Jeff rounded the corner. “I’m here.” He walked over and knelt. “Did you touch it?”
“No.”
Jeff swore a string of curses. He made a quick call, and within a few minutes, Miller, Polson, and Brick jogged down the hallway.
“Brick, search the room.” At Jack’s puzzled expression, Jeff added, “We’re not taking any chances.”
Jack used his key card, and Brick opened the door and went in.
“Let’s take this into my room,” Jeff said.
Jack’s head pounded. It had been over a month since he’d received a letter, and he’d hoped this shit was finished. As he paced the room, his mind raced. He had to protect Emily. If anything happened to her…
Jeff arranged with hotel security to see the footage from the thirty-seventh floor.
Brick walked in holding the envelope in his gloved hand. “Room’s clear.”
Jeff laid out a newspaper on the bed, and Brick placed the unopened envelope on it face up. No doubt, it was from the stalker. Jack’s name in magazine cut-out letters and hearts was glued to the front. Jeff donned gloves and turned it over. The flap was sealed with a cutout of female lips painted red and pursed in a kiss. He used a small pair of scissors to cut the flap above the lips, careful not to disturb the stalker’s work. He checked the interior, then slid the letter out, and unfolded it.
Elliot handed Jack a glass with amber liquid in it. “Drink.”
Jack placed the glass on the table. He didn’t want a drink; he wanted to kill someone. If Em was in danger because of him—
“You don’t want her to see you like this, buddy. You look like you’re about to explode. Emily’s smart.” Elliot picked up the glass and handed it to him again.
Fuck! Elliot was right. Jack downed the drink and wanted to smash the glass against the wall but didn’t. He needed to calm down. Jeff held out the letter, but Jack didn’t want to see it; the cut-out letters were creepy. “Just read it.”
Jackie,
Have you missed me? I dream of you every night. Last night, you fucked me hard in the ass. I came twice. I know just how you like it. I can’t wait to feel your cock inside me. You’re the best lover I’ve ever had.
I will give you everything you need. Soon.
SWAK
This disturbed him more than the last one where the psycho described in nauseating detail all the ways she got off thinking about him. He fucking hated being called Jackie. Whoever this was obviously didn’t know him. The liquor burned in his stomach.
Jeff’s face was grim. “With Curt’s girlfriend traveling with us, I’d like to add another body to the detail.” Jeff looked pointedly at Jack. “No more going out without security.”
Jeff was right, and he wouldn’t do anything to put Em in danger, but what about after they left on Thursday? He wanted someone on her, but she’d never agree to that. How would he even explain it? “What about Siobhan? Is she coming?”
“We’re only talking, we still have a lot to work through, but I want her protected. I don’t care what it costs. I’m not taking any chances.”
Jeff nodded. “I’ll take care of it. I know a local guy. I assume this is covert?”
“Yeah, I don’t want her to worry.”
“Curt, you haven’t said anything about this to Nicki, have you? She can’t keep a secret for shit,” Jack said.
“Come on, man, you know me better than that. I’m glad she’s coming, I don’t need to worry about her—shit, Jack. Sorry.”
“No one says anything to Emily.” Jack paced the room. Fuck.
Jeff cleared his throat. “She may already know something’s up.”
“How so?”
“When you were out Friday, and again yesterday, I’m pretty sure she saw me. Has she said anything to you?”
“No.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck.”
“What?” Jeff asked.
“I got the impression on Friday that she… I don’t know. She’s a writer, but she may have seen something. She was looking around, and I chalked it up to her taking in her surroundings, but now, I’m not so sure.”
Jeff addressed Brick. “They don’t go anywhere alone. If they have to shit, I want someone close enough to hand them toilet paper.”
Before Jack could protest, Jeff turned to him. “Don’t. This is serious. Whoever is doing this is smart and crazy. That’s a bad combination. I’d hoped they would’ve made a mistake long before now.”
“Like what?” Buzz asked.
“None of the letters have held any clues, no fingerprints, no DNA, generic paper and envelope. That magazine cut-out letters crap is low tech, untraceable. But whoever it is will make a mistake, and they’ll get caught.”
“Before or after she makes Jack her love toy?” Buzz asked with no hint of a joke.
He was in real danger. Until now, all the letters had been mailed, but the psycho hand-delivered this one. Now they were all in danger because of him. “What about our families? Should we tell them? Get them protection, too?”
“Let’s not panic. Is there anyone you didn’t include on the first list? At this point, we have to consider everyone.”
Jack shook his head. He hadn’t taken this as seriously as he should have. The first list had included a couple of ex-girlfriends who’d been clingy and some fan mail that Dex had kept.
“Jack?” Jeff barked.
Jack shrugged.
Jeff handed him a notepad and pen. “Everyone.” He cleared his throat. When Jack made eye contact, he said, “Including the redhead from Quivers.”
He glanced at his bandmates. Elliot’s normal response to tense situations was to make a sarcastic crack, but he just looked dazed. Curt and Buzz stared at the floor, and Jack felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. He’d put them all in jeopardy because he hadn’t taken this seriously.
