by CJ Roberts
But she could not accept and would not forgive the kiss.
Didn’t he know how much she loved him? Didn’t he understand he was hurting her? God! She didn’t want to punish him anymore. She just wanted him to see her, to love her, the way she loved him.
Maybe she could give him one more chance, one more warning.
She climbed into her car and picked up the camera on the passenger seat.
The events at the ice rink had certainly shaken him up. Nic was, after all, hemophobic. She’d learned about his troubles a few years ago, quite by accident. Smiling, she clicked her way through the photos she’d taken. She’d set the ASA high, so she could take photos while the lights were out. Her finger paused. There it was: the perfect shot. Nic lying on the cold ice, blood splattered on his naked chest. As though he’d been shot. The image saddened her, repulsed her even. It would be a very powerful warning to him should he ever do anything hurtful to her again. It showed how vulnerable he really was, bodyguard or not. Had she been holding a gun instead of a camera, he’d be dead.
But she didn’t want to kill Nic. She was the only one for him. And he was hers. It was her duty, even her right, to protect him from himself, no matter the cost.
She found her journal and opened it to her last entry. Using her favorite pen, she traced the outline of a body on the opposite blank page and wrote: ** insert photo here **. Grinning at her own hilarity, she brushed her finger along the lines of the male body she’d drawn.
The whole episode had been perfect. The anxiety in Nic’s voice after he’d received the message had said it all. Now all she had to do was wait. He’d come to her on his own. That’s the way it had to be.
But just to be sure, she’d send him another warning. One he couldn’t ignore.
Sunlight streamed in through the unshuttered bedroom window, painting Nic’s exposed chest with a soft golden light. Awakened at her regular six AM time by the family of birds nesting in the tree outside her apartment, Lauren hadn’t been able to resist peeking in to observe Nic as he slept in her bed.
A wave of tenderness washed over her as she took in his face relaxed in sleep, relieved of the previous day’s stresses. He looked so much like the boy she remembered from high school. Except he wasn’t a boy anymore, was he? No. Nic Lamoureux was definitely a man.
Nic shifted in his sleep, the sheet sliding low on his hips and revealing a tantalizing glimpse of sculpted muscles and jutting hip bones. A scattering of dark hair arrowed down his stomach to disappear under the sheet. Her fingers curled around the doorknob. How she wanted to lift that sheet. Heat suffused her cheeks. Scolding herself, she backed out of the room and closed the door.
Coffee. She needed some very strong coffee. As she took out the ground beans and filter, her thoughts drifted back to the previous evening and the message Nic had received.
Lose the bitch.
She shuddered. The picture had been taken when Nic kissed her. Was she being threatened or was Nic? If they got involved, what would the stalker do?
Although she’d convinced him to stay the night, it was probably safer if they didn’t see each other again until this person was caught. She had to put Jason’s safety first. And, really, they had no reason to see each other again. No reason at all. Unless that kiss last night meant as much to him as it did to her.
The rich aroma of brewing coffee filled the air. Inhaling deeply, she sighed and poured herself a cup. Sitting at the table, she booted up her laptop. When the browser window opened, she typed Nic’s name in the Google search bar. Immediately, several sites came up, including CelebrityStalker. When the site finished loading, she gasped. Nic had been spotted at a bowling alley in Kirkland, WA. Quickly, she scanned the page for any mention of the arena. Nothing. Was that good or bad? She didn’t know.
A warm hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump.
“Easy there.” Nic squeezed her shoulder gently before taking a seat across from her. Despite the racing of her heart, she had to smile at his ruffled hair and the bed crease across his cheek. He reminded her of Jason when he first woke up in the morning. His boyish grin revved up her pulse even more, but for an entirely different reason.
Lauren poured him a cup of coffee, adding one cream and one sugar. When she handed it to him, she repeated Vivian’s words, “Just the way you like it, darling.”
