Saranya Chapter 14 #3
That was how Cowboy introduced himself to my staff, and they began the process of accepting him.
It was a lively, fun lunch. They had lots of questions, which we patiently answered.
Most of them were about club life, so I let him handle those.
I hated to see it end, but we had to get back to work, and so did he.
After cleaning up our mess, the others said goodbye to Cowboy.
I walked him to the door. I had to unlock it anyway. I walked him out to his bike.
A kiss was in order before I let him go. “Ride safe. I’ll see you at the house when I get off work,” I assured him.
“If you end up working late, let me know where you’re headed. I don’t like the idea of you going alone at night. And text me with your ETA, so I know when to expect you. If I know, I won’t panic and keep pestering you.”
“I promise I will, but you know, I’ve been doing late-night calls for years,” I reminded him.
“I don’t care. You’re mine, and I take care of my woman no matter how capable and tough she is. Drive safely. Love you,” he answered.
“Love you, too.”
I watched him bring his bike to life, wave, then take off. I had to force myself back inside. But I had a full afternoon schedule, and my next appointment was due in ten minutes. I hustled inside.
??
The remainder of the day went well, though it dragged for me at times.
I sent everyone off at five o’clock. I wouldn’t be far behind them.
I had a small amount of charting to finish, then I was headed home.
Before, I would’ve taken it home with me.
But I hated anything that took away from my time with Cowboy when we were together.
It was five thirty-five p.m. when I grabbed my jacket and purse and headed for the door. We’d agreed that we’d stay at my place during the week and then head to the compound on Friday. That was only until I moved. If Cowboy had his way, moving would be very soon.
As I opened the door and stepped outside, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. It had been wedged between the frame and the recessed panel of the door. Assuming it was a useless flyer advertising something I didn’t need, I picked it up, intending to throw it away at home. I detested littering.
I took it with me and got in my truck. Wondering what silly things someone was advertising now, I unfolded it.
My heart skipped a beat as I read what it said.
It was no advertising flyer. On it was a photo.
The photo was of Cowboy and me. It was from today when we kissed outside before he left to go back to work.
In bold black permanent marker scrawl, it read, I’ve waited for you, and this is how you dare to repay me. I won’t stand for it, Saranya. You’re meant to be mine. I can give you everything you want. Only I can make you happy. Get rid of the biker, or I will. Don’t make me tell you twice.
There was no signature on it. Hands shaking, I turned it over, scanning for something that would tell me who left it. There was zilch. Lying it on the passenger seat, I sat there getting my head cleared. Before I drove off, I sent Cowboy a text.
Me: Leaving now. Should be home in thirty minutes or less. Hope your day went well.
Almost as if he had been sitting there waiting for my message, Cowboy’s response came back immediately.
Cowboy: I’m almost home. See you there. You can tell me about the rest of your day. I know what’ll help you relax. Stay safe. See you soon.
I sent back a thumbs-up, then put my truck in gear.
It was as if I were on autopilot. I blanked out the entire trip home.
When I parked at the house, Cowboy’s motorcycle was in the driveway.
Relief swept through me. Picking up the paper as if it were a bomb, I stuffed it into my purse.
I’d talk to him about it, but it could wait.
By the time I was out of my truck, Cowboy was rushing out the door and over to me. I needed his hug and kiss to reassure me that everything was okay. When he was finished, he frowned at me.
“Babe, what’s wrong?”
“Why would there be anything wrong?” I countered.
“I can feel it. Your body is so tense. Come inside, get changed into something comfortable. I’m making dinner.
Don’t argue, I’ve already got it started.
I promise it won’t poison you or burn the house down.
Come with me. Once you’re in your comfy stuff and have a drink, I want to hear what happened after I left. ”
His tone was gruff, leaving no room for me to lie to him, not that I had planned to.
I let him guide me into the house. From there, I was escorted to the bedroom and then left to change while he went back to the kitchen.
I admit, I dragged a little, but eventually I knew I had to go out.
I snatched up the paper and stuffed it in my pocket.
The smell from the living room and kitchen wafted down the hallway. Whatever he was making made my stomach growl. Cowboy was at the sink, washing a bowl and other things. He was efficient. Cowboy came to me after washing the last bowl. In his hand was a drink, and it was an alcoholic variety.