The silence drew on as he spent several minutes making a new list. He knew the stalker wasn’t Tabs; she’d never do this. They’d known each other for ten years and had had a casual hookup arrangement, which suited them both. He wrote her name down anyway. Jack listed all his ex-girlfriends, including Sandra and Erica, as well as the other women he’d hooked up with on a regular basis. There had been a lot of one-nighters, but he couldn’t make that list because he didn’t keep track.
Jack was glad he’d told Em about Tabitha. If it turned out to be Tabs—No. It wasn’t her. It couldn’t be.
He included Sasha, who used to work for Dex. Luckily, Christie had been visiting her parents when Sasha had broken into their apartment, stripped naked, and crawled into their bed. Jack had come in at three in the morning from the airport, and he’d been so exhausted he’d dropped his bags at the front door and dragged himself to the bedroom. He hadn’t even taken his clothes off, just collapsed on the bed. He’d woken several hours later to a soft whispering in his ear. “I want to fuck you, Jackie.”
His sleep-clouded brain snapped awake. Christie only called him Jackie when she was pissed at him because she knew he hated it. He’d rolled out of bed so fast he landed on his ass, and a naked Sasha was on him before he could get up. He pushed her off and scrambled out of the bedroom, pulling the door closed with his weight while he phoned the police.
She’d fixated on him because, whenever they were in Dex’s office, Jack was always nice to her. She was a lonely, lost soul. But he’d never said or done anything to give her the impression that they had a relationship. After the initial shock had worn off, Jack had felt sorry for her. Dex convinced him to not be stupid, so he’d pressed charges, and she’d ended up in a psychiatric hospital. As far as he knew, she was still there. Jack handed the list to Jeff.
“Brick and I will look over the security footage. Hopefully we can get some clue as to who’s behind this. In the meantime, I hate to say it, but the less you go out, the better, especially if you want to keep this from your ladies.”
“Fuck!” Jack vaulted to his feet. “They’r
e alone in the bar right now.” He ran to the door with Elliot and Curt on his heels.
“No, they aren’t,” Jeff said. “I sent Miller and Polson.”
Jeff was worth double what he paid him. And why the fuck hadn’t he thought of that? Emily would’ve. Shit. “There’s something else.”
Jeff’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“I don’t know if it means anything, but Em’s dad owned a private security firm.”
A slow smile crossed Jeff’s face, and he nodded a few times. “Fucking Marines are the best. No way he didn’t—never mind. You sure you don’t want to tell her?”
“I’m sure.”
“She’s gonna be pissed when she finds out. And make no mistake about it, she will find out,” Jeff said with pride.
Jack wouldn’t be surprised if she already had.
Jeff’s cell vibrated at the same time The Temptations’ “My Girl” blared from Curt’s phone. “It’s Nicki,” he said. “They’re on their way up. What do we do?”
“Shit, we’re supposed to be working on the new song,” Buzz said.
“Get over there and act like you were,” Jeff said.
The four of them rushed over to Jack’s room. Jack grabbed his notebook and guitar. Elliot sat next to him, and Curt and Buzz sat across from him. He opened the notebook, ripped out a few sheets, and balled them up, tossing them on the table.
“What’re you doing?” Elliot asked.
“It has to look like we’ve been working. Em doesn’t miss a thing.” Jack needed to calm down. It was hard to breath past the lump in his throat.
“Whoa.” Curt’s eyes widened. “When you said giant cock, Jack, you weren’t kidding.”
Elliot turned and laughed. “Shit, I forgot all about that.” He could barely speak through his laughter. “That was full when it got here.”
Jack just shrugged and joined in the laughter, remembering Emily’s reaction to it. By the time the girls entered, Jack felt less stressed.
Nicki went straight to the phallus and grabbed a handful of condoms. “Our room doesn’t have one of these.”
Siobhan sat on Elliot’s lap and swatted his arm. “Why?”
Elliot’s brilliant smile lit up his face. “Funsies.” He kissed her tenderly on the lips, and Siobhan melted into him.
Curt yelled, “Get a room.” He hoisted Nicki over his shoulder, grabbed his guitar, and left. Nicki’s squeals of delight echoed down the hallway.
“I’m beat,” Buzz said. “Goodnight.”
“We should go too. I have to drive you home.” Elliot pulled Siobhan close, his arm draped possessively around her shoulders. A panicked expression flitted across his face.
Siobhan yawned and nestled her head against Elliot’s side. “It’s late for me.”
“Why don’t you sleep over?” Jack suggested. “Black-hole can take the couch.”
“That’s a great idea,” Elliot said.
Siobhan pouted. “I have work in the morning.”
“I know you love your job, but maybe you could take the next few days off. We need to spend time together,” Elliot pleaded.
Siobhan smiled up at him, her hand caressing his cheek. “I love you more, E.”
“Aw, hear that Black, she loves you more.”
Elliot responded with a single digit, and Siobhan just shook her head.
