by S. E. Rose
“Well, she got out. I found her and…” I pause because I don’t want to scare Barb, so I decide to not say the whole truth. “She was awfully close to some broken glass that was out there with some food. I brought her over to the vet just to make sure she didn’t eat any of it. She should be fine. Dr. Kneely is back with her now.”
“Oh, God! My poor baby! Damn it, Wayne, I told you we needed to make sure that the screen was properly secured to the door. She must have pushed it open. I think I had some food out on the porch for her, she must have dragged it into the yard. Thank goodness you were there, Grady! We’re on our way now.”
“I’ll wait here until you arrive,” I say to her.
“OK, we will be there in a few minutes.” She hangs up and I stare at my phone, my mind going a mile a minute.
Dr. Kneely, the vet, comes back out to talk to me. “Did you call the police?” she asks.
I nod. “Yes…it was intentional.”
She nods. “Yes, Muffin is a very lucky dog. She didn’t eat any glass. She’s fine.”
I sigh with relief. “Thank God.”
Dr. Kneely takes the seat next to me. “Mr. Daniels, I…do you know who might have done this? I’m leery about how to tell the Johnsons.”
“My…I’m in a band, and we have a stalker. I’m ninety-nine percent sure it was the stalker. The police are there now, collecting evidence.”
Her face turns white. “Whoever did this knows how physically devasting that could have been. I’m not sure if that helps with the investigation, but the officers might want to know that.”
“Are you going to tell the Johnsons what happened?” I ask her because I’m grappling with that very thought. I hate the thought of keeping it from them, but I also know that I don’t want to scare them. Mr. Johnson’s heart can’t take the stress.
She bites her lip. “Ethically, I should. But I’ve known them for years. They are family friends. I don’t want to scare them, so I will say it was likely some kids messing with things in the backyard. But…” She looks down and then back up at me. “Can you…maybe talk them into visiting her niece? I think it’s best if they are away for a few weeks. Don’t you?”
I nod. “I agree. I don’t want to worry Barb or scare Wayne. Lord knows his heart doesn’t need more stress.” Dr. Kneely nods, clearly understanding my reference to Wayne’s heart attack last year.
“Good, we’re in agreement, then. And, Mr. Daniels, please be careful. Whoever did this…they are dangerous.”
“I know,” I grimace.
Just as she stands, Barb and Wayne bust into the lobby, looking around frantically. Dr. Kneely walks over to them, taking Barb’s hands in hers.
“She’s just fine. I’d be more careful about her being outside. You just never know what type of trouble dogs can get into. And with your gate not being locked, anyone could get in the backyard.”
Barb gasps. “You don’t think someone was trying to hurt her, do you?”
“I don’t know. It was probably just an accident, but it could have been some kids messing around. Just be mindful.”
“My poor baby. Can I see her?” Barb asks while Wayne rubs her back.
“Of course, come on into exam room seven and I’ll bring in. You know, this would be a good time to go visit your niece in Palm Desert. That nice dry heat would be good for Muffin. And you two haven’t had a vacation in a long while.” Dr. Kneely looks over at me and I know that’s my cue to help her.
“I agree. You should go see Jenny. It’s been a while. I can keep an eye on your house. Plus, I have a new security firm and I can make sure they keep an eye on your house too.”
“Really?” Barb asks.
I nod. “Of course. You guys have been like family to me. It’s the least I can do.”
“Oh, you two kids are so nice. Maybe I will call Jenny, but first, I need to see Muffin.”
Dr. Kneely ushers them to room seven after I get hugs from Barb. She turns to me before she goes in the back.
“I’m serious, Mr. Daniels. Be careful. This person is dangerous. I just feel it.”
Something about her warning seems particularly ominous. I nod and leave. My nerves are shot, and my mind is going a million miles a minute as I head back to my house.
By the time I get there, Detective Benson is there, a cop car, and my window guy and his assistant are still working.
I get out of my car and start toward the police.
“Your window is almost done,” the contractor calls out to me from the front porch. I glance over and nod.
“Looks good. I’ll come to look in a minute.”
“Mr. Daniels?” Detective Benson calls out from my neighbors’ yard.
I head over and see him and a cop who is busy taking prints from around a small loose piece of screen.
“Did you find anything?” I ask, running my hand through my hair that’s in desperate need of a trim.
“Not yet. But…I’m not going to beat around the bush on this, Grady”—he looks me in the eye—“this just got a whole lot more serious.”
I know his words are true. A monster who would intentionally threaten to hurt a defenseless animal is a dangerous monster indeed.
“Is the dog OK?” he asks, showing me for the first time that maybe somewhere beneath his tough-cop persona he might actually be a human.
“She’s fine, thankfully. I just feel awful. I mean seriously. I don’t know what to tell the Johnsons.”
Benson nods to the platform where I found Muffin. “Clearly, it wasn’t accidental, but since I didn’t see any photos yet, I’ll let them know it looks malicious but could be vandals or delinquents.”
“The vet and I talked them into going away for a few weeks,” I add.
“Good. Better to have everyone you know vanish until we can find this fucker,” he says as he pulls out his phone. “Have you called the band yet?”
