Plain Obsession (Hunters Ridge Book 1)

by Alison Stone

  When he opened the door he found his sister standing in uniform. She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Why doesn’t it surprise me that you're here?"

  "Is everything okay with Liam?" His heart leaped into his throat.

  "Of course." Olivia squeezed his forearm. "I would have called you if it had been an emergency. Don't look so worried. I'm here to talk to Violet. I'm assuming she's home."

  "Yes, I am." Theo turned around to find Violet standing behind him. "Come in."

  Olivia strode into the room, her shoulders square. His sister was a petite thing, but in uniform, she was a force to be reckoned with. "I just got back from the hospital." She held up her hand in reassurance. "Jenny's angrier than I've ever seen her. She wants me to press charges against Violet for leaving her son alone."

  "Jenny has no right." Anger pulsed through his veins.

  "I'm sure she'll settle down, but I wanted to give Violet a heads-up. I know Jenny has a jealous streak." Theo thought back to Jenny's overall demeanor when she rushed into Liam's hospital room. She seemed frantic, desperate.

  Like a woman who'd almost lost her child.

  He couldn't fault Jenny's anger. However, he hoped her gratitude that Liam was okay outweighed her unrealistic need to get revenge.

  "Best if you give Jenny some time," Olivia continued.

  "Okay.” Violet’s tone was reserved.

  "That's only part of what I need to tell you."

  Violet ran a hand down her hair, waiting for Olivia to continue.

  "When I told Theo about the Molotov cocktail thrown into the trailer, he told me you had concerns about a stalker."

  Violet's eyes widened. He had seen that look before.

  Theo jumped in. "I didn't mean to betray your trust, but in light of everything else that's been going on…"

  Violet crossed her arms tightly. "No one's ever been able to prove I have a stalker, but a string of events recently makes me believe someone's not happy I'm here."

  "Any thoughts on who it might be?" Olivia asked.

  "Before I came to Hunters Ridge, my friend Abby was murdered. Police in New York believe it was a robbery gone bad. I can't shake the feeling I was the target because she was killed in my apartment."

  "I'm sorry.” Olivia shifted her stance. “Any suspects?"

  "No suspects. Yet, it seems crazy to think someone followed me here. Not a lot of people even know my mother owns this house in Hunters Ridge."

  "We'll keep our eye out for any strangers in the area. I'll check with the motel, things like that." Olivia crossed her arms. "Anyone else seem to have a problem with you since you arrived back here?"

  "Abby's brother, Elmer Graber, seems angry. Rightfully so." It was obvious Violet still carried the burden of Abby’s murder.

  "Elmer was in the area right after the forklift accident I told you about," Theo added. “He used the lumberyard van to get home. Not unusual in and of itself, but the timing…”

  Olivia made a note of it. "Amish kid." She made a face. "His name’s not familiar to me, but I'll go talk to him."

  "I—" Hesitation flashed across Violet's face. "I mean, the Graber family has been through so much." Theo could tell she didn't trust her instincts.

  He touched her shoulder. "That can't be an excuse."

  "I'll drive by their farm tonight. Get a sense of the kid." Olivia had a reassuring quality about her. “I’m capable of handling the Amish.”

  “Thank you,” Violet said quietly.

  "Anyone else likely to set your trailer on fire?” Olivia cut her gaze toward him. “Do you have any enemies, little brother?"

  "I live a pretty boring life. The most drama in my life involves Jenny but she—" His blood whooshed through his veins. No way.

  "Jenny's always been a hothead," Olivia said, her words doing nothing to quell the queasy sensation roiling in his gut.

  Could Jenny have been that reckless? No, no, no. Olivia just never liked her. "She would have never risked hurting our son."

  "Liam wasn’t supposed to be in the trailer, remember?” Olivia said, tapping the bottom of her pen to her lip.

  Violet gasped quietly and they locked gazes before hers scurried away.

  “Listen, we don't know if Jenny did anything, but it's the sheriff's department's job to investigate it. I'll talk to the sheriff. He can send someone else over to talk to Jenny again. Someone with less history. I’ll make sure no one talks to her in front of Liam."

