Chapter 22
If the person tormenting her had wanted to freak Maia out, they’d done an excellent job. Even now, the following day, she was jumpy and constantly scanning her surroundings.
Maia couldn’t focus at training, but to her surprise, the coaches chose her for the starting team for their home game in four days. Rose and Cameron were determined to play those who were in form. A thrill went through Maia. This was fantastic news.
Their coach continued reading out the names. “Jan, Zara, Rebecca.”
Rebecca released an exuberant cheer.
“Thanks, Coach. I won’t let you down,” Rebecca said.
“See you don’t,” Rose said. “Jan, you’re the captain. Amanda, Cameron and I want to speak with you privately once we finish here. Wait outside my office.”
“Questions?” Cameron asked.
“What time do you want us to arrive at the venue?” one girl asked.
“One hour beforehand,” Rose said. “Anyone late will go to the bench. Everyone, apart from Amanda, will get time on the field. Please bring your best game and impress us. If you need any further encouragement, the Black Ferns coaching staff is coming to watch this game.”
Excited chatter burst out.
Rose smiled. “I thought that might please you. See you on Saturday.”
Maia walked to the changing rooms with Jan, Zara, and Rebecca. Their excitement was infectious, but she had to force her smile. Somehow, she’d gained a stalker. A chill ran down her spine, and cold sweat covered her body. Her mind kept coming back to the why, and she was clueless.
“Earth to Maia,” Jan said, nudging her arm.
Maia blinked at her new friends. “What?”
“You’d better not zone out like that on Saturday,” Jan teased. “The coach doesn’t give second chances.”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“We’re going for coffee at the cafe. Did you want to come?”
“I’d like to, but I have a water problem at home and need to get it sorted.”
“The woes of a property owner,” Rebecca said, full of sympathy. “I can’t stay for long either, but I’ll eat a scone on your behalf.”
“Gee, thanks,” Maia said when the other girls laughed as they entered the changing room.
“See you at the game,” she said, zipping up her gear bag after her rapid clothes change.
“Bye, Maia,” Jan said. “Coffee. Next time.”
“Deal.” Maia forced out a laugh that sounded surprisingly natural. With another wave and a smile at several other girls on her team, she exited the building. She thought for a few minutes, her mind going to Samuel. Without giving herself time to think, she dialed his number.
“Maia?” It was easy to discern his surprise.
She didn’t bother with niceties. “Samuel, someone is stalking me. Is it you? Have you organized someone to harass me?”
“No! No to both questions.”
She heard the honesty in his voice but poked a bit harder. “You came to Middlemarch.”
There was a long pause. “Maia, I’m sorry.”
She snorted inwardly, having heard his apologies before.
“I can be a dick sometimes, but it’s not me this time. I’m dating someone else. I like her, and the parental unit approves.”
Once again, she thought she heard truth in his words. “Okay. Thanks for speaking with me.”
“I hope the cops discover the culprit. Maia, I’m not responsible.”
Maia hung up, glad she’d made the call, although she was certain neither Laura nor Henry would agree with her actions.
When she arrived home, four vehicles were parked in front of her house. Maia stared at the youngsters kicking a soccer ball around her front yard, their high-pitched shrieks full of laughter and carefree fun.
She climbed out of her car, and one boy gamboled over to her. Levi.
“Hi, Levi. What are you doing here?”
“Dad and Uncle Gerard and Mr. Saber are fixing your water. We’re watching the front of your house in case someone bad comes.”
“Oh.” Intense gratitude had tears welling in her eyes, and she blinked hard to clear her vision. “I can see you’re doing an excellent job. Would you and your friends like juice and cookies?”
Levi nodded vigorously.
“Let me talk to your dad first, then I’ll get your snack. Keep playing and guarding my house, okay?”
Levi jumped in the air, and when he landed, he loosed a shout resembling a wolf howl. Maia grinned and trotted around her house to the rear. She came face-to-face with Jacey. He looked scary but relaxed when he saw her.
“A birdie told me you might be working on my water problem,” she said.
Jacey squeezed her in silent commiseration. “I’m glad you’re staying with us while Henry is away. Whoever is doing this is unpredictable. No telling what they might do next.”
Maia agreed. “How bad is the tank?”
Jacey’s eyes flashed with anger. “Along with the dead possum, they tipped in bottles of red food coloring. We’ve emptied the tank and scrubbed it clean. Depending on what they used, we might need to empty the tank again.”
“The dead animal?”
