by Sharon Kay
Becca blinked away the tears and smiled. “Never better.”
“She’s perfectly content with you.” His voice was rougher as he studied her with a look that she swore could read her soul.
Becca let herself get lost in his eyes, remembering him holding Emma and holding the boy in the woods. “Yeah.” And I’m perfectly content with you.
Chapter 29
Later, after they’d said their goodbyes to Rosie and Cruz, Shane maneuvered his truck down Rosie’s long driveway. He couldn’t get the memory of Becca holding Emma out of his head. They’d both seemed so peaceful. Emma had alternately gripped Becca’s hair or lay there staring up at her. She’d been content to stay on Becca’s lap for almost an hour.
It only made him want to be there for her every day, to make sure her life had more highs than lows, and to have that easy, happy smile all the time. The depth of emotion gave him pause, having shifted and expanded to fully encompass the steadily building sensation that filtered through his mind.
Forever.
He couldn’t give words to it, so he dropped his hand to her knee as they drove. She hummed along to a country song on the radio, one about kissing. He grinned to himself. She was about to get kissed six ways to—
Almost at his driveway, Becca peered at the road ahead. “There’s, like, little paper pieces on the street.”
“Huh. That’s…” Shane leaned forward. The closer they got to his house, the more paper he spotted drifting across the road. He glanced left as he turned the truck toward his driveway. “What the hell?”
More pieces of paper drifted in his driveway. Small and tinted… orange? He rolled over the curb and caught sight of Becca’s Prius parked halfway up the driveway. Fury roared through his veins.
He threw the truck in park and yanked his door open.
“Shane? Oh my god, what is all that?” Becca jumped out her side.
He got to the car before she did, wanting nothing more than to block her view. But there was no hiding this.
The Prius was covered in paper. Small rectangles of orange, printed with black ink, from one of the world’s most enduring board games.
Monopoly money. All orange. All with “500” in bold numerals in the center of every single piece.
“Motherfucker,” Shane growled.
Next to him, Becca covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh my god…” Her breath came in short gasps. “Who would… who—”
He wrapped her in a tight hug, turning her so he was between her and the paper-covered car. The need to soothe her and the need to kill this fucker warred inside. But the asshole was nowhere to be seen. Goddamn son of a bitch. A growl built in his throat.
She trembled in the air that was cooler since the sun had gone down. He stroked her hair. “I will find this asshole and make him wish he never knew your name.”
“B-But… this isn’t my house or my work. This is your house.” She raised her head to look up at him and the fear in her eyes slayed him. “He knows where you live. Not j-just me. Now it’s affecting you too.”
“Don’t care about me,” Shane growled. “I can take whatever sorry-ass fucked up ideas are in his brain. But you? You don’t deserve this. And I will make him regret all of it.”
Nose to the ground, Denver inspected Becca’s tires and the paper on the ground as if he were searching for the stalker’s identity.
“This guy’s following me—work, home, the store, now here. He knows every place I go.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “And why does he keep on…” Her focus dropped to the paper money. “Why is he obsessed with what I did?”
“I don’t know. Whoever this is, is fucked up. Unstable maybe. Vengeful, definitely.”
“I know I messed up, but it’s over.” She balled one hand into a fist.
“I’m sorry baby,” Shane said. “Let’s go inside.”
“Shouldn’t we clean this up? It’ll keep blowing around.”
“I’ll call Ted to come over first. He can take some of it, or all, see if he can pick up on anything.”
“But there’s, like, thousands of little pieces.”
“I know. But he’s good at spotting the details that may lead to something. Things we may not think to check.” He stroked a hand down her back. “Wanna call anyone?”
Her shoulders sagged. “I’ll call Evan. He may want to come over.”
“He’s more than welcome.”
She blinked rapidly. “Why is this happening?”
“There is no good reason why this should happen to anyone, ever. Fucking coward.”
“I hate that you got sucked in to my mess.”
“I don’t.”
Big green eyes gazed up at him with a mix of sadness and happiness that startled him. “You don’t?”
He shook his head. “I want to be here with you. I want to catch this guy. This is bullshit, and you shouldn’t have to face it alone.”
“I don’t even have words for how amazing you are,” she whispered.
He was so far from the word, it was ridiculous. But this wasn’t the time to contradict his girl. Like she always managed to do, her sweetness took the raw edge off the fire in his veins. “No words necessary.” Keeping her safe was his top priority, and he hated that the harassment continued, yet she still looked at him like he was a hero.
Though if Becca saw him that way, he’d be a happy man. And that realization had his heart pounding because he’d never felt okay with it before.
“Want to call Evan?”
She nodded. She pulled out her phone and dialed, taking a deep breath. “Hi,” she started. “Um… not that good. Someone… they…” Tears filled her eyes as her words jumbled. “Yes, I’m fine. Shane is here with me.” A pause. “Yes. Um, it’s about my car. Someone put m-m…” She turned to Shane as two tears rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t even say it.”
He gently took the phone from her shaking hands. “Hi, Evan. This is Shane Marlow.”
“Marlow? What the hell is going on?” Evan demanded.