I shake my head. “I…shit. I’ll call them now. They are coming over here later for the call with our new security firm.”
“Good.” He hands me a card. “This is the lieutenant for your precinct, make sure the firm reaches out to him to coordinate any increased police presence that may be needed for your street. Now that this guy has threatened to hurt a neighbor’s dog, I’d say the whole damned street is possibly at risk.”
I pale. “Maybe I should leave for a while. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Where would you go?” Benson asks.
I shrug. “I could go to my mom’s Malibu house.”
“I’d suggest anywhere that isn’t here.”
I pull out my phone and start making phone calls. The guys are on their way over as soon as I explain what just happened, as is our manager. I then make a call to a friend of mine whose mom manages a vineyard with a small inn in Temecula. I’ll stay in Malibu, but first I want to get out of Dodge for a few days.
Next up is my mom, who justifiably freaks out and tells me to go to her home immediately. After talking her off the ledge, I make my last phone call, to a woman who is quickly stealing my heart. This call scares me the most. Will she bail on me when I tell her? Is this too much for her to handle so soon?
“Hey!” she says, her voice so cheerful that it pains me. I don’t even respond because I can’t. I’m going to completely change her day and not for the better, and it kills me. “Grady? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m here,” I manage.
“What’s wrong? Are you OK?” Her words come immediately, and I know whatever she is doing, she just stopped in her tracks, and that makes me fall even harder for her. She cares and so much more than any other woman I’ve ever spent time with in my life, aside from my mom.
“Something happened this morning and I need you to pack a bag. We are going out of town for the whole weekend,” I state.
“Excuse me? Wait, what happened?” she squeaks.
I sigh and pull on my hair. “The stalker struck again and this time the monster threatened to hurt my neighbors’ dog.”
“Oh my God! Is the dog OK?” she asks, her voice rising an octave.
“Yes, Muffin’s fine, thank God. But the detective in charge of the case wants everyone in our lives lying low for a few days.”
“But…I mean…” She trails off and I know she wants to argue with me, to say she has homework to do.
“You can bring work with you. I’ll even leave you alone for a few hours if you need it. I just…please, I need us safe,” I plead.
“What about your mom?” she asks.
“Mom is safe. She’s having her security firm add extra bodyguards and more safety protocols to her homes. Sadly, she’s dealt with issues like this in the past, so she gets it.” That last statement is an exaggeration as Mom has not dealt with anything as serious as the threat I got this morning, but I don’t want Emma to worry about my mother.
“Oh.” Her voice sounds concerned.
I step away from the chaos surrounding me. An electric drill buzzes from where the window installation is finishing. The police are talking and taking photos. Neighbors slowly walk by with dogs that bark as they check out the craziness of what is transpiring at my usually quiet home.
I step around back and find solace at my fire pit.
“What’s going on over there?” she asks.
“My window is getting fixed and the police are here because of the dog incident.”
“What exactly happened?”
I lean forward, my arms on my legs as I press the speaker button and tell her the details. She’s completely and utterly silent as I finish.
“Em?” I ask, making sure we haven’t lost the connection.
“Just…processing.”
“Shit. I’ve freaked you out.” I sigh, resigned to the possibility that this woman I’ve begun to fall hard for in a matter of weeks may want to call it quits, and I can’t even blame her.
“No. I’m just trying to profile your stalker.”
“You’re what?”
“I took a class on criminology in college. I actually minored in it because I found it so fascinating. Anyhow, we learned about this theory that sometimes a sudden change or experience can escalate a criminal. Like something happens and they go from a minor criminal to a major one.”
“You think something happened to our stalker and it’s caused him to go off the deep end?” I ask frowning.
“Possibly. I mean, it would make sense. And you are right to guess that it’s a guy. Most violent criminals are and this one just switched over to the violent category,” she states.
“Mr. Daniels? You want to come to look at the window before we wrap up?” I hear my contractor yell.
“Listen, I have to go, but…”
“I’ll go with you. But you have to promise to let me get some work done,” she says.
I grin for the first time today. “I promise.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Please be careful. I may send a security guy over to stand guard at your building,” I tell her.
“I…no, you’re right. That’s probably smart as much as I want to decline the offer, it would make me feel safer,” she admits and, again, I shudder from the fact that I’m causing trouble in her life.
“I’m sorry about all of this.”
“Just don’t turn out to be an asshole, OK?”
I chuckle. “I’ll do my best, but you have met me, right?”
“Haha. I guess that first night should have been my warning, huh?” she retorts, and I know she’s smirking.
“You know it.”
“Get going, my little bad-boy rocker.”
“Sweetheart, as you have learned, there’s nothing little about me.” And with that, I hang up to her giggles, which help to soothe my nerves.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emma
The knock on my door makes me jump. Hell, I’ve been on high alert ever since I spoke to Grady yesterday. I even texted with both Kate and Quinlan. I didn’t give them every detail because I didn’t want to freak them out, but I said enough to get their honest take on it. They both expressed concern about everything. They also both suggested I could try to take a break from dating Grady until things cooled down with the stalker situation. Neither of those conversations left me feeling warm and cozy about my choice to go away for the weekend with the very man who was possibly going to put me in danger.