  “Make sure of it. Liam’s been through enough.”

  Olivia nodded her assurance, then turned to Violet. "Anything else you want to tell me?"

  “We’ve covered everything.”

  "Okay, I'll follow up with Elmer Graber and the department will follow up with Theo’s lovely ex-girlfriend." Olivia smiled tightly. "We'll find out who's harassing you. Whoever set the trailer on fire could have killed you. Killed my nephew. I hate to suggest this, Violet, but have you considered leaving town?"

  "She's not going anywhere." Theo put a possessive hand on Violet's back. She opened her mouth, probably to protest, and he shook his head slightly. She stilled. He turned back to his sister and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

  "Be careful, little brother."

  Olivia, three years older, had been like a mother to him after their mother walked out. He knew she'd pursue this investigation with the same energy she expended trying to wrangle him when he was a wild teen.

  "Now about you." Olivia looked at Violet. "Since you're apparently staying, do you have an alarm system out here? I imagine a big place like this has one."

  "Yes," she said, her voice shaky.

  "Make sure you set it. The caretakers live on the grounds?"

  "Yes, Betty and Isaac live here. Their home is separate, but attached to the main property through the mudroom entrance."

  "I'll stay tonight," Theo said, not realizing he was going to offer until he did. But what choice did he have? He couldn't leave her unprotected.

  And he didn't want her to leave.

  "I hope you'll be comfortable." Violet held a few clean towels to her chest as she led Theo to the guest bedroom which Betty always kept ready with fresh sheets.

  Theo leaned on the doorframe and smiled his mischievous smile. "I think I'll be just fine. Thanks." He took the towels from her and their hands brushed in the exchange.

  Sometimes Violet wondered how she had gotten here—how they had gotten here, and where exactly here was.

  Tension buzzed around them and she took a step back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly feeling very shy. "Need anything else?"

  "No." He held out the towels. "I have everything I need right here."

  She glanced up to meet his gaze, then quickly turned away. Why did she suddenly feel seventeen again? "Goodnight, then. See you in the morning." She headed down the hallway toward her own room.

  "Hey, wait up," he called.

  She felt him approaching but for some weird reason, she was reluctant to turn around. Something about Theo shifted her world. Tilted it off its axis. Sometimes when she watched a romantic movie and thought about the "one who got away," she thought about him. It was silly, really. Juvenile.

  The only thing they had in common was Hunters Ridge. And Hunters Ridge was only a stopover for Violet. A temporary respite from the stress in her life. But now the notion of a safe haven seemed ridiculous. She wasn’t safe anywhere. Maybe Olivia was right. Maybe she should leave.

  "Can we talk a minute?" he asked.

  She turned around and furrowed her brow, trying to exude a curious yet nonchalant body language. Thankfully, he couldn’t hear the thundering of her heart roaring in her ears.

  Theo took her hand and led her into the guest bedroom. A loveseat sat in a corner under the window, a wonderful place to cozy up with a book and read. "Sit down."

  She sat down next to him, feeling a little jumpy.

  "I stopped over here tonight for two reasons. First to tell you about the cause o
f the fire and secondly to apologize."

  "Apologize?" The movement of his thumb across the back of her hand distracted her.

  "I was harsh with you in the hospital." Theo's face grew somber. "I had no right to go after you about the pills I found in your coat pocket." He bowed his head and cleared his throat. "But it set something off in me."

  "I know. Jenny's history…"

  Theo plowed his hand through his hair. "I got a phone call from Liam at work one Saturday morning shortly after I moved back home. He couldn't wake up his mom. I called an ambulance and we both arrived at the same time. Jenny was passed out on the floor." He scrubbed his free hand across his anguished face. "I don't want to think about what that did to him, finding his mom like that."

  Violet touched the hollow of her neck, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "That's horrible. I'm sorry he had to deal with that. He's so young."

  "I thank God everyday I was living back in Hunters Ridge so I could take custody of him. To be there for him."

