She entered the kitchen and took out the coffee beans. When she turned to the coffee maker, she found the note from Neil. Hmm, what’s this?
She opened the envelope and smiled.
Baby,
Since I love you a latte, please get your breakfast and coffee at our place.
Love,
Neil
Neil was inviting her to coffee at the bakery they frequented on the weekends. How sweet. But why couldn’t we just go together?
She scurried upstairs to get ready for her coffee date with her beloved. As she walked up each step, she reflected on how much her life had changed since she fell in love with him, since she gave life a chance again. He’d made her happier than she ever thought possible.
She studied her clothes in the closet for a moment and then decided to slip on her jeans, a black knit top, and her black boots. She brushed her hair, her teeth, and applied her makeup as quickly as she could. Her man was waiting for her and she didn’t want to take too long.
She descended the stairs and made it to the front door in record time. Opening the door, she was greeted by Porter.
“Good morning, Porter.”
“Good morning, Miss Simmons. Where are we off to today?”
“We’re meeting my wonderful boyfriend at the coffee house. Shall we?”
“After you,” he said, motioning toward the elevator.
On the ride down, Kate pictured Neil in her head. He was so handsome; his hazel eyes and strong jaw took her breath away every time she saw him. Waking up to his gorgeous smile every morning and kissing his full lips every night…that was a dream come true. She wanted to have her body wrapped around his every chance she got. She was enchanted by him in every way possible. He was her soul mate.
***
Roger
When she and Porter arrived at the car, he opened the door for her and she climbed in. He went around to the driver’s side. As the garage door opened and he pulled out, Roger spotted him. He’d been waiting for Kate to leave for about an hour, which hadn’t been too bad. Jacob was in the back playing his video game. He’d brought snacks for the road trip he had in mind for them, so he could now follow Kate and look for his opportunity. One brief moment when he could take her. Having her would make everything else worth it. She’d be a good mother to his son. She’d be a great partner for him. Maybe someday she’d become his wife, but he didn’t want to get ahead of himself. For now, she was going to become his companion and lover. I wonder if she can sense the excitement of our reunion today.
***
Kate
Porter parked in front of the bakery. Kate jumped out, anticipating seeing Neil sitting at one of their tables. They usually sat outside. When she didn’t see him, she walked into the delicious smelling storefront. She couldn’t decide what smelled better, the freshly brewed coffee or the baking scones. Either way, she was having both.
She glanced around the shop, but Neil was nowhere to be found. Porter had just walked through the door. “Did you see Neil this morning before he left? I find it strange he’s not here already.”
“Well, why don’t you go ahead and place your order. I’m sure things will become clear in a moment.”
“So you know what’s going on here?”
“Like I said, things will be clear in a moment,” he responded, trying to hide his smile.
She ordered a hazelnut coffee and a scone. When she paid the guy behind the counter, he handed her another note with her change. She opened it, unable to contain her giddiness. Neil was so romantic. She found a table to sit at so she could uncover the next clue in this mysterious game Neil was playing. Taking a sip of her coffee, she read the note.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Every dress at Georgio’s,
Would be spectacular on you.
She could tell by the rhyme she needed to go to Georgio’s, the boutique around the corner. She’d admired the beautiful dresses in the window when she and Neil had walked around La Jolla. But she hadn’t ventured into the store, knowing the clothes were beyond her budget and most of them she had no place to wear.
Porter sat at a table nearby, but gave her some privacy. He was really good at his job. She could tell he didn’t want to become personally involved with her. She kept reading the note over and over while enjoying her breakfast. When she was finished, she looked over at Porter, who was scanning the room.
“Porter, my note from Neil is telling me to go to a dress shop around the corner. We can just walk there if that’s okay with you.”
“That would be fine, Miss Simmons.”
So formal. Did the guy ever loosen up? He had at least dressed somewhat casually for the day. She wondered if he had a personal life or if his entire life was protecting people who paid him.
As she stood to leave the bakery, he stood as well, following her out. Within a minute they were walking into the shop. Porter made sure it was clear and then stood outside. Obviously, he wasn’t the shopping type.
The sales lady walked right up to Kate. “Are you Kate Simmons?” she asked with a bright smile.
“Yes, I am.”
The woman produced another note from her pocket. Kate opened it eagerly.
My Beauty,
I want you to find a dazzling dress to wear this evening. I’ve selected several possibilities. I hope one of them will be to your liking.
XOXO
Neil
Kate’s mind flashed to the night Neil had given her the bikini and she became his. Little did she know then that was the beginning of their whirlwind romance. She looked at the saleswoman with anticipation. “The note says he’s selected some gowns for me to try on.”
“Yes, he has. Right this way, my dear.”
Kate followed the saleswoman to the fitting rooms. The dresses were waiting for her. “My name’s Olivia. Please let me know if you need any other sizes or if you want my opinion on any of the gowns Mr. Statton has chosen for you. We also have a variety of shoes and handbags to go with whichever dress you select.”
“Thank you, Olivia. I’ll let you know when I need you.”
