Chapter Six
RYDER
When I woke, dawn was slipping through my cabin’s curtains, the embers in the fireplace still casting a faint orange glow. For a moment, I stayed perfectly still, only aware of the comforting warmth at my side and the gentle weight against my chest. Tessa breathed softly, curled under my arm, and the sight of her tousled hair against my pillow made me smile in a way I hadn’t in…well, a long time.
Memories of last night spilled into my mind: Tessa trembling with both fear and longing as she showed me those disturbing
letters, her voice laced with tension when she said, “I hate feeling watched.” Then the rush of that first kiss—gentle at first, a promise of safety, then igniting into something neither of us could resist. My heart still raced, remembering the feel of her pressed against me in the quiet hush of the winter night.
This is supposed to be fake. The rational part of my brain tried to remind me. We’d embarked on this scheme to chase away Angelique, not to fall into bed. And yet, the moment Tessa had looked at me with those wide, vulnerable eyes, every notion of pretend shattered. Last night had been real—completely, undeniably.
She stirred, eyelashes fluttering as she blinked awake. When she met my gaze, a shy smile curved across her lips. “Morning,” she whispered, voice husky from sleep.
“Morning,” I echoed, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You sleep okay?”
She pushed herself upright, hugging the sheet to her chest. “Better than I expected, considering… everything.” Her eyes flicked to my bedside table, where she’d stashed the two Valentine notes. A faint shadow crossed her face. “I can’t believe someone’s actually following me and leaving those messages.”
A protective surge flared in my chest. “We’ll figure out who it is.” Sliding out of bed, I grabbed a flannel shirt from the chair. “You hungry? I can make coffee, maybe some eggs.”
She let out a soft laugh that warmed my chest. “Sure. Though I might have to sneak out before Levi breaks down your door.”
I grimaced, remembering her brother’s protective streak. “Right. Let me just… handle breakfast quickly, then we’ll plan how you get out of here without raising more suspicion.”
She got up as well, rummaging for her clothes, cheeks flushed but resolute. I forced my gaze away before I lost myself in the memory of how perfectly she’d fit against me last night. Distraction was dangerous enough—especially with a possible stalker in play.
The smell of coffee and sizzling eggs soon filled the cabin. Tessa hovered nearby, straightening her sweater. She looked like she might slip back into bookstore mode at any second, practical and calm—except the faint pink in her cheeks gave away the night we’d shared.
“Here,” I said, handing her a mug of coffee. “Sorry, I don’t have any fancy creamers or sweeteners. Just plain old sugar.”
She grinned. “It’s perfect.” Taking a sip, she let out a contented sigh.
We sat together at the small table near the window, the sky outside a shifting wash of gray and pale blue. Normally, I loved this hour—when the mountains still looked sleepy and the town hadn’t quite stirred. But tension pricked my skin as I recalled those Valentines. You have no idea how you captivate me…We will happen. It felt obsessive, threatening, even to me and my skin was thick as a grizzly bear’s.
Tessa must have noticed the crease in my brow because she reached over to cover my hand with hers. “Hey,” she said softly, “I’ll be okay. I’ve been paranoid all night, but… it’s probably just some misguided attempt at flirting that got out of hand.”
“I’m not so sure.” I squeezed her fingers gently. “I’ve seen plenty of misguided flirting in my day. This has a creepier vibe.” My jaw tightened. “I hate to think someone’s watching you, especially if they saw us at Skyline.”
“Or they might just be a random local,” she ventured, though her tone lacked conviction. “Could be half the town noticed our date and got jealous. Hope Peak thrives on gossip.”
“That’s the thing, Tessa,” I said, exhaling. “If it was jealousy, they’d probably have made it clear they’re not happy you’re with me. But these lines—watching you, want more—they’re personal.”
We fell silent for a moment, sipping coffee and exchanging uneasy glances. Finally, Tessa shook her head as if clearing it. “Let’s not let it ruin everything. I mean, we’ll be cautious. But we also can’t live in fear. I can’t lock the bookstore doors forever, and you can’t halt your tours.”
I admired her quiet strength. “You’re right. But if there’s any sign, any tiny threat—call me.” I paused, wrestling with an urge that had been nagging me all morning. “Look, Tessa, if you want, I can stay at your place. Or you can stay here. At least until we figure something out.”
A wry smile touched her lips. “I can’t live with you indefinitely.” She bit her lower lip. “Though…maybe we can do a rotation. Some nights at my place, some nights at yours. Just until I don’t feel so uneasy.”
“Deal,” I said, relief coursing through me. “We’ll make it work. Plus, it’ll keep fueling the ‘fake relationship’ angle if people see us spending time together.”
She gave a small laugh that faded into a thoughtful look. “About that, Ryder—this doesn’t feel fake to me anymore.” Her words hung in the air like a fragile truth. “Last night…I couldn’t have faked that if I tried.”
My chest constricted, a surprising rush of emotion flooding me. “Me neither,” I admitted, voice low. “I started this scheme to keep Angelique off my back, but I…” I swallowed. “I want more, Tessa. More than just a cover story.”
Her eyes shone with something that might have been relief. “I feel the same.”
We shared a quiet moment, hearts on display in a way I’d never expected. She was the only one I could trust fully with everything, from the anxiety about Angelique to the creep leaving Valentines. She was worth whatever complications came our way.
