by Angela Blake
As he smiled at her scowling face, he could almost envision her sprawled over the black satin sheets of his bed, all drowsy eyed and sleepy, smiling at him. More than just the blood going to his cock, he felt a contentment at that image. And that made him a little unsure.
Faith eyed the man sitting across from her, warily.
He was looking at her like one would at their favorite dessert and she wondered if he knew she was not on the menu.
She was glad she had let him talk her into coming here. She had desperately needed a distraction from the pictures she had just received. Landon had not pushed the issue and she was grateful for that. However, when he had offered to drop her home, a part of her had relaxed.
She wasn’t ready to go home.
She felt like her privacy had been invaded. One of the pictures had been of her leaving her house.
She wouldn’t feel safe there.
Taking out her phone, she excused herself, and walking towards the ladies room, she rounded the corner, and once out of sight, she leaned against the wall, letting out a deep breath.
Quickly turning on her phone, she started looking for nearby motels. Maybe she could ask Landon to drop her at one. Let him assume what he wanted to.
Her attention on her phone, she didn’t notice the man approaching her till he was right there.
“Why are you looking at motels?” Landon demanded.
When Faith jumped, he felt some remorse, but shoved it down. This wasn’t the time for that.
“Faith.”
The difference in their height was noticeable.
He was a large man, standing at more than six feet, while she was a mere five one. So, as she looked up at him and ran a nervous hand through those pretty brown curls, he realized she was more spooked than she had let on.
“I’m just-“ She trailed off, not knowing what to say. If she admitted the photos had frightened her, he might ask her more questions, and…And what?
Landon boxed her in with his body and whereas that might have pissed her off on any other day, the sheer heat that radiated from him made her feel safe and protected, and so she was horrified when she felt her eyes burn.
“Are you-“
“I’m not crying!” She growled at him, cutting him off and scrubbing her eyes. The glare directed at him dared him to say different.
“Fine. Then why are you looking at motels, Faith?” His gaze remained steady.
“For a friend,” She glared at him. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
He glared back at her, irked at her stubbornness, “Or maybe those pictures you hid in your purse have you running scared?”
Faith’s lips trembled before she firmed them and shoved at him, “So what if they have? I’m not going back home! Whoever sent these knows where I live!”
It enraged Landon to see the fear in those beautiful eyes that she was trying to mask with misplaced anger.
“And you think this person won’t be able to track you down to some motel?” He snapped at her.
Faith let out a shuddering breath, all the fight leaving her body. She let the wall take her weight as she let out a defeated breath, “It’s nearing midnight and I just found out that I might have a potential stalker who knows where I live and where I work. Do you have a better suggestion than hiding out in a motel for tonight?”
Landon stared down at her, “Come with me.”
“Excuse me?” Faith blinked.
“You can spend the night at my apartment.”
Faith stared at him, “I don’t even know you. What if you –“ She left her sentence hanging.
He liked that she had enough self preservation about not going off with a man she had just met a day ago and he told her that.
“Everyone knows me. You can drop a message to your friends. Let them know. Maybe that will make you feel safer with me.”
“Well, I don’t feel unsafe with you,” Faith muttered, blushing. “I wasn’t trying to imply.”
“You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa. And tomorrow we can go to the police.”
In the meantime, he intended to hit up a few of his own contacts to track this bastard down.
Faith rubbed her arms, and mumbled, “This sucks.”
Landon couldn’t help but rub the pad of his thumb against her cheek, and give her an exasperated smile, “You’re absolutely adorable.”
She looked so startled by his words, that he took advantage of her surprise and herded her off to their table where Pops had just put their burgers, “It’s decided then.”
***
The burgers had been nice but Faith had been too churned up to actually taste them.
As she followed Landon through the front door of his apartment, she found herself hesitating.
He held the door open for her, expectantly, and she sighed, giving in.
It wasn’t a huge apartment but it was well kept and sparse.
“You like to live lean.” Faith commented, slowly.
“Well, yeah.” Landon replied, stripping off his black leather jacket and tossing it over a chair that he had. “I come here once a year so I don’t need much.”
As he rifled through the storage closet for extra blankets, Faith studied the room.
A long couch that was situated in front of a huge television screen was the only thing that seemed to have been chosen with care. Otherwise everything seemed to be Ikea bought. A small table with two chairs. The kitchen was small and located in the far corner.
Faith clutched onto her bag, nervously, “Are you sure this is okay, Landon?”
Landon walked over to the couch and dumped a pillow and a blanket on it, before turning to her. He raised a brow, “Nobody in their right mind would come after you with a Navy SEAL protecting you.”
Faith blushed and refused to meet his eyes.
One minute she was all feisty and the next she would blush like a virgin. Landon shook his head, hiding his grin.
“You take the bed.”