He grinned, catching her joke. She watched, anticipation curling in her stomach as he raised the cup to his lips. After taking a sip, he pointed to her computer. “Don’t let me interrupt you.”
“I was done.” Because she sounded annoyingly breathless, she inhaled deeply before adding, “Someone posted a sighting of you at the bowling alley yesterday.” When he blanched, she squeezed his hand. “I didn’t see any mention of the arena.”
Several minutes passed, during which neither of them spoke. Unable to stand the silence, Lauren said, “Forget it. Let’s relax, eat breakfast, and catch up on the news.” She got up and walked to the front door. “The paper should be here by now.” The newspaper lay on the mat as usual. Beside it sat a white box with a pretty pink bow. “Did you order something?”
“No. Why?”
There was no return address on the package. Lauren’s heart started to pound. “I think the stalker left us a gift.”
His mouth dry, Nic reached the landing in a few long strides and crouched down beside Lauren to examine the box. No name, address, or any other markings. Fuck. “Do you want me to open it?”
“Be careful.”
He teased the bow open and pried up one corner of the lid. The box was filled with white tissue paper. Setting the lid aside, he pulled back the tissue paper to expose the interior of the box.
“I see something.” Lauren pointed to a bit of brown peeking through the almost translucent paper.
He moved the tissue. “It’s hair.”
She gasped and slapped a hand to her mouth. “Maybe we should call the police.”
He had to see what was in the box. “Get behind me.” He positioned himself to block her view, then tore off the remaining paper. Inside lay a Barbie doll with long brown curly hair.
Lauren leaned over his shoulder. “Is that supposed to be me?”
Something hung from the doll’s neck. Dog tags. The blood in Nic’s veins turned to ice. He forced himself to breathe. Whoever had sent this knew Lauren, and more importantly, knew she wore Todd’s dog tags. Fucking bitch! Yeah, he was pretty certain the stalker was a woman.
When Nic lifted the doll out of the box, the head separated from the body. Christ. Could this get any worse? A small square of pink paper was tucked under Barbie’s body. Nic pulled it out and read the message printed in block letters.
I TOLD YOU TO LOSE THE BITCH. IF YOU DON’T DO IT, I’LL DO IT FOR YOU.
He threw the note and the doll back in the box and slammed the cover down. Goddamn! He couldn’t live like this. He had to find this fucking stalker.
Lauren’s legs buckled as she stood up. Nic wrapped an arm around her waist and placed the other behind her knees. In one motion, he lifted her against his chest, then took her inside and sat on the couch cradling her in his lap. “I’m so sorry, chérie. I never meant to put you or Jason in danger.”
“I know.”
He’d let his attraction to Lauren override his common sense. And look where it had gotten him. This woman he held in his arms, this woman who was so perfect for him, was now quivering with fear. He should never have come here, should never have tried to act normal. He wasn’t normal. His life was a fucking Hollywood nightmare.
“Lauren.” His voice was thick. “This woman, whoever she is, wants me to leave.”
Lauren nodded, her eyes bright with tears.
His chest contracted painfully. He didn’t want to end things this way. “Once I’m back in L.A., she’ll leave you and Jason alone.”
Lauren buried her face in his chest. “I don’t want you to leave.”
He spoke past the lump in his throat. “I don’t want
to either.”
“Will I see you again?”
He closed his eyes. This weekend had been a dream realized. For the first time in a long time, he’d been a part of something, part of a family. He wanted this, wanted a family.
Could he stand by and let Fate take another part of his life away, take another choice away? No. But to protect her, he had to make the stalker think he’d given her up.
“Maybe, but it’s too dangerous right now. I need to know that both you and Jason are safe.”
Lauren wiped her eyes and looked up at him. “Can we talk on the phone at least?”
Fucking shit. She was shredding his heart. Nic cleared his throat to ease the tightness. “You can always call me if there’s an emergency. But for business, it’s probably better to go through Vivian.”