  "You're a great dad."

  "So you can understand why I reacted so strongly when I found meds in your pocket that weren't even yours."

  Heat flushed her cheeks. "But that's not how it is with me."

  Even as her protest hung in the air, she realized how common the words must sound to someone familiar with addiction. Does anyone think "That's how it is with me"?

  The walls grew close and she realized she had to be honest with him. "After Abby was killed, I started having panic attacks." She let out a long breath. "Again."

  One of his brows twitched. "I can't imagine what you went through. But why not go to a doctor? Why take drugs from one of your mom's assistants?"

  "Panic attacks are a sign of weakness." Her mother’s words. Jacque had zero patience for Violet's irrational fears, especially when they interfered with her lifestyle. She pushed thoughts of her mother aside. "I wanted to work through my anxiety without meds. I did it when I was a teenager. I had hoped that by coming back here, I could pull myself together again. In the meantime, my mom's assistant gave me some meds to get me through. I only took a pill once. I had them in my pocket as a security blanket. Anxiety is a major head game."

  Theo rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. "I can't claim to know what you're going through, but I support you getting whatever help you need. I shouldn't have judged you. It was a knee-jerk reaction to my experience with Jenny."

  Violet scratched her cheek. "No, considering your history, you had a right." She lifted a shoulder. "I was stupid."

  "You were scared." Theo leaned forward and put a comforting hand on her knee. "I wish you could have confided in me. You are not weak. You are one of the strongest women I know."

  Violet drew in a deep breath. She had always wished she was stronger, but kept her thoughts to herself. "Thanks."

  Theo shifted on the sofa to look at her directly. He cupped her cheek in his hand, and tingles—good tingles—blanketed her skin. "I'm not sure where this is going, but we need to be honest with one another."

  Violet swallowed hard but couldn't speak. He leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips. Soft. Warm. Inviting. She blinked slowly. She had imagined this moment since he had first stepped outside his house in his tux the night of their prom. He was so handsome. She had insisted that the Weavers drop her off there, not wanting to remind him of the vastly different worlds from which they came. She wanted to be part of the gang for once. Not the girl who lived in the big house on the hill with the movie star mom.

  She had wanted to be the kind of girl a nice boy could kiss goodnight. A promise of something more. A future.

  Not the girl who would inevitably leave town on a whim. Hunters Ridge was never meant to be home. Not permanently.

  Theo pulled away and searched her eyes, making her forget her swirling thoughts. He had a way of looking through her. No, looking into her heart.

  His fingers moved into her hair and down the long strands. "You're good for Liam."

  "He's a good kid," she whispered, all her nerve endings on fire.

  "You're good for me."

  Before she lost her nerve, she leaned toward him and kissed him, this time more deeply. He returned her passion and pushed her back against the sofa, the top half of his body covering hers. His hands explored down her sides, her waist, her hips, leaving a trail of awareness. Of need.

  Of longing.

  A little voice began to intrude. What are you doing? You're leaving Hunters Ridge. Don't start something you can't finish.

  Suddenly Theo pushed himself to a seated position as if he had read her mind. He plowed his hand through his hair and groaned, then gave her a playful grin. Man, he was sexy.

  Theo got to his feet and held out his hand and pulled her up to join him. Her heart was beating out of her chest. He walked her to the door and kissed her on the forehead, the whole time Violet feeling like a giddy observer, wondering what was going to happen next. Wondering what she wanted to happen next.

  Theo lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. "This is where we say goodnight."

  "Goodnight." The single word sounded shaky. Disappointment coursed through her heart, but her brain knew otherwise.

  "Sleep tight." He traced his fingers down her sleeve.

  Violet forced herself to move toward her bedroom on wobbly legs. She felt Theo's eyes on her until she closed the bedroom door behind her. She flopped on her bed and now it was her turn to groan.