Kate stepped into the fitting room. She thumbed through the gowns and each was more beautiful than the one before. But one caught her eye more than the others. It glimmered like the ocean when the sun cascaded over the waves. It reminded her of a mermaid, so she decided to try that one on first. This was the one meant for her.
She undressed quickly, setting her clothes on the chair next to her. She unzipped the side zipper of the sequined masterpiece. She stepped into it and slid the fabric up her body, attaching the halter straps around her neck. Then she zipped it up. It fit her beautifully, just like she knew it would. She left the fitting room to find Olivia.
“Olivia, I need to see a few accessories to go with this dress.”
Olivia turned around and gasped as she put her hand to her chest. “My dear, you look incredibly beautiful. I have exactly what you need to go with your gown. What’s your shoe size?”
“I’m an eight and a half.”
“I’ll bring you shoes and a handbag. I just need to get your size from the back.”
Kate returned to the fitting room and waited for Olivia. A moment later, Olivia knocked on the fitting room door. “I have two possible shoes for you.”
Kate opened the door. Olivia had two boxes under her arm and a handbag in her hand. Kate’s eyes gravitated toward the handbag that was shades of blue with green beads that made it look like seaweed floating in the ocean. Down in the corner was an orange starfish. Olivia handed the bag to her.
“This is perfect,” Kate exclaimed. “I love it.”
“Great. Let’s have you try on the shoes so you can decide which ones you like better.” Olivia motioned for Kate to sit on the chair. She bent down and put the shoeboxes on the floor. She opened the first box. It contained a pair of strappy sandals that were the color of the ocean, just like the dress. There was a big jewel in the center of each sh
oe.
“Wow! Those are gorgeous,” Kate said.
Olivia slipped the first shoe on Kate’s foot and buckled the strap. She did the same with the other foot. Kate stood and took a step forward. “Is it okay if I walk around a little in these to see if I like the fit?”
“Absolutely,” Olivia said, moving out of the way. Kate walked out of the fitting room and around the boutique. Then she motioned for Porter to come into the store.
“Porter, what do you think of this dress?”
Porter stared at her for a moment without speaking a word. His eyes said it all. “It looks like it fits you nicely, Miss Simmons.”
“Thank you, Porter. If you want to return outside, you may. I just wanted a man’s opinion.”
Porter nodded and returned outside. Kate turned and went back to the dressing room. She gazed at herself in the mirror, feeling like Cinderella as she prepared for the ball. She took the dress off and donned the clothes she came in wearing. There was no need to try on any of the other dresses. None could be more perfect than this one. She took the dress, handbag, and shoes out to the cash register.
“You didn’t want to try on any of the other dresses?” Olivia asked.
Kate shook her head. “This is the one. I knew it the moment I saw it.”
“Mr. Statton is a very lucky man. You looked breathtaking in this dress.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one. My very romantic boyfriend has set up a scavenger hunt for me and I’m having such a wonderful time.”
“Good. I have another note for you,” Olivia said, pulling the note from her pocket.
Kate ripped it open with abandon, enthusiastic to read the next message from her sexy hunk of a man.
My Darling,
Now that you have your gown, please go to The La Jolla Salon and Day Spa. It’s time to be pampered.
All My Love,
Neil
Kate smiled at Olivia. “I’m going to the spa next. This is so exciting.” She giggled. “I can’t wait to see what he has planned for me there.”
Olivia’s smile was bright and wide. She gave Kate a hanging bag with her dress inside and a shopping bag containing the shoes and handbag. “Have a wonderful time and come see us again.”
“I will. Goodbye!”
“Goodbye.”
Kate walked out to find Porter watching the street while he guarded the door. “It’s time to go. I have an appointment at The La Jolla Salon and Spa. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes, I do.”
Kate and Porter walked back to the car.
***
Roger
Roger had parked his car about a block in front of Kate’s car in the hopes of not being noticed. The security guard would be checking behind him, but not in front of him. After Kate and Porter pulled out of their space, he waited for several cars to pass before pulling out. By the direction they were headed, it was obvious they were not going home yet. He followed them to the day spa without being noticed and passed it by while they parked. He was glad he hadn’t missed them when he took Jacob to the bathroom inside the bakery.
Porter parked the car and escorted Kate inside the salon. Roger figured she would be at least an hour or more. He needed to set up to take out the guard before she left the spa. This was his chance to make his move. He had been waiting an awfully long time for her. He had the rest of his plan in place. The only hiccup would be Jacob. He needed his son to be out or he might be traumatized by this whole thing.
Roger took out a juice box and carefully inserted a syringe containing Nyquil into the top of it. Jacob didn’t need much—just enough to make him sleep for a while. He wanted Jacob to be safe and out of the way. It was his only option.
“Here’s some juice, buddy,” he said, handing the juice box to his son in the backseat.
“Thanks, dad.”