“I made you a cranberry and vodka. Come sit. The food has to simmer for half an hour.” He took my hand, and the next thing I knew, I was seated on his lap on my couch. He rubbed his finger gently over the worry lines I get between my eyebrows.
“Talk to me, Anya. Tell me what’s wrong. You’re starting to worry me. Did someone say something after I left, or was a customer out of line?” he asked gruffly.
“There was no negative talk about you. The entire team told me after you left how much they liked you and how happy they were for me. And it wasn’t anything a customer said.
A couple saw you leaving. They asked who you were, that’s all.
The issue is what I found when I left for the day.
I sent the others home at quitting time.
When I went outside, a piece of paper dropped to the ground from the front door.
I figured it was a flyer selling something. It’s not.”
I swore my hand shook more than it did earlier as I dug it out of my pocket and handed it over. Cowboy didn’t waste time. He scanned it. His eyes, when they raised, were fiery. Crap.
“I’ll be damned if some weak-assed prick is going to scare you. Why didn’t you call and tell me? I would’ve come to escort you home or had one of the brothers do it if they were closer. Christ, do you have any idea who this is from?”
“No, I don’t. I didn’t call because all I wanted to do was get home to you. Maybe it’s someone messing around.”
My voice was low and sounded pathetic. Cowboy’s thick arms came up to hug me to him.
“I’m sorry, I’m making it seem like it’s your fault.
It’s not. But the chances of it being a bad joke are slim.
They went to the trouble of taking a picture.
That means they were watching you. Has anyone been acting strangely toward you in the past few months?
Was anyone mad at you? Or expressed interest in you and you shot them down? ”
“No one is mad at me that I know of. I was at the rodeo, and yes, there were guys there who hit on me or wanted me to go out with them. I turned them down nicely. I fibbed and said that I already had a boyfriend, but that didn’t seem to concern any of them.”
“Would any of them know where you were from? Did you talk about that?” he asked.
I opened my mouth to say no, then stopped. He waited for me to say something.
“I didn’t specifically say where I was from, but we have to display our license, which I did.
And there were business cards, both mine and Raff’s, set out.
It’s standard, in case someone has a question or might want to use you again.
The business card had the office’s address, my name, and the office’s phone number. ”
A displeased grunt came out of him.
“I’m sorry. It’s a standard thing to do, and it’s never been a problem before. Besides, we don’t know it was someone from Vegas,” I defended.
“Babe, I’m not blaming you. You shouldn’t have to fear a stalker or whatever this person is, by doing your job. Do you happen to know the names of any of the men who wanted your attention?”
“I can think of a few.”
“I need you to jot their names down.”
“What for? They’re not from around here, I don’t think? You can’t go check them out or whatever you’re planning.”
“I can have them checked out. I have my ways. Sit here and think on them and write them out, while I finish getting dinner ready.”
Cowboy shifted me off his lap, kissed my mouth softly, then went to the kitchen.
He was back within moments with a piece of paper and a pen for me, then he returned to the stove.
I closed my eyes and thought back to Vegas.
I wasn’t convinced it was anyone I met there.
That was almost two months ago. Why wait this long to make contact?
However, I knew Cowboy wouldn’t let it go, so I started recalling the names I could.
???
I was right. Cowboy wasn’t satisfied until I had a list made out.
Since some of the men who hit on me were rodeo participants, and many were egotistical, they’d been shocked when I didn’t know who they were.
When that happened, they introduced themselves pompously.
Those were the ones I recalled, along with a few I knew from my time working with Raff.
We’d finished dinner, and Cowboy had the list. He took out his phone, snapped a picture, then pressed a few buttons on the screen. I sat next to him, waiting to find out who he was calling. I was tense.
“Hey, Micro, sorry to disturb you, brother. Are you in the middle of something?”
I was close enough that I could hear the other side of the conversation.
“I’m just messing around, but it’s nothing urgent. What’s up? I thought you were with Saranya.”
“I am, and it’s her I’m calling about.”
“Is she alright?” I heard the concern in Mirco’s voice.