“Sure.” Roxy grabbed the scissors off Agnes’ desk and handed them to Pandora as she turned and lifted her curls. “Just don’t leave a hole.”
Pandora snipped. “You won’t even notice it.”
Roxy turned around to see the witch pocketing a thin hank of curls. “That wasn’t much at all.”
“Nope.”
“You sure you’re not upset with me?” Kaley asked softly. She was biting her lip and staring at her feet.
“Not at all, Kaley. I promise.” Roxy’s heart went out to the kid. “I’m actually really excited to find out that I’m not entirely human.”
Kaley’s head came up. “For real?”
Roxy smiled. “For real. I really am. I want you both to do me a favor, though, okay? Let me be the one to tell Deputy Cruz, all right?” She looked at Pandora. “I want to figure out what this means for me and the spell we talked about, first. If you need to talk to someone else about it who might be able to help, I’m fine with that. But I don’t want to give him any kind of hope when there might not be.”
Pandora stood. “You got it. I’ll let you know what I find out as soon as possible.”
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Agnes stuck her head in. “It’s almost show time. You ready?”
Roxy got up and smiled. The possibility that she might be more than what she’d thought she was filled her head, making no room for nerves. Besides, that crowd was here for her. These were her people. She could do this, and do it well. “I can’t wait.”
Alex found a spot against the far wall where he could see Roxy and the front door. He couldn’t see the rear of the store, but Jenna was positioned in the storage area at that door, and with the alarm on, he doubted that would be the entrance the stalker chose.
Jenna’s sister had been given a name badge and was playing the part of an employee, which was more than Alex had expected her to be up for, but apparently Tessa felt strongly about someone threatening an author. And her librarian job made her a natural as a bookstore employee.
Pandora and Kaley had been given two reserved seats in the small front lounge. No one could enter the shop without going by Kaley, who was showing the kind of earnest effort that made Alex think the kid had a future in law enforcement if she wanted it.
Every time the door opened, the noise outside from the parade—and the crowd filling the streets of Nocturne Falls because of it –filtered in, adding to the already significant hum in the building. Alex tuned out the noise, though, and tried to keep his focus on two things: the door and the crowd in the shop.
It was hard not to watch Roxy, however. She’d had a big smile on her face from the start, and not a hint of nerves. She gave time to every reader who stood in front of her table, talking to them and asking them questions, standing for hugs and pictures, accepting the gifts they brought. She greeted everyone with the same enthusiasm, never showing the slightest trace of exhaustion. She was amazing. A rock star.
And he could see exactly why her readers loved her. Her books were great. But as a person, she was a friend to everyone.
A few of the women who came to see her even broke down in tears, but they all left smiling, clutching their books in their arms and practically glowing with the experience. Here and there, he caught snippets of conversations as the attendees wound past him.
“She’s so nice. I can’t believe how nice she is. I love her!”
“She signed the book I bought and every book I brought with me.”
“I got my picture with her! I’m totally making that my new profile pic.”
And then there were the happy shrieks and endless smiles. It was a love fest and he couldn’t help but smile too. Roxy St. James was a freaking phenomenon.
Over the course of the next few hours, several men came in. Some with their wives or girlfriends, some alone, but still with books to be signed. Each time one entered the store, Alex glanced at Kaley, who’d peer at them very intently, then look at Alex and indicate what she’d read. Each time it was a shake of her head no.
None of the men showed signs of meaning harm to Roxy.
By the time the signing was over, Alex was happy the stalker hadn’t shown, but frustrated that whoever this jerk was, he remained at large. Roxy was standing at her table now, a crowd of readers surrounding her, asking questions, chatting her up. That went on for fifteen minutes, at which point Agnes announced Roxy had to go and escorted her to the office.
As the fans filtered out, Alex walked over to Pandora and Kaley. He addressed the teenager. “Good work today. Absolutely outstanding.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. You and Miss Williams can head on home.” He nodded at Pandora. “Thank you for coming. Really helped.”