Paulina had done a good job raising him to be polite. After a few sips, Roger could see Jacob’s eyelids were getting heavy. His head began to bob. He leaned over and Roger guided his small body to lie on his side in the backseat and removed the juice box from his hand. He had business to take care of with the security guard. The guard had walked Kate into the salon and stayed a while to assess the place for possible threats. Since he didn’t find any, he returned to his car and watched the door for Kate to emerge at some point.
Roger had parked down the street and got out of the car with his tranquilizer gun. He’d been a good shot in the Army, so he was confident he could hit his target using the scope. Being in the Army had given him permission to kill at will. But he’d done some things the Army was ashamed of, that the powers that be didn’t want to disclose, so he was moved to CID to finish his time. All of his training was coming into play, and right now, he was thankful for all the skills he had adopted.
The guard was focused on the door while talking on the phone, no doubt checking in. He didn’t see Roger in his peripheral vision. Roger hid behind a car for a moment to make certain the guard hadn’t seen him. After a few minutes, he realized the coast was clear and that the call had just ended. He set up the gun on the hood of the car and aimed for the guard’s neck. Porter had rolled down the windows to get a little fresh air. As far as Roger was concerned, he was a sitting duck. His sitting duck.
Roger put his finger on the trigger and pulled. The dart, dripping with horse tranquilizer, hit him precisely in the spot Roger had aimed for. Mission accomplished.
Roger moved quickly to the car to make certain his target was out. He put the window up and left Porter sleeping in the car. He knew Porter would be out for hours, so he had time to wait for Kate. He’d sneak up behind her as she left the salon. He’d debated whether or not to drug her. He didn’t want her to fight him. He wanted to be able to talk to her on their drive to the mountains. Decisions, decisions. Perhaps he’d see what happened when he approached her and then decide. Maybe she’d be glad to see him. After all, they’d always had a good rapport.
***
Kate
Kate entered the salon and was handed another note from Neil.
To My Beautiful Girl,
I wanted you to be pampered today. So enjoy, my darling. I’ve heard Roberto is the best. All you need to do is sit back and relax.
All my love,
Neil
Kate had no problem following Neil’s instructions. She’d changed into a black smock and was sitting in Roberto’s chair. He was running his hands through her long locks and talking with his assistant about what they could do with her beautiful hair. He and Kate agreed upon a trim and some highlights. He was going to blow it out and give her soft wavy curls. It would be reminiscent of being a mermaid. While Roberto was mixing the hair color, Brittney began Kate’s manicure. She already had her feet soaking in preparation for her pedicure, which Amber was in charge of doing. Feeling like a princess was a gross understatement for what she was experiencing. She couldn’t wait to find Neil at the end of the trail of notes he’d left for her. The anticipation was growing by the minute. He must have something really big planned tonight to go to all this trouble.
Roberto returned and began doing her highlights. Amber was scrubbing her feet and Brittney was working on her left hand. Rachel stopped by to inform Kate that when Roberto was done with her, she would be applying makeup for her date this evening. Rachel’s makeup was very well done, so Kate was eager to get to that part of the day, knowing she would be in good hands. She always loved playing with makeup.
An hour and a half later, Roberto was drying Kate’s long mane. The highlights were beautiful and made the golden flecks in her eyes stand out. Roberto seemed to be happy with how her hair was turning out. When he was done curling it, he turned her chair so she could look in the mirror. She couldn’t believe how sexy she looked. Neil was going to be taken aback when he saw her.
All she could think about was Neil, the man who loved her so much he wanted to create this amazing day for her. She wondered what else he had in store. Her mind wandered to
all the ways she planned on thanking him for today. Rachel tapped her on the shoulder, delivering her from her sensuous thoughts. She was going to have to make a quick stop at Victoria’s Secret for what she had in mind.
“Now it’s time to do your makeup.”
Kate’s beaming smile said it all. She was living her fairytale. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “Lead the way.”
Kate followed Rachel to her station. Every color under the rainbow was represented and Kate felt like a kid in a candy store.
“What color are you wearing tonight?” Rachel asked, removing the light makeup Kate had applied in the morning.
“My dress has shades of blue and green, like the ocean. It’s reminiscent of a mermaid.”
“It sounds lovely. Where’s your boyfriend taking you tonight?” Rachel asked, smoothing foundation over Kate’s face.
“I’m not sure. He’s set up a kind of scavenger hunt for me today. Each place I’ve gone, he’s left me a note sending me to the next place. I’m assuming Roberto has a note for what I’m to do next.”
Rachel put her hand to her chest. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. He sounds like a keeper.” She dusted powder over the foundation.
“He is. And he’s kind, handsome, and thoughtful. Not to mention extremely sexy.”
“What does he look like?” Rachel asked, her eyes sparkling. She selected the three eye shadow colors she wanted to use.
Kate whipped out her phone. She showed Rachel a picture of Neil she’d taken just a few days ago.
“Damn, girl. He’s gorgeous. Oh, my gosh! Do you know who he looks like? That actor from Southpaw who played the sexy boxer. Did you watch that movie?”
Taken by You (Killer Next Door #2) Page 18