She sobbed once, a truly heartbreaking sound he never wanted to hear again.
He sighed. “I’ll get my things and leave. Tell Jason how much fun I had with him this weekend.” He nearly choked on his next words. “Tell him I had to go on a new mission, but we’ll always be brothers in arms.”
Her smile was bittersweet. “I will.”
He moved her off his lap, grabbed the package, and collected his things in the bedroom. He emerged a few minutes later with his duffle bag thrown over his shoulder, holding up the knit cap and goggles Jason had lent him. “Do you think Jason would mind if I kept these?”
“He’d be pleased.”
Without taking his eyes from hers, he fumbled with the zipper of his bag and stuffed the disguise inside.
She held his gaze, despite the tears making tracks down her cheeks. “I wish things didn’t have to be this way.”
“Meeting you is the best thing to ever happen to me. If things were different…” He shook his head. “But they aren’t.”
Her lips trembled and she hiccupped back a sob. “Maybe someday when this is all over…”
He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “Maybe someday.”
8
Nic tried to read the script of At Last, but the words kept running together. He’d come outside on the balcony, hoping the change of scenery would inspire him. That it would get his mind off Lauren so he could get some work done. Shooting for the romantic comedy started in two weeks, and Nic The Lover always arrived on set prepared. He rubbed his eyes and tried again. After several more attempts, he set the script aside and walked back inside the loft.
Light from the setting sun poured through the large windows covering the west wall, creating a kaleidoscope of color as it reflected throughout the living room. The beauty of it made him feel worse. Lauren would have loved to see the sunset from this vantage point. He sank onto the couch and threw an arm over his eyes, blocking the view.
The only good news was that there’d been no text messages, no photos, no sightings, no postings, and no strange packages since his return. He’d told Lauren to call if she received anything else from the stalker but so far, no calls. He’d been right; as long as he stayed away from her, the stalker was happy.
Lucky stalker.
The past weekend had been both the best and the worst he’d had in years. His mind kept flashing back to images of Lauren and Jason, images of normalcy. Like an unending reel, the life he could have had—the life he still wanted—replayed in his mind, over and over. But, until and unless he caught the stalker, he would have no happily ever after. He should forget about them.
He launched himself off the couch. What was wrong with him? He was a survivor. Always had been. He needed a plan, and the solution was a phone call away. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Kaden’s number.
“You free tomorrow?” he asked when his bodyguard answered.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“I went to Seattle. To see Lauren.”
“Alone?” Kaden asked, his voice like ice.
Nic blew out a breath. “I know you’re pissed. And you’re right. I should’ve had you come with me.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wanted to feel normal for once.” He leaned against the window. “What a fucking joke. My life is so far from normal it’s not even funny.”
“What happened?”
“The stalker’s going after Lauren. We need to put an end to this.”
“So it’s not just business anymore?”
Nic closed his eyes and sighed. “Life would be so much easier if it was.” He pushed off the window and started pacing. “We can’t let anything happen to her.”
“What about the cops? What are they doing?”
“The investigation’s pretty much stalled.”
Kaden scoffed. “Figures.”
Nic told Kaden about the package and the broken Barbie. “The techs weren’t able to lift any prints. And they couldn’t determine a point of sale. That doll is sold in every Walmart, Target, and Toys “R” Us in the country, not to mention all the online stores.”
“What about the message? Can’t they figure out who sent it?”
“Apparently, with a few mouse clicks, anyone with access to the Internet can send virtually untraceable text messages.”
After a brief pause, Kaden said, “I’ll think about it tonight and we’ll talk tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
Soon after Nic ended the call, his phone started blasting Maneater from Hall and Oates, Summer’s ringtone. Listening to the lyrics, he wanted to laugh. Since their last date, he knew exactly how well the song suited her.
“Summer. How are you?” he asked cautiously. She hadn’t been very happy with him when he’d left her place. Of course, he’d practically been running at the time.