“No problem.” She stood and gathered her things. “Can you believe how many people showed up?”
“Very impressive.” He glanced toward the back of the shop. “I have to check in with Deputy Blythe. You two have a good night.”
“You too. And tell Roxy we said goodbye.”
“Will do.” As they left, he headed to Jenna’s post in the storage room. He pushed through the door and saw her sitting in a chair against the back wall.
She stood and stretched. “Everything over?”
“Yep. And not a sign of him.”
“Nothing back here either. Not even the rattle of someone trying the door. You think he’s gone? Given up maybe?”
Alex shook his head. “No. Maybe he wants us to think that, though.”
She nodded. “Could be. You need Tessa and me anymore?”
“No. I’m going to take Roxy home. Thanks for your help today.”
“Sure thing.”
They walked back into the shop together, then Jenna collected her sister, they said their goodbyes and they were gone.
Leo was at the counter when Alex walked up. “If you’re looking for Agnes or Roxy,” Leo said, “they’re still in the office.”
“Thanks.” He went back and knocked on the office door.
Agnes opened it. “Roxy just finished up.”
“Finished up what?”
Roxy was sitting at the desk, which had been cleaned off a little. Several stacks of her books sat to one side and there was another carton of books on the floor. Roxy had a black Sharpie in her hand. She lifted it. “I was signing the books that were ordered. Books that have to be mailed to the customers who couldn’t make it in today.”
“That’s nice.” He looked at how many books there were. Then he shifted his gaze to Agnes. “How did these customers find out about being able to order a signed book?”
“Mostly my mailing list. Those are my regular romance readers.” She pointed at the computer. “But I posted on the store’s social media too.”
“The regulars, do you know all of them?”
She nodded. “Absolutely.”
“What about the requests that came in through social media? Do you know them?”
“No. But there weren’t as many of them.”
“Can you email a list of those names and addresses to Birdie?”
Roxy’s brows lifted. “Birdie? Where are you going with this?”
“I think it’s possible your stalker didn’t show today because he knew he’d get caught, but I also think he would have wanted a signed book from you. I’m going to get Birdie to run that list through our system. See if anyone who wanted a book has any priors that fit our suspect.”
Roxy nodded. “You really think my stalker could be on the list?”
Alex nodded. “Maybe. And if he is, he just might have given himself away.”
Roxy smiled up at the stars as she trailed her fingers through the water of Alex’s hot tub. It had been a week since the signing and there hadn’t been a peep from her stalker. She was convinced the guy had realized she was with Alex now and had given up.
Alex wasn’t so convinced, even after the list of book buyers from Agnes’s shop hadn’t turned up anything, but that was his j
ob. Well, his job right now was getting her a glass of wine. He’d just gone in to open a bottle for them, then he’d be joining her.
Things between them were so good. Easy and uncomplicated and just what she needed, even with them being intimate. Which was amazing. The writing was finally back up to speed, and she was happy with it. And Pandora was hard at work on something to do with the shifter spell they’d talked about. It had required a few items from Roxy’s past, things near and dear to her, but Pandora had promised Roxy it would be well worth it and ready very soon.
Roxy was curious, but content to wait, because at long last, she was caught up on all her obligations. Alex had even helped her unpack the boxes in her garage so she could park her hybrid in there. For the first time in what felt like forever, she could breathe. And relax. A huge improvement over the last several long months.
Life hadn’t been this happy in forever.
The doorbell rang faintly, followed by a louder voice as Alex called out, “Just a sec.”
Whoever it was, the interruption wasn’t going to ruin her night. Her mood was too good and Alex would deal with it. This was his house.
She closed her eyes, spread her arms out along the edge of the tub and awaited Alex’s return. She sensed movement near her, just the shift of air, really. She smiled. “Who was at the door?”