After breakfast, Tessa insisted on heading out before the rest of town got moving. We decided to slip her out through the back. I peeked outside to be sure no one loitered near my property—a few crows perched on a fencepost, but no suspicious silhouettes.
We paused by her car, the chilly breeze ruffling her hair. “Text me when you get to the bookstore,” I told her, pulling her close. “And let me know if Levi shows up breathing fire.”
She laughed, the sound muffled as she buried her face in my jacket for one last hug. “I will. Thanks for letting me crash here.”
“You’re always welcome,” I murmured, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. The act felt so natural now. “Be safe.”
With a small wave, she climbed into her car and drove off, disappearing down the tree-lined road. I stood there an extra minute, tension winding through me again. My gut told me these letters were no idle flirtation. But until I had evidence, I wasn’t about to scare Tessa—or push her brother into panic mode.
Still, as I re-entered my cabin, an uneasy coil of dread settled in my stomach. I’ll keep her safe, no matter what.
My phone rang an hour later, just as I finished cleaning up breakfast. Levi’s name lit the screen. I braced myself, answering with a steady voice. “Hey.”
“Where’s my sister?” he demanded without a greeting.
I resisted an urge to sigh. “Probably at The Velvet Book.” Tessa had texted me earlier to confirm she arrived. “Why?”
“I swung by the bookstore, but she’s not picking up her phone, and the store sign says it’ll be open late. Is something going on?”
A prickle of alarm sparked in me. Open late? “I…not that I know of. Hang on.” I tapped Tessa’s text history:
Made it to the store. Going to open a bit late. I feel shaky but okay.
She’d said she’d open late, possibly to inventory new arrivals after last night’s chaos. “Maybe she’s running errands,” I told Levi, careful not to let slip she’d spent the night at my place. “She’ll be back soon.”
Levi grumbled. “If you see her before I do, tell her to call me. And Ryder…if anything’s up…”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’ll let you know.”
He hung up, leaving a buzzing tension behind. I hated withholding the truth: that Tessa’s in-between place was right here, safe with me. But Levi’s overprotectiveness would go nuclear if he realized Tessa had not only stayed overnight but was also receiving threats. Not yet, I told myself. We’ll handle it carefully once we have more information.
Early afternoon, I headed into Hope Peak for a short wilderness-tour meeting. My client was a photographer wanting winter shots of the local wildlife—nothing too intense. After, I decided to stop by The Velvet Book to see Tessa. My gut churned at the memory of her second note, the bold words scrawled across pink cardstock.
But as I approached the bookstore, my phone buzzed with Tessa’s name. I quickly answered, “Hey, everything okay?”
She sounded tense. “I just found another envelope, stuck in one of the return bins outside. It’s…not good, Ryder. It references last night. It says…” She inhaled shakily. “I see you were with him again. He doesn’t deserve you. But soon…you won’t be his.” Her voice cracked. “They know about us.”
A cold wave swept over me. “Tessa, listen to me…Lock the front door, right now. I’m five minutes away.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I have a couple customers, but I’ll clear them out politely and lock up.” A pause. “Hurry.”
I ended the call, adrenaline surging. My worst fears were coming to life. Someone had clearly followed her or at least paid enough attention to notice she’d spent the night with me. Red lights seemed to flash in my head: Angelique? A random creep?
I parked haphazardly outside The Velvet Book and stormed in. Tessa was by the counter, a shaken expression on her face. She clutched a pink note so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
Forgetting we were in public, I hurried to her side. “You all right?”
She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m okay. Just…scared.” She held out the note. “Read it.”
My jaw hardened as I skimmed the menacing lines, referencing how she ran to him for comfort and ended with something like, You should be with me instead. It reeked of obsession.
“We’re taking this to Levi,” I said firmly. “And if he wants to loop in the cops, fine by me.”
She hesitated. “I just…I don’t want the store to end up in some big scandal.”
I touched her shoulder gently. “Your safety’s more important than gossip.”
Her eyes flicked over mine. Slowly, she nodded. “All right. Let me close up first. I can’t focus on customers anyway.”
Within ten minutes, we’d cleared out the last browser. Tessa locked the door, flipping the sign to Closed. She looked so pale, and all I wanted was to yank her into my arms and promise nothing would touch her. But I also knew it was time to face reality.
“Let’s go to Skyline,” she said, voice quiet. “Levi’s there this time of day, prepping for the dinner crowd.”
I half-expected her to resist involving her brother, but maybe the fear had finally overpowered her reluctance to reveal we’d been sharing nights. Part of me braced for Levi’s reaction—outrage, protectiveness, a possible fist to my jaw. But I’d take it if it meant Tessa would be safe.
We stepped outside. I hovered protectively by her side, scanning the street, half-expecting some lurker to jump out. Nothing but the swirl of mid-February wind. Tessa’s hand slipped into mine; she trembled slightly, but the gesture warmed my chest.
“It’s going to be okay,” I murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. She gave a small nod.
Yet as we drove to Skyline Bar & Grill, my stomach knotted with dread. These Valentines had escalated to direct threats—someone was watching us closely, fueled by jealousy or obsession. And if we didn’t unmask them soon, Tessa might be in more danger than we ever anticipated.