May as well get right to the point. The dude’s anger was thoroughly justified. “Someone decided to dump a whole lot of Monopoly money on Becca’s car. Specifically, the five hundred dollar bills.”
“How much is a lot?”
Shane eyed the Prius and the sea of orange on his driveway. “’Bout a truckload.”
A streak of curses carried over the cell. “Were you home when it happened?”
“No. We were at my sister’s house. She lives in Sundown. Just got home, and this is what we found in the driveway.”
“Holy shit. Tell Becca I’m coming over.” Evan had all of Shane’s contact info as well as his address. When the second letter had arrived and Becca moved in, she’d wanted Evan looped in on everything. “Can you save it for evidence?”
“Will do. And I’ll get a guy over here.”
“Good. See you soon.” He ended the call.
Shane gave the phone back to Becca. “He’s on his way.”
“Thank you.” She shoved her hair away from her face and let her hand drop to her side. “Go ahead and call Ted.”
Shane called Ted next, keeping an arm around Becca as he dialed. Denver came over to sniff the hand that dangled at Becca’s hip, and she patted his head, stopping to scratch behind his ears. Denver’s tail wagged, and he pressed his body close to Becca’s leg.
Shane paused as the phone rang. A fresh wave of surprise rolled through him at Denver’s posture. That was his dog’s way of offering comfort or reaffirming bonds, and the only other person, besides Shane, Denver had done that to was Rosie.
That meant Denver now considered Becca to be part of his family.
And holy unexpected shit, so did Shane.
“Shane, what’s up?” Ted’s voice broke into Shane’s epiphany.
“Uh…” Shane
blinked, still unable to tear his eyes away from the sight of his four-legged partner and his woman. “I need you over at my house. We have a situation.”
“We?”
“Becca’s here. Someone did something to her car. Need you to bring your stuff.”
“Aw, shit. I’m on my way. You two okay?”
“Yep.”
“All right, good. See you in a few.”
Shane ended the call and dropped his gaze to Becca. She stared at her car with a bleak expression while Denver’s tail swished back and forth at her knee. “He doesn’t do that for just anyone, you know.”
“Hmm? Ted doesn’t come over to check out stalker evidence in people’s driveways on weekend nights?”
Shane chuckled. “Not talking about Ted.”
She turned to him, brows knit.
“Denver. He’s comforting you. That’s what his body language is saying.”
“Oh.” She glanced down at his black and tan fur. “But he’s always been friendly to me.”
“Yeah, he knows he’s a star. He accepts attention. He just doesn’t usually return it.”
“Hmm, so I’m approved?”
“You were already approved. But now you’ve been bumped up to family.”
“Really?” A grin spread across her face. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” She stroked the sleek fur of Denver’s back. “You’re such a good dog, Denver.”
“Let’s go inside. It’s getting chilly with the sun down.” And if they stayed out here any longer Shane would be tempted to say something really sappy.
And really unexpected.
Three little words floated in his mind, the words he never planned to say to anyone. But he realized they’d been there, gathering more strength and persistence with each touch and soft word from her, each time she’d diffused his anger as expertly as a bomb tech snipping the right wire.
All she had to do was be herself, and he was able to be himself, not holding anything back because there was no need to. She completely understood and accepted all of him. They’d each walked through the fires of loss, each emerging damaged, but he couldn’t imagine anyone else who could make him whole.
“Shane?” She lightly ran two fingers along his shoulder. “I…” She gazed up at him like she had something to say.
Just then, a car turned down their street, rolling slowly as if unfamiliar with the houses. It stopped and parked at Shane’s curb.
Shane, Becca, and Denver all turned. “That’s Evan,” she murmured.
A tall man got out and strode toward them. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered as his attention fell on the Prius. He didn’t slow his pace. Denver tensed at the unfamiliar male in his territory.
Shane grabbed Denver’s collar and spoke to him calmly. Becca went to Evan and gave him a quick hug. “I’m so glad you came over.”
“Me too. This is unbelievable. Are you okay?”
“Other than being scared, embarrassed, and mad, I’m fine.”
Evan turned to Shane, who commanded Denver to sit. Evan started to extend a hand, then took note of Denver and shoved his hand in his pocket. He nodded to Shane. “I’m Evan Gable. Nice to meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Shane Marlow, and I agree.” Shane studied the man. Tall and lanky, his anger was palpable as was his concern for his sister.
“So you weren’t home at the time of the incident.” Evan looked at his watch. “Sun sets around six now, at the end of October. Think any neighbors saw anything?”
“Possibly. We didn’t ask anyone yet.”
The headlight of another car pierced the dusk as it approached. Ted exited the Redemption County squad car. He walked toward the Prius and crouched to peer at the paper on the driveway. “Ah, god damn it.” He turned to the group. “I’m sorry, Becca.”
Evan stuck out his hand. “I’m Evan Gable, Becca’s brother. And you are?”
Ted shook his hand. “Ted Markham, Sundown PD. I do a lot of forensics work in the county.”
“I have a law practice in Jackson County. Mostly real estate, but I do what’s needed.”
