Carter kept his arm around Mallory as they plowed their way through the crowd to a table near the stage. Brinley was there along with Easton and his new wife Dizzy. He’d texted them to save a few chairs.
“Hey,” Carter said loudly, holding Mallory’s chair for her. “Thanks for saving us a spot.”
Easton slapped Carter on the back. “I’ve had to wrestle at least a half a dozen people for those chairs. It’s like everyone in Tremont is here tonight. I didn’t realize Jason was this popular.”
Carter ordered drinks from the passing waitress before he replied. “That’s because you were too busy working to have any fun. Dizzy finally has you living a little.”
Dizzy, Brinley, and Mallory were huddled together on the other side of the table deep in conversation like old friends. He was aware that Mallory didn’t know too many people in the area, being new. Dizzy was the perfect person for her to get to know. Sweet and friendly, Easton’s wife didn’t have an enemy in Tremont. She’d have Mallory out and about and maybe even taking art lessons at the community center.
Brinley and Mallory ought to have a few things in common as well since they were both teachers, although the former had taken time off now that she and Jason had a couple of kids.
Easton, despite being a happily married man, gave him a downtrodden expression. “I’m exhausted, man. At my age I need to pace myself. I swear Dizzy’s got me doing yoga and now we’re working on learning martial arts. She says we need more exercise and less red meat. I miss cheeseburgers a hell of a lot.”
Dizzy had some quirky ideas but Carter knew his brother wouldn’t have her any other way.
“It could be worse. She could be like her mother.”
Dizzy’s parents had a habit of doing naked yoga where the neighbors could see them. They liked to celebrate the human body.
“Do you know what she told me at the wedding?” Easton rolled his eyes. “She said if I didn’t make her daughter happy she would summon a demon to Tremont.”
“And if anyone could do it, it would be her.”
“I’m glad they went back to Greece to finish that archeological dig. She kept giving me the evil eye. It was creepy.”
Speaking of creepy…
“Listen, don’t let Jason slip out of here tonight. I know he and Brinley are anxious to be alone but I need to talk to him.”
Easton’s gaze sharpened. “What about?”
Carter glanced at the ladies but they were engrossed in their own conversation. With the loud music, it was doubtful they could hear anyway.
“Mallory got flowers on her doorstep this morning. Unsigned card about how great last night was and that the sender couldn’t wait to see her again. She thought they were from me but that’s not the case.”
“And you’re jealous? You want to know who sent them?”
For a financial genius, Easton wasn’t the best about interpersonal relationships.
“No, I am not jealous. I think that whomever sent these did it to mess with her after seeing her on the news yesterday.”
Easton’s brows pinched together in concern. “Like a stalker?”
“Maybe.” Carter patted his shirt pocket. “I have the name of the florist. I was hoping Jason could nose around and find out who ordered the flowers from them. Then I’ll just pay this douchebag a friendly visit. Let him know that it’s not nice to be creepy.”
“Is she scared?” Easton eyed Mallory and then turned his attention back to Carter. “After what she – and you – have been through it would be normal to be jumpy and nervous.”
“Actually, she doesn’t seem all that bothered about it but she did have me throw them out, which is when I took the card. She was more nervous about coming to Sunday dinner.”
Chuckling, Easton grinned. “We’re harmless. Besides, she did great. Mom and Dad love her. They’re going to be bugging the hell out of you to keep seeing her.”
“I don’t plan to stop unless she wants me to.”
Carter said it casually enough but the revelation still managed to get a wide-eyed stare from his brother.
“Good call. She’s a keeper.”
Leave it to Easton to keep the commentary short and sweet. He wasn’t much of a talker, not like Noah who could make your eardrums hurt.
“It’s still early yet, but I like her.”
He could more than like her. Time would tell. But all the indications pointed to Mallory becoming very important in his life.
* * *
When the band took a break, Carter spirited Jason over to the bar and bought him a beer. His cousin accepted it gratefully but clearly knew it wasn’t given out of the goodness of Carter’s heart.
“You need to talk to me?”
Carter pulled the florist envelope and card from his shirt pocket, holding it up for Jason’s inspection. He accepted it and studied them, finally looking up and shrugging his shoulders.
“And? What am I looking for here?”
Because they didn’t have much time, Carter quickly explained the situation to his ex-Fed cousin. If anyone could find out who had sent those flowers it would be Jason.
“And you want me to find him? Then what are you going to do?”
Carter smiled. “Just talk to him. Let him know that sending creepy gifts to women he’s seen on television is rude and not nice. I’m not planning on any physical altercation if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Quirking an eyebrow, Jason tucked the card away in his jeans pocket. “But if he threw the first punch, you’d defend yourself?”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. So you’re going to help me?”
“I will but you may not like what we find. What if it’s her ex or maybe an admiring teacher from her school? It might not be someone who saw her on television and then fixated on her.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I’m hoping you’ll find because it’s a hell of a lot less weird. I talked to her earlier and she swears that her ex would never send her flowers like that, and she also says that there are no men at work who stand a little too close and pay a little too much attention to her.”
