Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Noah watched through the kitchen window as Charlotte chased a butterfly across the backyard, her delighted giggles carrying on the breeze, but his attention kept drifting to the woman seated on the porch in the wicker love seat.
Delaney hugged a throw pillow, her face pale despite the afternoon sun. Every few minutes, she’d shift, wincing at some movement that sent pain through her bruised sternum. Her discomfort sent a familiar surge of rage through his system—white-hot and useless.
Mason had called an hour before to tell them what he’d learned from the security footage.
The cameras at the superstore had captured a figure crouching beside Delaney’s Highlander, all right—someone in baggy clothing and a baseball cap pulled low, face never visible to the lens.
Could have been anyone. Male, female, tall, short—impossible to tell.
And there was no footage of Lena’s car anywhere in the parking lot that evening.
She could have killed Delaney—and she would have gotten away with it.
The coffee in Noah’s hand had gone cold while he stood there, wrestling with the impossible choice that had been eating at him all day. He should send Delaney away. Back to Maine, back to safety, back to a life that didn’t include psychotic stalkers.
But Charlotte had been through too much loss already. Her mother, her grandmother, her useless father… Everyone who was supposed to protect her had abandoned her. She’d found safety with Noah, but she’d bloomed under Delaney’s care. How could he rip that away from her?
Who was he kidding? He didn’t want Delaney to leave either. In three weeks, she’d become more than Charlotte’s nanny. She’d become the steady presence that made their house feel like a home. The woman who made him laugh in leaf piles and whose coconut scent lingered in rooms after she’d gone.
His phone rang, jolting him from his brooding. He checked the screen and answered. “Hey, Richard.”
“Did you get my message?”
“I haven’t listened to it, but I saw that you called.
We had some excitement around here last night.
” He explained about Delaney’s wreck and the SUV whose driver had watched but never offered to help.
“It wasn’t an accident.” Noah stepped away from the window, afraid his voice would carry through the glass. “Someone cut her brake line.”
“You’re sure?”
“Cops told me.”
Richard was quiet for a moment. “Any guesses—?”
“My guess is Lena Monroe. She was waiting for me at my car yesterday after I left the office.”
He sighed, the sound weary. “I was afraid she wasn’t gone for good. Are the police looking for her?”
“There’s no evidence it was her. They have nothing to charge her with.”
“Okay, well… I’m sorry you’re going through that. I’ve got more information about Frederick Hayes.”
“Tell me.”
“My friend was representing a company in a merger about ten years ago. The details aren’t important, but the morning the contract was to be signed, his client backed out. Understand, by not signing, he lost millions.
“My friend found out later that someone had threatened the client’s wife.”
The bottom dropped out of Noah’s stomach.
“There’s no proof it was Hayes,” Richard said. “Apparently, his wasn’t the only company that stood to lose if that client signed the contract, and Hayes and his family were out of the country at the time, but he’s always believed Hayes was behind it.”
“Do you know why?”
“I guess because his company won the contract. I’ve been doing some digging. Hayes has a reputation for finding pressure points and exploiting them. Personal scandals, family secrets, business vulnerabilities—it seems nothing’s off-limits if it helps him close a deal.”
Pieces clicked together. “Wait. Do you think he could’ve been behind what happened to Delaney?”
“I don’t know,” Richard said carefully. “I wouldn’t rule it out.”
“He threatened the wife, presumably with violence.” Noah peeked out the window again. Charlotte and Delaney were safe.
“Between the break-in at your house”—Richard seemed to be choosing his words carefully—“this stalker situation, and now your nanny’s accident… It doesn’t sound like Hayes’s usual playbook. His methods are more subtle. Financial pressure, damage to reputations, that sort of thing.”
Noah did not need more damage to his family’s reputation. The divorce and the rumors that swirled around it had been bad enough. Add Jasper’s infamous behavior, and now the child Noah was raising. The Ayletts had kept the rumor mill well fed for years.
Through the window, Noah watched Charlotte abandon her butterfly chase and skip toward the porch where Delaney sat. Delaney’s expression brightened. She set aside the pillow to study the treasure Charlotte showed her.
“I’ll see what else I can learn,” Richard said, pulling Noah’s attention back to the call. “In the meantime, keep your head down and your family safe.”
Family. The word floated in his mind and heart. He hadn’t been part of a family in a long time. Six months before, he hadn’t known Charlotte existed. Now he’d do anything to keep her safe.