A hand covered her mouth as an arm snaked around her body and hauled her backward out of the tub. Her heels bumped along the deck and hit grass.
Her gasp and her scream were two parts of one muted noise. She flailed, kicking and striking back at whoever had grabbed her, but was unable to get her feet under her. A man, based on his strength and the woodsy smell of him. She caught a little of the man’s palm between her teeth and bit down.
He grunted, but didn’t let go. “Hold still,” he hissed, hovering above her kneeling form. “This is for the best.”
“Let her go, or I will kill you.”
Roxy went still at the sound of Alex’s voice. The man holding her did too.
He answered Alex. “And risk hurting her? I don’t think so. Unless you don’t love her as much as I do.”
She tried once more to get to her feet, but the water dripping off her had made the grass slippery. Then something sharp and metal pressed against her neck. Had to be a knife. She stayed on her knees, unwilling to make any movement that could dig the blade in deeper.
Alex was standing on the deck now. His eyes were glowing. And he looked very, very angry. “Last chance. Let her go.”
The man started yanking her backward again. “We’re leaving.”
“Roxy, run.” Alex leaped off the deck and flew across the yard. He caught the man around the neck, tearing him away from Roxy. She heard a dull thump and a strangled sound behind her, then a low growl rumbled over the noise of the bubbling water. She crawled away as fast as she could. A louder snarl followed, then a very human yelp. She got to the deck and turned.
Alex was crouched over a dark figure. His eyes still glowed gold in the soft light, but now his canines were long and deadly, and sharp claws jutted from his fingers. He was in his half-form, the same one she’d seen the night she’d found out the truth about this town.
The same night he’d also had a man pinned to the ground.
“Stay down,” he snarled. Then he looked at her. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, not quite up to words.
“You sure you’re not hurt?”
“I’m sure, Alex. I’m fine.” She stared at the man on the ground. A black hoodie obscured his face and in the darkness of the evening, it was hard to make out much more. Black jeans. Black sneakers. All nondescript.
“Good. Do you feel up to getting my handcuffs and my phone?”
“Yes.” She could do anything if it meant putting an end to this.
“They’re on the dresser in my bedroom.”
The stalker squirmed. “Get off me, man.”
Alex leaned down. “Move and I’ll break you in half.”
The man went still as she got to her feet and climbed the stairs to the deck. She picked up a towel to wrap around herself. She stared at the guy on the ground. “He was going to kidnap me.”
Alex nodded. “I wouldn’t have let that happen.”
“You kept saying he’d show up sooner or later. You were right.” She shivered and pulled the towel around her, but she wasn’t cold. Just shaken by the enormity of what might have happened. This man, whoever he was—she tried again to make out his features in the shadows—had tried to abduct her. But he hadn’t. Because of Alex. “Is that who rang the doorbell?”
“Yes. I knew as soon as I opened it and there was no one there.”
“I can’t believe you took him down so fast.”
“I wasn’t going to give him an opportunity to hurt you.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed as a thousand scenarios of what could have happened spun through her head. “Be right back.” She ran into the house to get the things he’d asked for, still trembling with adrenaline.
When she returned, Alex’s half form had given way to his human one. He took the cuffs from her, then secured the guy and hauled him to a sitting position. Alex yanked the man’s hood back. “Do you recognize this guy?”
She racked her brain for some memory of seeing the man before. He was young, his hair black and stringy and hanging over his face. But nothing about him seemed familiar. “No.”
The guy muttered something that sounded like a curse. “Don’t say you don’t know me.”
Roxy stepped back. “I don’t.” She looked at Alex. “I have no clue who he is.”
“That’s okay.” Alex held his hand out. “Phone.”
She gave it to him as a sudden surge of weird giddiness welled up in her. It was finally over. She was safe. Thanks to Alex. Her shifter. Her protector.
He tapped a few buttons. “It’s Cruz. Roxy’s stalker just showed up. Yep. Yep. Thanks.” He handed the phone back to her. “Deputy Lafitte is on his way with a car.”