“Well, good to have you here. I plan to take all this with me.” He frowned at the paper money. “And see if I can get any prints off the car. I’ll check for any tire treads that don’t match Becca’s or Shane’s.”
“Sounds good. Let us know if there’s any damage to the vehicle—that will affect the order I’m ready to slap on this guy,” Evan said. “Once we learn who the fuck he is.”
“This might take a little time. Do you two want to go inside?” Shane figured he’d be more useful helping Ted than getting mad at the lack of protection the law offered.
“Sure,” Becca said. “Thanks for coming over, Ted. I’m sure it’s not your first choice for a Saturday night.”
“I’m happy to be here. This guy’s an asshole,” Ted grunted. “I’ll get some things out of my car and get started.”
Becca gave Shane a small smile and went inside with Evan.
Shane dropped his head back and was met with the blanket of stars over the Illinois nighttime sky. How had this day changed on a dime? Every day he felt closer to Becca. Every little thing and every big thing only settled her deeper into his scarred heart. She could heal him and make him see the joy in things he’d forgotten.
He was snared deeper than he could have anticipated.
Chapter 30
Wispy clouds drifted across a black sky, obscuring the stars and revealing the moon in quick glimpses that disappeared almost as soon as they came into view. Shane had Becca tucked close on his living room couch, where they’d been sitting since Evan and Ted left hours ago. No big leads or hopes turned up, as Shane had suspected. Evan couldn’t bring the law into play until the guy actually broke it and until they found out who the hell he was. Because, although it was cowardly as fuck, putting paper on a car and mailing letters that didn’t contain threats wasn’t illegal. So it fell to Ted to find a clue that would lead them in the right direction, and all he had to go on was a lot of generic details.
Becca curled into his side, her head on his pec. Her chest rose and fell with peaceful breaths, yet her fingers traced patterns on his shirt, betraying her restlessness. “I can’t decide if I want the neighbors to have seen something, to help us figure out who he is, or hope they didn’t because this is mortifying, and I just want it to go away,” she murmured into his shoulder.
They’d knocked on a few doors but not everyone was home. The people they’d spoken to hadn’t seen anything. “We’ll try again tomorrow. See if we can get some answers.”
On the braided rug in front of them, Denver slept soundly. Becca sighed and straightened. “Thanks for putting up with my request. I know it may seem weird to hang out in the dark.”
Shane sifted his fingers through her hair. “No weirder than me sitting out on Redemption Hill.” He’d be happy to sit in the dark, or the sunlight, with her any day. Hell, he’d be up for rain or snow too.
“I feel safe with you,” she said. “It’s like a cocoon, here with you, just us. No one can see us. I feel like no one can get to me.”
“I don’t want anyone to get to you ever again.” Shane captured her hand. “Stay here with me. All the time. Even after we catch this guy.”
“Really?” The hope and excitement in her voice made him want to say things like that all over again, just to make her happy.
“Yup.”
In the thin beam of light from a street lamp, a smile flickered across her face. “The last several weeks have been amazing. I…” She looked down and laced her fingers with his. “I don’t want it to end.”
“It doesn’t have to. I sure as hell don’t want it to.”
She gazed at him with an expression full of questions and tentative hope.
He let himself get lost in those eyes for a se
cond. Saying what he was about to say should be a risk, yet with Becca, he wasn’t worried about any fallout. “I’m saying, stay with me. From now until…” He frowned. “No expiration date on the offer.”
Her eyes went wide.
“I’ll do everything I can, for as long as I’m still breathing, to protect you. You’ve stayed stronger and saner than most people could have.”
“I’m not strong,” she whispered.
“Yeah, you are. You may not see it, but I do.”
“Some days, I don’t feel sane. More like a hot mess. Although…” She tilted her head. “I’ve had that feeling less since I met you.”
“After the year you had, you’re entitled to feel what you need to. Don’t worry ‘bout the rest of the world.”
She nodded. “That’s what you do. Try to block out what the world thinks.”
“Yeah. And when that doesn’t work, I end up drinking on the hill with a bunch of ghosts.”
“I’ll come with you,” she said softly.
Could she get any more perfect?
No. He opened his mouth to tell her that, but she wasn’t done.
“I guess the hard part about ignoring what other people think is that I still don’t know what to think. I mean, I took that money. I still feel guilty.” She picked at a thread on her jeans. “I guess maybe I need to talk to a therapist? Maybe I need to forgive myself first.”
“Therapy couldn’t hurt.”
“I’ve been at Silver Springs long enough. I’ll be able to get on their insurance soon.”
“And I’ll be here to remind you.” He slid a finger under her chin to tilt her head up. “You are stronger than you know, and you don’t have to carry that guilt anymore. It’s like a backpack that’s too heavy. You need to set it down. And if you can’t, hand it to me. I’ll carry it for you.”
Her eyes grew brighter in the dark room, and she blinked rapidly.
“Don’t cry, baby. I’ve got you. I’m not going any—”
Knock! Knock!
Sharp raps echoed from the front door.
In a heartbeat, Shane was on his feet and whirled toward the front window. Denver launched from sleep to full alert, barking furiously. He hurtled to the door and snarled.