I also might have lied a little to my parents and told them a friend from school and I were going to her home in Temecula to study for the weekend. I wasn’t ready to have a conversation with them about Grady.
I peek through the peephole and see Grady. My racing heart slows as I open the door.
“Ready?” he asks, looking around to see my one small suitcase and backpack. “That’s it?”
I laugh. “Uh, we are coming back Sunday night, right?”
“Yeah…”
I lean forward so we are mere inches apart. “Here’s a little secret; I’m low maintenance.”
Grady’s panty-dropping smile graces his face and he leans in and plants a kiss on my lips. “You just keep getting better and better.”
I laugh again. “Come on, Casanova. It’s time to hit the road.”
He picks up my suitcase and we head down to his car. I notice that a security guy is in a car behind us.
He watches my gaze and clears his throat. “They wouldn’t let me leave without a security detail. He won’t be in our way. He’s just going to stay near us for the weekend as a precaution.”
I nod and fiddle with the music selection as he gets us on the freeway.
“How’s Muffin?” I ask.
“Good. The Johnsons are leaving in the morning for a three-week stay in Palm Desert, so that has me feeling a little better.”
I reach over and place my hand on his thigh and he glances over at me. “I know you are worried, but you can’t protect everyone all of the time.”
He sighs. “I know.”
“Tell me about your new security firm. You said the meeting went well, but what’s the plan?” I ask. He had sent a guy to sit outside my building last night, some guy named Dean. I admit it did make me feel better.
“This guy, Bryce, is crazy smart and also I’m pretty sure was some secret ops military slash spy person. Anyhow, his firm is well known and respected. He’s given us all our own security detail that will be around the clock.” He turns to me and rolls his eyes. “I’m not super keen on that idea, but I get it’s needed for right now. We’ll have security plans drawn up for any sort of event we have. We normally have security and venues handle the details, but this was next-level stuff he was talking about. We’re having more cameras installed and motion detectors and our phones all have these special security apps on them now. Our Wi-Fi and servers are getting beefed up with new tech and our cars even have tracking devices on them.”
“Wow,” I interject.
“Yeah. It’s good. It’s time we had real security. We’ve been putting it off for a while, I just wish we’d have put it in place before everything happened with Muffin. I feel horrible.”
I place my hand on his leg and he glances at me. “It’s not your fault. And Muffin is fine, right?”
“I know, but I feel like it is.”
I smile at him. “See, you aren’t an asshole after all.”
That statement gets me a grin. “Some might argue with you about that notion.”
I shrug. “Then they don’t really know you.”
“Enough dark talk. Tell me about your documentary. I want to hear all about what’s going on,” he says.
I launch into details about every interview, my editing, how much his mom and Andy have helped me, and even my ideas for a few last-minute additions to my filming schedule. I rattle on and on, thinking he’ll get bored with my lengthy explanations, but he doesn’t. He listens and asks questions, and before I know it, we’re turning off the freeway.
“Almost there,” he says as he pulls up to a small Spanish-style-looking building. I
t’s an adorable little inn. I can see the vineyard in the distance. It’s absolutely picturesque with the rolling hills surrounding the property.
“It’s gorgeous here,” I murmur as he parks the car.
“I may have called in a favor or two.”
“Or two?” I ask.
He winks and gets out of the car, leaning back in, he says, “Wait here, I’ll get us checked in.”
I flip through my phone, and he’s back a few minutes later with a key. I follow him up to a cute suite on the second floor.
When he opens the door, I giggle, there are rose petals on the bed, a bottle of champagne and two glasses sit out on a counter. A giant bouquet of flowers graces a side table along with a box of chocolates and a cheese plate.
“Uh, did they give us a honeymoon suite?” I ask, nodding toward the bed.
He laughs. “I may have told them it was a romantic weekend away.” He waggles his eyebrows at me and my giggling turns into full-blown laughter as I set my suitcase and bag down on a small sofa.
“You are too much.”
He steps closer to me. “That’s not what you said the other night.”
I roll my eyes. “You are.”
“Oh, really?”
I playfully swat at him. He grips my wrist and pulls me against him. We stare at each other for a long moment, the sexual tension mounting to a palpable level between us. It’s as though the entire universe has disappeared. It’s just the two of us right now, and nothing else matters.
I’m the one to break the tension when I lean up and press my lips against his. And that’s all it takes for him to completely lose control. I only manage a half-thought about how all our kisses seem to go from zero to sixty in two seconds, but I quickly lose my train of thought.
He begins pulling at my clothes, ripping them from my body like a wild animal. I’m partly aghast at his strength and partly turned on like hell.
When we are finally rid of any barriers between us, he walks us back to the bed, kissing me the entire way. I don’t know I’ve reached the bed until I feel it against the back of my legs. And then he gently lays me down, crawling up between my legs and settling himself there as he makes lazy motions on my side. With his weight on me, his erection pressed against my lower belly, and his lips kissing along my collarbone, I moan with need.