“Lafitte? Are there pirates in this town too?”
Alex smirked. “No. He’s a Cajun. Remy’s his first name. New hire a few months back. Good man. But he’s strictly a night-shift guy.”
Her mind was happy to contemplate a new subject. What did Alex mean by that? Was the new guy a vampire? Because that was the only supernatural thing she could think of that would make someone strictly night shift. Not that the Ellinghams had to deal with that, thanks to some old family magic that Delaney had mentioned was a big secret. “Is there anything else I can help with?”
Alex shook his head. “Just let Deputy Lafitte in when he gets here and then he and I will take care of the rest.” He re-adjusted his grip on the stalker, but his gaze stayed on Roxy. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “Yes. A little weirded out by him touching me, but really glad this is over.”
“Me too. You positive you don’t recognize this guy?”
She studied the man in Alex’s control. He was young, scruffy and pale. But no one she knew. “No.”
Alex leaned toward him. “What’s your name?”
The man stared at Roxy, creeping her out even more. “You’re ruining everything for us.”
She grimaced. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do,” he said.
She glanced at Alex. “I swear I don’t.”
“I know.” Alex pulled the guy to his feet. “Your prints are probably on file since you were so careful to keep them off everything you left. Or maybe you were stupid enough to carry ID. Or leave it in your car. Or wherever you’re staying. You might as well help yourself. It’s not going to stay a secret for much longer.”
The guy’s eyes narrowed. “Jacob Cranberry.” He glared at Roxy. “Don’t pretend you don’t know me. That insults everything we have.”
“Everything we have? You are so delusional, I don’t know where to start.” Then Roxy thought back as she stared at him. “Wait. Are
you related to Marissa Cranberry?”
“See?” the guy said. “You do remember me.”
Alex lifted his head to look at her. “Who’s Marissa Cranberry?”
“Marissa was my first assistant. She was great. Very thorough, totally on top of stuff. But then she up and quit with no real explanation after just a couple of months. The only thing she’d tell me was that her life had gotten complicated and she was pulling back. I let it go. What else could I do?”
She stared at Jacob. “You’re her brother.”
“You and I could have been happy together,” Jacob said. “I know everything about you. I told Marissa not to quit. She didn’t listen to me either.”
“Looks like you’re not as persuasive to women as you think you are.” Alex tipped his head like he was listening. “Lafitte’s here.”
“I’ll go let him in.” She hadn’t heard anything, but then, she hadn’t heard Jacob creeping up on her. So much for her supernatural bloodlines.
“Thanks.”
She left them and went to the front door. A patrol car was pulling into the driveway. She stood there until the deputy got out and walked up to the porch.
He nodded. “Ma’am. You must be Roxy St. James.” His voice carried the soft lilt of Louisiana.
“I am. And you must be Remy Lafitte.”
“One and the same and at your service. Where’s the perpetrator?”
Deputy Lafitte had two things in abundance: Southern charm and good looks. “Alex has him cuffed in the backyard. I’ll show you.”
“Much obliged.” He came up the porch steps.
She didn’t move entirely out of his way.
“Ma’am?”
“Alex said you were strictly a night-shift guy. Is that in all aspects of your life?”
He studied her a moment as if trying to guess what she was after. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Does that make you what I think it does?”
He smiled, showing off fangs. “I’m guessing it does.”
“How about that? I’m getting pretty good at this.” She gave herself points for guessing vampire. “Follow me.”
After it was all said and done and Jacob Cranberry was being loaded into Deputy Lafitte’s patrol car to be hauled off to one of the holding cells at the sheriff’s department (with the help of Sheriff Merrow, who had also shown up), a wave of exhaustion hit Roxy. She slumped against Alex as they stood together on his front porch, happy to have him at her side.
The Shifter Romances The Writer (Nocturne Falls Book 6) Page 22