“I can sleep on the couch,” Faith protested. “I’m small so it wouldn’t be an uncomfortable fit.”
Landon studied her and wanted to tell just how perfect of a fit she would be to him, but insteads he bit his tongue, and just pointed towards the bedroom. “I want to be between the the door and you.”
Faith paled, “You don’t think…”
She trailed off.
Landon frowned, “I like to be prepared for the worst. Whoever this bastard is, he’s not getting his hands on you.”
Faith swallowed.
The bed had black sheets that were smooth to the touch and for some reason their texture had Faith’s cheeks turning red. When she had run her hand over them, the heated gaze on the back of her neck had her slowly turning around to see Landon watching her from the doorway.
His voice had been thick with an emotion she didn’t want to identify, as he had handed her a large white T shirt, “Here. If you want to change into something more comfortable.”
He had left her alone, closing the door behind him with a final click.
As she lay on the bed, Faith found that she couldn’t sleep. This sense of safety was but an illusion.
Somebody had been following her. Watching her. And they wanted her to know that they were watching her.
For how long?
Faith forced herself to sit up, and let her legs dangle from the side of the bed.
How long had he been watching her for?
Had he been in her house?
Had she ever truly been safe?
Or alone?
Reaching out, she grabbed the dreaded envelope that stuck out from her purse.
Sitting cross legged on the bed, she placed all the photos in order, and tried to recall the dates, times events for each photo.
There were fifteen photographs in all.
As she started arranging them in order, her heart started beating faster, as she realized the timeli
ne was running farther and farther back.
It took her a while but finally she was staring at the first photo.
The picture showed her sitting in a café with a guy, wearing a yellow dress.
A dress that she had lost.
That had to be a coincidence, right?
But, as she studied each and every picture, she could pinpoint small things that had gone missing after that day.
Like the pearl earrings she had worn on her meeting with the Board of Directors of her firm.
Her finger touched the picture and her blood ran cold.
This guy had been in her house.
He had touched her things.
Had he been there while she slept?
Scared, angry, terrified, she tossed all the photos onto the floor, and curled up in a ball, letting her tears flow.
She was so scared.
The strong arms that wrapped themselves around her had her curling into them, sobbing.
“Faith.” Landon’s voice was firm, soothing.
“He was in my house.” Her voice trembled. “Oh, God. He was in my house!”
Hearing the terror in her voice, Landon wrapped himself around her, letting her ride out the fear and tears.
The cold rage that built up in him was a deadly force.
Chapter 7
“I’m sorry for locking you in the restroom. You’re not a bad person.”
Faith’s voice was hollow as she sat on the couch, staring at the pictures she had rearranged for him.
“It gave me time to reflect on my actions.” He let her see his smile and it pleased him to see the hesitant smile she gave in return. It lacked its usual luster but it was something.
“He’s been following me for seven months.” She murmured.
Landon was silent for a few seconds, “So why initiate contact now?”
Faith started and then turned to study him, absorbing the meaning behind his words.
Landon glanced at her, “Did you do anything out of the ordinary these past few days?”
Faith shook her head, “Not that I can remember. I met you yesterday, but that’s it. I’ve had those meetings with your parents but that sort of thing shouldn’t stand out.”
“You met me.” Landon murmured. “There’s a possibility that might have set this bastard off.”
“Why would it?” Faith looked wary. “I wasn’t exactly nice to you.”
When Landon snorted, she looked embarrassed, “I said I’m sorry.”
He just smirked, “That’ll be a story someday. ‘How did you two meet? She locked me in the restroom at Joe’s.’”
“Oh, get over it.” Faith muttered and had him grinning. But his grin faded. “Maybe it’s not me, then. Maybe it’s something you might consider unimportant.”
Faith stared at the pictures and then her eyes fell on one and she bit her lip, “That one.”
Landon’s brow knitted together, “What about that one?”
“You can’t see it, but I was sitting with my mother. She was passing through Charleston that day. This was one week ago. We had gone to lunch.”
Faith swallowed, “Mom asked me whether I was dating anyone and I told her no, but that I was ready for a serious relationship now.”
Landon didn’t move, “If this person was sitting within hearing range, that could be a powerful motivator.”
Faith didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and then, “What am I supposed to do? I tell the police and then what? What if he’s in my house? What if he comes in when I’m sleeping? What if it’s someone at the firm? I can’t trust anyone?”
Landon grabbed her chin in a firm but gentle hold, and forced her to look at him, “You can trust me for now. And I have some people I know who might be able to help. As for being alone, you won’t be. Till we figure this out, you can stay with me.”
“Stay with you? Landon, I’m not going to force-“
“Does it look like I’m being forced right now?” He asked her quietly, making her study the look in his eye.
“I want you.” He let her see the raw desire he’d been struggling to keep her from seeing this whole night. “In my bed. In my life. You’re the first woman who’s made me want to bend my own rules. So, no.”