As soon as they were alone, he pulled Em into his arms. She looked tired and sad. He knew this stalker shit would blow up in his face at some point, but he just couldn’t bring himself to tell her about it. Her mind was overloaded, and this would just add to her worries. Maybe tip her over the edge of giving up on them.
Yesterday, they couldn’t even walk in the park without being interrupted. He’d never thought of meeting his fans as an interruption before, but he’d resented it. He’d wanted to show her that they could have a normal life together.
Headlining a tour of this size was new to them. Many of the venues were fifteen to twenty thousand people. They’d played festivals with fifty thousand or more attendees, but they weren’t all Stone Highway fans, at least not before the gig. They had several up-and-coming bands as openers. He was grateful, but it had been a huge leap and a little nerve-racking to have that responsibility. He hoped he lived up to everyone’s expectations.
And he was recognized more than ever. Their fans were great though. He’d sign autographs and take pictures, and they’d leave happy. It happened more and more, and he hadn’t thought twice about it until Em came into his life. He’d promised her they’d have normal time, but now he wondered if he had that to give her. He knew at that moment he wanted her in his life no matter what. He’d give it all up for her. For the first time, he understood what Elliot had been going through all these years.
She yawned against his chest. “You’re exhausted. Let’s go to bed.”
Em smiled up at him, went on her tiptoes, and kissed him. “Sounds good to me.”
They walked into the bedroom, and Em grabbed a clean shirt of his from the drawer, went into the bathroom, and closed the door.
He sat on the bed, his head dropping into his hands. Would she ever trust him enough to share what was going on with her? He’d said he’d work on giving her space, and he’d meant it, but something was up, and he needed to know what it was. He hoped she hadn’t put the pieces together of this stalker bullshit.
J
The full reality of what she’d signed up for hit Emily hard. Jack would be on the road for nearly twenty months. Dinner at his parents’ house, while awkward, was normal. The walk in the park had been nice even though, six different times, fans had come up to them. And dinner tonight had been normal—if having armed bodyguards could be construed as normal. She needed to accept this was how things would be.
As the tears streamed down her cheeks, she grabbed a towel so she could sob into it. She’d promised Jack she’d stop shutting him out, yet here she was. Enough. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, and when she opened the door, Jack sat on the bed.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He opened his arms and she walked in.
J
Emily woke up hot and sweating. The light was off, and Jack was next to her, his arm slung over her like dead weight. She felt nauseated. Turning onto her back, she kicked the covers off. Jack’s body heat smothered her. If she could get his arm off her without waking him, she could move to the edge. She inched away, waited, and then inched again.
“Where you going?”
She slumped back against the mattress. “I’m hot. I need some space to cool off.”
“You mean away from me?” The mattress dipped as he sat up.
“Don’t say it like that. I get hot and stiff in my sleep. If I can’t move freely, I wake up and can’t fall back to sleep. No big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to me.” Jack moved closer until his erection poked her in the back. “I get hot and stiff because of you.”
“Not all guys like to cuddle, Jack.” Sully hadn’t been a cuddler.
“I need it.” He rolled away, and the bed shifted when he stood.
“You don’t have to leave.”
“I’m not.”
The window creaked loudly in protest as it slid up. “Scoot over.” He crawled into bed next to her and drew the covers up over their naked bodies.
“It’ll get cold in here.”
“Perfect for cuddling.” Jack pulled her to him, spooning her as his hand cupped her breast. “It’s been my experience that guys do like to cuddle.”
“And you’d know this how?”
“Take Elliot for instance. He’s a huge cuddler.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He’s a caring and sensitive guy on the inside, but he doesn’t trust people, so he hides that part of himself.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Anything.”
“You never fooled around with Siobhan?”
“Elliott doesn’t mind that you got to second base with his wife?”
“She wasn’t his wife at the time, and it’s more conducive to a long, healthy life never to remind a guy that you’ve been in the ballpark with his wife, let alone on any bases.”
“You’re a wise man, Jack McBride.” She couldn’t get comfortable. “There’s so much going on inside my head.”
He snuggled closer. “Tell me.”
“Some of it’s really stupid, but it feels so important.”
“Stupid how?”
“Sully’s very handsome. Women gawked at him, then looked at me like he could do better.”
“Em, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“I know you feel that way, and he used to say it too, and I believed him, but—”
Jack tensed.
She turned to face him. “Baby,” she caressed his cheek with her fingertips. “You’re better looking, taller, more muscled, great ass, hair’s longer, sexy tattoos, you’re a musician, which is a get laid free card, and your dick’s bigger.” She emphasized the last three words by grasping him.
A slow smile crossed his face. “Go on.”
“I know it’s stupid, but after I caught him, I was hysterical, and I vowed to never date a really hot guy again.”
Jack kissed her forehead. “Guys stare at you, too. There won’t be other women. You know that, right?”
Did she? “Yes. But—”
“Em—”
“Let me finish. With you, the difference is even greater. I’m not glamorous, and rock stars usually date models or actresses.”
“Been there, done that.”
“Yeah.”
His head settled on the pillow with hers. “Then what’s the problem?”
No More Yesterdays: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 2) Page 8