“I’m doing good. What about you? I haven’t heard from you since the footprint ceremony.”
He squirmed in his seat and searched for something to say. He couldn’t tell her he’d been in Seattle having the best time of his life. “Been busy with work.”
“Do you have a new movie lined up?”
“You know Vivian. She’s a slave driver.”
“I wish my agent was more like her. But”—her voice brightened—“I’m being considered for a pretty important role. Anyway, are you busy tonight? I was hoping you’d join me at Taylors.”
Nic scratched his jaw. Taylors was a popular club frequented by stars and the paparazzi. Maybe he could use this to deflect the stalker’s attention from Lauren.
Just as he was about to answer, she added, “The callbacks are this week. I was hoping you could give me some pointers.”
Even better. She’d help him and he’d help her. “Sure, what time?”
“Around ten?”
“Pick you up at your place?”
“Let’s meet there.”
Nic hung up the phone. He’d put on a show for the cameras. Nic The Lover would flirt and dance, and maybe there’d be a Paparazzi Kiss or two. So what if Nic the man couldn’t stand the idea of kissing anyone but Lauren right now? Nic The Lover didn’t wallow when things got bad. He did what was necessary to protect those he cared about.
A few minutes before ten, Nic walked into Taylors and slipped into character. As he waited at the entrance for the club patrons to notice his arrival, he scanned the bar, marking a few Paparazzi Kiss candidates. Summer hadn’t arrived yet.
“Ladies, we have a special treat for you tonight. Mr. Lover’s in the house!” Nic grinned when he heard the D.J’s announcement and his unofficial theme song, Shaggy’s Luv Me, Luv Me, started playing.
Women always loved his Nic The Lover get-ups, and tonight was no exception. They swarmed around him and dragged him onto the dance floor. Several copped a feel of his leather clad ass as they slithered around him, gyrating to the music’s sexy beat. One wrapped an arm around his neck and tried to unbutton his silk shirt. “I could be your Paparazzi Girl,” she suggested through permanently pouting collagen-filled lips.
He winked and patted her ass. “Maybe later, sweetheart.” When the song finished, he ordered a beer at the bar, then wove his way to an empty table at the
back of the room. As he dropped into a chair, hands covered his eyes.
Had NicsBitch come out of the shadows? Adrenaline surged through his body. Hands balled into fists, heart slamming against his ribs, he jerked around, ready to face his stalker.
“Guess who?” Summer asked.
Christ. Nic slumped back in the chair. He had to get himself under control before he hurt someone. While Summer settled into the chair beside him, Nic took a sip of beer and forced a smile. She leaned over and kissed him on the mouth. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Whatever. This would fit right in with his plan. “Can I get you a drink?”
“A strawberry daiquiri would be good.”
He might have guessed she’d want something fruity and frilly like her orange dress. The color probably had a fancy name like burnished copper or autumnal auburn, but to him it was still orange.
He threaded through the crowd to the bar and caught the attention of the female bartender. She took her time eyeing him up and down before taking his order.
“I can’t imagine this drink is for you,” she said, handing him the daiquiri.
Nic laughed. “Wouldn’t be caught dead drinking that girly stuff.”
“If you need a Paparazzi Girl, you know where to find me.”
He winked. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“That was quick,” Summer said when he returned to the table. “I bet women never keep you waiting.”
Despite her smile, she had an odd look in her eyes. Was she still upset over what had happened at her apartment? “Listen, Summer. About the other night—”
“No, no.” She pressed a finger to his lips. “I’m the one who should apologize.”
“What for?” She’d been honest enough to let him know she was attracted to him. Nothing wrong with that.
“Maybe I came on a little too strong, too quick. It’s just that I feel like I’ve known you a long time.” He got that a lot. People saw him on the screen and thought they knew him, when all they knew was a character.
Raising his glass, he arched a brow. “To new beginnings?”