He got up from the couch to move towards the kitchen. “I’m not being forced. I want to protect you.”
***
“Faith. Faith? Faith!”
Faith jumped, startled out of her daze, “What?”
Naomi blinked at her, “You okay?”
Faith struggled to get her bearings for a heartbeat, and then smiled, wanly, “Yeah. Long night.”
Her friend didn’t seem inclined to push her, but didn’t push her. She just said, “There’s a Detective Santigo on the phone for you and Jack has been texting me to ask you for the details on the Brown Junior meet up.”
“The who? And why is he texting you?” Faith grabbed her extension, and her partner replied, “Landon Brown. And he did text you. But you were too busy daydreaming.”
The office was bustling with activity at the moment.
The few hours of sleep she had managed to catch last night had been restless. And she was too agitated to focus on anything right now.
She closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge between her eyes, “Detective Santigo?”
“Miss Williams. I would like for you to come down to the station.”
Faith swallowed, “Did you find something?”
That was fast. It had just been a few hours since she had been to the station.”
The detective’s voice was calm, “I would prefer to tell you in person. Could you make some time now?”
Faith glanced at the clock, “Yes. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
She took a deep breath as she closed the phone and turned around to find Naomi watching her, worried, “What’s going on, Faith?”
Faith just gave her a tired look, “I’ll explain later.”
She grabbed her purse and left her office.
As she drove to the police station, she wondered if she should have contacted Landon, and then frowned. What he had said to her last night had taken her aback. He barely knew her, but he wanted a relationship with her?
She knew she was ready to get into a relationship but was this sexy, dominating man the right person to tread the waters with.
She was fiercely independent, and Landon was…Landon oozed dominance. She knew if she let him take one step, he would wrap himself around her till she forgot herself in him. Her attraction to him made her wary and now she could admit to herself that it was because she found herself melting at the way those beautiful blue eyes looked at her, that she snapped at him so much.
As she parked outside the station, she studied the brick wall of the building, both hands resting on the steering wheel, and wondered. She wondered if she was making a mistake in not taking up Landon’s offer to protect her. Was this her ego at play or was she too scared to lose herself in him?
It didn’t matter though, because as soon as she stepped into the station, a scowling Landon came into her view. He was wearing a tank top, his leather jacket, flung over his shoulder in what looked like an impatient gesture.
He was deep in conversation with the quiet natured detective who had been on duty this morning when they had walked into the station. The scowl on his face grew when he spotted her and she wondered what she had done to earn his supposed wrath as she walked towards them.
“Hello, kitten.”
Landon grabbed her by the waist in a gentle but firm move, not giving her time to think of a way to escape. He gently brushed his lips over hers in a greeting. Anyone looking at them would think they were lovers.
Faith’s heartbeat quickened at the innocent gesture. As her hand fell on his leg for support, the hard muscle of his thigh had her lower muscles clenching and unclenching and she bit her own lip to conceal the moan that was just building its way up.
> A discreet cough had her turning around and very neatly, she stepped on her ‘lover’s’ foot, making him wince.
Detective Santigo wore an odd expression on his face but he smiled at her, “Would you like some coffee, Miss Williams?”
“Please call me Faith,” She interjected, politely, her body freezing when she felt Landon’s hand snake around her small waist and settle on her hip in a possessive move. She dared to glance up at him and found him looking unsettled and annoyed. If she hadn’t known any better, she would say he was jealous of the detective.
“You can keep calling her Miss Williams, Henry.” He growled at the detective who just grinned. The two seemed to know each other.
“Yes, well.” Detective Santigo turned to look at her, “I checked your entire apartment this morning, along with a few uniforms.”
The arm that was holding her now became something Faith held on to, as she bit out, “Did you find anything?”
The detective looked a little uncomfortable, and then picked up an evidence packet from his desk, “We found this snagged on the rose bush outside your building.
Faith’s cheeks turned pale, as she took the packet from him, “This is the blouse I was wearing in one of the – “ Her eyes turned hopeful, “Did you-“
Henry shook his head, “We searched for all those articles that you said were missing. None of those turned up. He must have been in a hurry when he took this. But,” His face turned grave. “The lock to your guest bedroom has been broken from the outside. And has been for quite a while.”
Faith sought the comfort that Landon’s body heat offered. Her voice trembled before she steadied it, “So, I was right.”
“Unfortunately. Look, I will have a uniform stationed outside your apartment till we resolve this. You don’t-“
“She’ll stay with me.” Landon murmured, rubbing Faith’s cold hands with his.
Faith glanced up at him, but she had nothing to say this time, her eyes stark.
She was silent as she drove Landon with her to the first house that he had to view. She had sent a quick text to Jack, informing him that she was showing Landon the properties and had ignored the texts from her friends.