Jason glanced over his shoulder to the table where the women were talking and laughing.
“She might be like Brinley. She has no idea when other men are hitting on her. She just thinks they’re being friendly.”
Carter couldn’t argue with Jason’s logic. Mallory was a beautiful woman but she seemed completely unaware of that fact.
“She’s had a shitty weekend and I just want to make sure that this guy doesn’t make things even worse.”
“You haven’t exactly had a great couple of days either.” Jason leaned in a little closer so that only Carter could hear. “Listen, I know a good therapist that deals with PTSD. If either of you wanted to talk about what happened, she’s a good listener.”
Jason had been kept as a prisoner by a Mexican drug cartel. Beaten, starved, and tortured, he’d escaped but come home a different man. He had nightmares and often couldn’t sleep. A good therapist and settling down with his wife had helped but he would probably always be dealing with his memories of that time.
“Thank you, but I think I’m coping okay. So far. If it changes I’ll let you know. I will ask Mallory though, if she’d like the name and number. She’s been a rock but it might just be a facade.”
“Let me know. When you least expect it to hit you, that’s when it comes down like a ton of bricks. Any little thing can set it off. A scent, an image, a sound. Just don’t wait as long as I did. I thought I was too much of a badass to need to talk about it.”
Jason drained his beer and then nodded towards the stage. “Don’t suppose you want to come up on stage with me tonight? It might impress your girl.”
It also might send her running and screaming from the building. Jason was a great singer, Carter was merely okay. All the Andersons could carry a tune but just because they could didn’t mean they should. In public, at least. In the shower, Carter was a fucking rock star
.
“I usually need a few more drinks in me to do that, but I think I’ll let Brinley have the honor tonight. You guys do a great duet.”
Jason headed back to the stage, stopping by the table to grab his wife’s hand and drag her along with them. Carter stood behind Mallory as his cousin began crooning a soft ballad, Brinley’s rich voice mixing in. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“How about a dance?”
She looked up surprised but then smiled and nodded eagerly. That douche of an ex probably didn’t ever dance with her either. Carter didn’t know this guy and would probably never meet him, but already he didn’t like him. Mallory was a catch and the dude had been too stupid to see it.
Their bodies moved together easily, brushing with each beat of the music. Carter pulled Mallory closer, allowing himself the luxury of breathing in her soft, sexy scent. She was a warm bundle of woman in his arms and it was hard to keep his hands in their proper places. If their dancing was any indication of the future, the sex was going to be out of this world fantastic.
Suddenly all he wanted to do was kiss her. And more.
“Honey, how about we head back to your place?”
Her answering smile told him all he needed to know. All systems were go.
Chapter Fifteen
‡
The air was filled with expectation when Carter pulled into Mallory’s driveway. She knew what he was thinking because it was what she was thinking about, too. Some force was pushing them together and she didn’t want to fight it. He was gorgeous, sexy, funny, successful, and kind. And she wanted him. She was woman enough to admit her desires.
He put the car in park and rounded the vehicle to help her out, his hand strong and warm wrapped around her own. His blue eyes were darker than usual and there was an intensity in his expression that she hadn’t seen before. She had a sneaky suspicion that while Carter might be a goof ball out of the bedroom, inside it he’d be all business. At least this first time.
She fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking with her own anticipation. When they were inside they were going to go at each other like animals. Her need had been dammed up too long and he looked like a lion inspecting a gazelle that had wandered away from the pack.
Almost crowing with triumph, she held up the correct key but Carter was already bending down in front of her door, picking up a package.
Uh oh. Not another one. This is not good.
“Looks like your secret admirer stopped by again.”
She managed to unlock the door and push it open. So much for passion. Carter’s attention was no longer trained on her but that damn box in his hands.
“Just toss it over there. I’ll open it later. It doesn’t matter.”
Clearly it did, though. A muscle jumped in his jaw and his knuckles were white as his fingers tightened on the package. He lifted it to his ear as if he were listening for a bomb.
“I’m sure it’s harmless. The flowers weren’t dangerous.”
“Stand back while I–No, never mind. I’ll take it outside and open it. You stay here.”
“Seriously?” All the happiness between them had been sucked dry. “You think it’s a bomb?”
His lips were a flat line and his blue eyes were an icy gray. “I don’t know what it is but I’m not going to take any chances with your safety.”
She hadn’t known Carter long but arguing with him appeared to be a futile effort.
“Fine, I’ll wait here and pour us some wine.”
Maybe that would bring the mood back.
He stalked out the front door while she shed her coat, hanging it in the foyer closet. Then she kicked off her shoes and padded into the kitchen. One bottle of wine, two glasses. She could use a drink right about now. She shouldn’t because she had to work tomorrow but one little glass wouldn’t hurt. It might even help her sleep. She’d had soda at the bar earlier.
She’d barely uncorked the bottle when he came back in, his breath blowing out in a huff of steam before he closed the front door.
“It’s candy. Chocolate. And there’s a card again.”
Pouring two glasses, she met him in the living room, setting their wine on the coffee table.
“What does it say?”