And then there was her nanny, who elicited the same rise of protectiveness in him, an inconvenient fact he didn’t have the energy to face today.
“Thanks for the information, Richard. I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all anyone can ask, son.”
After ending the call, Noah stepped outside, the screen door’s screech announcing his arrival.
Charlotte had settled beside Delaney and was showing her a dandelion she’d picked. “Look what I found, Uncle Noah!” Charlotte held up the weed like a precious gem.
“That’s beautiful, Charlie-Bear.” He lowered himself into the chair beside them.
Delaney’s eyes met his, and her head tilted to the side. “Bad news?”
“Just business.” He forced a smile. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
Her gaze lingered on his face a moment longer, as if she could see through his reassurance. “Charlotte, why don’t you go find more flowers for a bouquet? Stay where I can see you.”
“Okay!” She slid off the love seat and bounded across the yard, her curls bouncing.
“She took off on me at the playground yesterday.” Delaney grabbed the pillow and hugged it. By her amused expression, she’d had the situation under control.
“How far did she get?”
“I never lost sight of her, but only because I moved to keep my eye on her. I’m trying to teach her to always be checking to make sure she can still see me.”
“How’s that working?”
She laughed. “Well, she spends a lot of time in her own imagination, and she’s four, so…”
He grinned. “Right. Thank you for trying.”
“She’ll get there. I think she’s never had anyone watch her so closely before, at least that’s my theory. And the therapist said she could be testing me, wanting to see if I care enough to come for her.” Delaney turned to him. “You want to talk about it?”
He studied her face—the way she held herself so carefully, the concern in her eyes despite her own pain. She’d endured a nightmare the night before, yet she was worrying about him.
“I’ll deal with it. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“After what the detective said this morning, I wonder if maybe your business stuff is related.”
Right. He didn’t want to believe it, but it was possible. “I just got a call from my lawyer—and friend—about the merger. He told me the company we’re competing against is owned by a man who plays dirty. Richard says he’s the kind of man who’ll go to extremes to win.”
Her grip tightened on the pillow. “You think it was him?”
“My money’s still on Lena. Apparently, Hayes’s methods are more subtle.”
“So I have to watch out for your stalker and your business rival.” Her voice held a note of dark humor. “I wasn’t this popular in high school.”
“This isn’t funny, Delaney.” Her name slipped out. He’d been so careful to maintain professional distance, but knowing someone had tried to hurt her—or worse—because of him made it feel impossible.
She blinked those wide, innocent eyes. “I need to find some humor in it or I’ll fall apart.” She glanced toward Charlotte, who was now examining something in the grass. “I need to be vigilant. And try not to scare her.”
Noah felt himself leaning toward Delaney…
Miss Wright.
He straightened and dropped his elbows on his knees.
Charlotte ran to the corner of the yard close to the house, and Miss Wright angled forward to keep her eyes on her.
“I think it would be best if you two stay close to home until this merger is finalized,” he said.
Delaney’s shoulders tensed. “For how long?”
“A few weeks at most. After that, things should calm down.”
She nodded, though he could see she didn’t like the restriction. “I’m supposed to meet my friend at the park tomorrow.” She forced a smile. “It’s fine. I’ll cancel. Or…I don’t have her number, but I’m sure she’ll understand.”
He hated for her to cancel. She didn’t have any other friends in town. The park was public and crowded, but even so, he didn’t like the idea of Charlotte and Delaney going there alone. “I’ll take you.”
“You probably would have spied on us anyway.” Now, true amusement sparked in her eyes.
“Might as well just join you and meet your new friend.”
“Thank you for doing that. What about Charlotte’s dance class? We’ll need to get an Uber.”
“I’ll be your chauffeur for a few weeks.”
“I hate for you to—”
“Miss Wright, by hiring you, I’ve put you in danger.”
“You didn’t cut my brake line,” she said. “Whoever did that is responsible, not you.”
“Nevertheless, you wouldn’t be a target if not for me. It’s all right if it causes me a little inconvenience.”
What if he was wrong about Lena being behind last night’s wreck? What if Hayes had orchestrated it? If so, then Delaney could be collateral damage in a business war. But how would Hayes even know about Delaney, unless he had spies watching them?
Or was he working with Lena?
That thought sent a whole new fear churning inside him.
Either way, the danger circled back to him.
He needed to get this merger finalized and at least eliminate the war on one front.
Then he’d figure out how to deal with Lena.
All while keeping both Charlotte and her beautiful nanny safe.