  "What am I doing?" she muttered to herself. Theo Cooper…

  Chapter 16

  The combined scents of woodsy sawdust and charred papers swirled around Violet’s head as she plucked through what was left of the receipts that had been salvaged from the office trailer. A few days had passed since the fire, and the spark ignited between her and Theo. Neither of them had spoken of the latter, perhaps coming to the same conclusion: they had no future.

  Her life was not in Hunters Ridge. Everything about his, was.

  So, instead, Violet focused on her job in the newly relocated office in the back corner of the warehouse, within the break room. A talented Amish handyman had already erected temporary walls to provide some privacy.

  She drummed her fingers on the desk, wondering how she should handle the loss of some of these records. She had already reached out to all of Cooper and Sons' suppliers, as well as their buyers. It would require some additional work, but it was necessary. She was definitely earning her keep. But the irony that the fire had probably been set because of her wasn't lost on her.

  A dark shadow crossed her desk and she looked up. Chad stood in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe. "A little warmer in here?"

  Violet smiled down at the winter coat she hadn't bothered to take off. "Not exactly. But I'm fine." Even though the fire in the trailer hadn't been her fault, she was done messing with space heaters and candles.

  Chad pushed off the doorframe and ran his hand across its smooth wood. "The guys did a nice job, didn't they?"

  "Yes, they did. Do you guys have plans on getting a new trailer or just moving the office here permanently?"

  Chad frowned, as if giving it some thought. "We'll see how it goes." He scanned the room. "This might just work, though. Are you comfortable?"

  "I'm fine."

  Chad gestured toward her with his chin. "How's it going with the receipts?"

  She lifted an order form and a flicker of ash floated to the desk. "I've been known to be resourceful."

  "The same can be said of me. I scanned most of the buyer orders." He handed over a thumb drive. "I think you'll find all of my receipts here."

  Violet raised her eyebrows. "Great. Thanks. This will be a big help." She accepted the drive. The quicker she got their finances in order, the quicker she could turn the files over to Theo or Chad.

  What she'd do after that, she didn't know. Someone was still after her. Maybe she'd be safer in a new apartment with a doorman in New York. She rubbed her arms. She wasn't ready to leave Hunters Ridge. N
ot yet. Being around Betty and Theo made her feel calmer. But another part of her didn’t want to put those she cared for in jeopardy.

  Theo's stay in her guest room had been a one-night gig. He had Liam to look after. Betty and Isaac moved into the main house for the time being and everyone had strict instructions to lock the doors and keep the alarm set.

  The only thing she knew for sure was that all had been quiet since the fire.

  But too quiet made her nerves hum. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  "Glad to know we'll be in good standing," Chad said, snapping her out of her preoccupation.

  "Of course." Violet held up the thumb drive and twisted her mouth, considering. "Between your records and all the suppliers and buyers I contacted, I should be able to piece things together."

  Chad clapped his hand on the doorframe, then pointed his finger at her. "My cousin was right when he said you were the man—woman—for the job." He took a step backward. "I'll leave you to it. I have some business in Buffalo. Hope to be able to put our product into a few more of the big chain stores there."

  "That's great. You and Theo have done an amazing job building up this business. Your uncle must be proud."

  "Of course he is. He's enjoying his retirement in Florida." Chad crossed his arms and shuddered with exaggeration. "I think I need to go visit him. Get out of this cold."

  Leaning forward, Violet rested her elbows on the desk and threaded her fingers. "Last year at this time I was doing business for my mom in Southern California." She stared unseeing. "Every day was sunny and no snow."

  "Then why are you here?" Chad angled his head. "You must be a glutton for punishment."

  Embarrassment heated her cheeks. She blurted out her standard answer. "Abby's death sent me reeling. Needed a little recovery time."

  "Yeah, that had to be tough," Chad said. "Did they ever catch the guy?"

  "Not yet." Violet couldn't help but wonder what Chad thought about all the recent events tied to her, but she didn't want to get into it.

  Theo came up behind his cousin and patted his shoulder. "What's the big discussion about?"

  Violet shook her head. "Nothing much. Just getting situated in the new office and filling in the holes from the receipts lost in the fire."