He handed it to her and if anything, he looked more furious than he had a few minutes before.
Sweets for my sweet.
“That’s kind of cliché, but it’s harmless just like the flowers this morning. I really think it’s no big deal.”
The look on his face told her in no uncertain terms he thought she was an idiot.
“You think it’s just a strange coincidence that this started up right after you’re on television?”
Maybe. Sort of.
“Correlation doesn’t equal causation.”
Isn’t that what she said to her students?
He snorted and hopped up from the couch, not touching his wine. “It’s a little too much of a coincidence for me, Mal. Some guy saw you on the news and it looks like he’s in the early stages of stalking you.”
“If I ignore him and don’t give him any attention–”
“It might not change a thing,” Carter interrupted. “It might make him more determined than ever.”
“Or he might go away when he gets no encouragement,” she sighed, placing the card on the table. “I’m not saying that this isn’t some light stalking. It is weird but I’m not sure what you want me to do here. Lie hidden in wait until he drops off a package and then bash him over the head with a baseball bat? If that’s what you want, I can do that. I have a Louisville Slugger in the bedroom that my brother gave me when I moved out of the house and on my own.”
Rolling his eyes, he heaved a heavy sigh as if he was greatly put upon to deal with her. Fuck him.
“Don’t be overdramatic.”
Her? He had nerve.
“I’m not the one thinking that some creepy guy is trying to stalk me. That’s all you. Frankly, I think you’re the one overreacting. Perhaps what happened at the rest stop has you shaken up more than you want to admit.”
Bullseye. If she’d wanted to completely piss him off, she’d succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. His cheeks were red and he was now pacing a hole into her floor.
“Then you’re not going to call the police?”
She threw up her hands. “And tell them what? I’ve had friends who were stalked by men, Carter, and I know how this would go. This person has made no threats against me. They’re not going to do anything because they can’t. He’s broken no laws. Leaving flowers and candy on some woman’s doorstep might be in poor taste but it’s not illegal.”
He stopped and appeared to take a calming breath. “Fine, but I don’t want you staying here alone tonight. Come home with me.”
Less than half an hour ago she would have welcomed that invitation but now it was coming for all the wrong reasons. Not one had to do with ravishing her naked body.
“I’ll be fine,” she said in her calmest, most serene tone. They both needed to de-escalate the emotions between them. “He’s left a few gifts. He’s not going to come into the house in the middle of the night with an ax.”
I hope.
He opened his mouth and she braced herself for his arguments but then he snapped it closed. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he pulled out his car keys.
“I’m not going to argue with you. If you think you’ll be okay, then I’ll just leave you to it. I wanted to help you, but clearly I’m not wanted or needed around here. I wish you good luck.”
Before she could even respond, he’d turned on his heel and was stomping out of her house and down the porch. His footsteps echoed in the silence and she fell back onto the cushion of the couch and groaned.
What the hell just happened here? Was this their first fight? And their last? He looked pretty done with her when he’d left. An evening that had begun so promising had just gone to hell in a hand basket.
And she’d be fin
e. She could handle her own life. She didn’t need a man bossing her around and trying to make her decisions for her. He was handsome but he wasn’t that handsome.
So much for Carter Anderson. She was alone again.
Chapter Sixteen
‡
Carter was about fifteen minutes down the road when he came to his damn senses. He’d let anger and frustration get the best of him and he didn’t always make the best decisions under those conditions. He might be pissed at Mallory – and he was – but he wasn’t a total jerk. At least, he didn’t think he was.
At the next exit he turned his vehicle around and headed back toward Green Pine, muttering under his breath the whole time. She was stubborn and she didn’t listen worth a damn. She seemed to have no understanding of what might be going on.
Mallory was definitely an optimist, serenely going through life so sure it all was going to work out for the best. While it was an attractive trait, it put her in a precarious position, always assuming the best in people and their motivations.
He called bullshit.
He wouldn’t label himself a pessimist, but he was definitely a realist. Bad things happened and he’d seen some up close and personal. This asshole hadn’t done anything against the law yet but Carter had a nasty feeling about the whole situation. Having cousins who were in law enforcement had educated him early on the signs of escalation. If this so-called secret admirer just kept leaving gifts then maybe, just maybe, this was harmless. But if he began to escalate his behavior, then there was no telling what might happen. Obsession had no boundaries and didn’t respect the rule of law.
Pulling into Mallory’s neighborhood, he kept a close eye out for anything or anyone that would look out of place. It was a quiet Sunday night and the streets were deserted. Most of the homes were dark but there were a few with the lights still on, usually a lone lamp near a window. He was a night owl so he’d be one of them but living on a ranch demanded early rising, no matter how much he’d hated it.
Mallory’s home was dark and it appeared that she’d turned in for the night. He parked his car in front of her house and then decided to make a quick trip round the perimeter of her building, just to be sure. It sounded like something West or Jason might do. Carter wasn’t a cop and he had little idea as to what he was doing but it seemed like a good idea to make sure there wasn’t anyone lurking in the bushes or trying to look into her windows.
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