed it back to him. “I thought you might. Glad to see you keep your permit on you.”
She looked as if she might say more, but just then, Alexa came back downstairs with a garment bag slung over her shoulder and a duffel in her hand. Her limp had disappeared during the push of the evening, but now it was back and possibly more pronounced. He was sure her body was feeling the effects of the emotional ringer she’d been put through.
Drew took the bags from her then walked out and put them in the truck. When he came back for Alexa, she and Detective Rawlings were making a list of black belts at the school who were also instructors. It sounded as though the detective planned to keep an eye on them for any strange behavior. She also planned to watch their homes in case the stalker had made a copy of their keys as well.
Detective Rawlings followed Drew and Alexa out to the truck.
“This is the real deal, guys.” Her face was serious, and she spoke in that official officer voice that Drew knew well. “We don’t know what this guy is capable of. Call if you see anything suspicious or remember something that might be helpful. Any leads at all will help us narrow down the list of possible suspects.”
Drew nodded, but he was only giving the detective half his attention. Alexa’s house and yard were crawling with cops, but that didn’t mean the stalker wasn’t watching. He could be hiding in the bushes. He could even be one of Alexa’s neighbors. They needed to get Alexa out of there.
Detective Rawlings put out her hand to touch Alexa’s shoulder. “I’ll need to meet with you and get a list of men you’ve dated in the last year or two, plus anyone who may hold a grudge or feel they have a score to settle. You’ll be at the dojo tomorrow for sparring?”
Alexa nodded. “With my foot banged up, I’ll just be watching, but they’re counting on me to unlock in the morning. Besides,” she said around a feeble grin, “surely I’ll be safe in the middle of a dozen loyal black belts.”
Drew squinted at an open garage a few houses down and across the street. Was there someone in there? If someone standing there had binoculars, he could watch their every move and easily identify Drew’s truck. He could then follow them to Drew’s house.
“I’ll come by and talk with you then,” Detective Rawlings said. “And pick up the gift candle you mentioned. I’ll also need to take your fingerprints so we can rule them out.”
Alexa nodded.
“That’ll be fine,” Drew said. “Thank you for your help.” He opened the truck’s passenger door for Alexa then gave Detective Rawlings a quick nod before climbing into the driver’s seat. It was time to get Alexa home.
Chapter Six
Alexa was quite sure her body had a mean sense of humor. Why else—after the day she’d had—would she find herself much too aware of Drew’s masculine form beside her and the toned guns of his biceps? She felt a flare of heat spark between them when he reached toward her to shift gears. She had known Drew, the young man. What would the mature stud be like?
Shaking her head for actually entertaining that thought, even silently, Alexa looked away from Drew and focused on the scenery out the window. Comfortable definitely wasn’t the word she was looking for, but something felt right about sitting beside Drew and relying on him for the physical protection she needed at the moment. Something about it clicked. Although that surprised Alexa, it was nothing compared with the shock of Drew offering his place at all. True, people acted differently when there was a crisis, and an aggressive stalker certainly counted as an emergency. So, did two shockers make a normal?
Of course, what was “normal” between Drew and her had included a great deal of physical touching and intimacy. She would have to be smoking something to indulge in that now. What was it her aunt used to say? Every good chemist knew when to keep it contained. That was just how Alexa planned to manage this situation—containment, with nothing more than cool professionalism between them.
They turned onto the long, winding road that led to Drew’s house, and Alexa rounded up her wandering thoughts. The house came into view, and Alexa caught her breath. She didn’t remember it having such charm. When Drew’s grandfather had lived here, he’d been the dean of the college, and she’d been a little intimidated by him.
Now she could appreciate the house as a lovely colonial revival
tucked into the trees. The home was complete with a charming gabled roof and crisp white accents around the windows that contrasted with the deep red of the brick. In addition to the traditional square colonial box, the house had a wing off each side on the ground floor. Warm lights shone brightly from the windows, and a lamp stood in a little garden to the right side of the front door. Completing the picture was a bench in the garden, waiting for someone to come and sit. Appearing as it did around a bend in the road, the house made Alexa feel as though she were coming home to the family hearth she’d never known.
“You like it?” Drew’s tone was studiously casual.
Alexa nodded. “I don’t remember it having such homey warmth or such character.”
“I added the gardens. Maybe that’s what you’re noticing.” Drew pulled into the detached garage and parked the truck. “I want the house to be a good place for a family to live.”
Alexa nodded, not sure what to say to that. Didn’t having a family involve commitment and settling down, preferably with one woman? How exactly did he plan to manage that? He’d spent all his growing-up years popping around the country. Surely his time as a Ranger hadn’t been any more settled.
Drew grabbed her garment and duffel bags and got out of the truck. Alexa limped after him. They went through the back door into the kitchen, and Alexa paused to smile as she took it in. This space had also been updated and seemed like a perfect haven.
The granite counters were a creamy white with red sandstone streaks, and the cabinets were a warm wood. Low-hanging lights shed a bright glow onto the long island in the center of the kitchen, and stainless-steel pots and pans hung on the underside of a pantry shelf. Everything was in reach of the stove and sink, ready for the chef.