“Gerard buried it. At least it was already dead when someone tossed it into your tank.” His jaw tightened. “Whoever did this is a disturbed person.”
And she needed to be extra careful about security. If this person grabbed her, there was no telling what might happen.
“I promised Levi and his friends I’d give them juice and cookies. Is there anything you need me to do?”
“No, sweetheart. We have everything under control.”
“Thank you.” Maia returned to the front, unlocked her door, and let Juno out. The big dog licked her hand and immediately rushed to play ball with the kids. She chided herself for not doing that first as she turned off the alarm.
“Maia!” a shrill voice piped behind her.
She whirled to face the door.
Levi cocked his head, his forehead furrowed in a frown. “Did you not scent me?”
“Ah, no,” she said, confused by his words. The boy didn’t smell any worse than the others.
A gaggle of boys and one girl stood behind him.
“They don’t believe you play rugby.”
“I’ve come from practice. I can show you my muddy clothes and boots.”
“That’s not proof,” the girl said.
“Tough sell, huh?” Some of Maia’s gloom lifted. “I guess the only way to prove it is for you to see me playing. You’ll have to ask your parents, but I have a game on Saturday.”
“She has real boots with spikes,” Levi said. “Dad said she isn’t playing much right now ’cause someone hit her and gave her a concussion.”
“Why didn’t she scent them?” the girl demanded.
“That’s enough of badgering Maia,” Gerard said. “She might decide not to give you cookies.”
There was a chorus of protests.
“You okay,” Gerard asked. “I didn’t call Henry, but you should tell him.”
Maia sighed, knowing he was right. “Maybe when he gets home.”
Two days later, in the early evening, Henry walked into his suite and smiled. It smelled like Maia. It smelled like home in a way it hadn’t before. He found Maia in his lounge with her laptop on her knee. She was staring outside into the darkness, her mind far away.
“Hi, honey. I’m home,” he said from the doorway.
She let out a screech, almost dropping her laptop. Wide blue eyes stared until her initial alarm subsided, and she recognized him.
“Maia?”
“Henry,” she said, standing on noticeably wobbly feet and setting her laptop aside. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“What’s going on?” he said. “What haven’t you told me during our phone calls?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. Let’s get a drink, and I’ll tell you everything. And I need a hug. That would help big time.”
Henry drew her against him, savoring her scent and her softness.
He’d missed her and worried about her the entire time, thoughts of how he’d failed Jenny and repeating mistakes never far from his mind.
She trembled, and anger built in him, but he kept it contained.
His wolf struggled against his grip, wanting out.
He wanted to rip and tear and destroy the villain persecuting their mate.
Instead, Henry kissed the top of her head and pushed her away with a smile. “Let’s get that drink. What would you like?”
“Red wine, please.”
Henry led her back to the chair she’d been sitting in when he arrived. He grabbed a beer for himself and poured a wine for Maia.
He sat opposite her and waited. She swallowed before she described the events of the past two days. Fury pulsed through Henry, although he hid his anger from Maia. None of this was her fault; she was suffering enough without him adding to her burden.
“The good news is I’ve made the starting team for our game on Saturday.”
“Congratulations.” She worked hard and deserved this chance. “Has the doctor cleared you?”
“They’re still managing my playing time. It will be another week or two, depending on how I get through the next match. London and Megan are coming to watch me play. Will you have time to see the match?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Henry’s phone dinged. “Dinner is ready.”
“Oh, I meant to help with dinner prep,” Maia said. “I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”
“You have a lot on your mind.”
“Henry, what am I going to do? I can’t live this way. It’s impossible to concentrate on writing and difficult to focus on training. I keep wondering what will happen next. It’s making me jumpy.”
Henry set his beer aside and took her wineglass before tugging her to her feet. “You need to eat. You look as if you’ve lost weight. Other than that, we take one day at a time. Did Laura find any sweet wrappings?”
“I don’t know.”
If he got his hands on this person… “Did Laura check on your ex?”
“Yes, she has a friend keeping tabs on him. Samuel is attending a training camp right now. Bryce is there, too. A group of ex-soldiers runs it, and they confiscate phones. The camp is in the middle of nowhere, according to Bryce. Moewai. It’s near Eketahuna.
I don’t think it’s Samuel. I…ah…called him and asked him if he was responsible. He said no, and I believed him.”
“You called him.”
“Yes.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze without flinching.
Okay. He hated that, but a part of him could understand Maia’s need for answers. At least she hadn’t approached the bastard in person. He ignored the internal growl from his wolf. “What does Laura think?”
“She is leaning toward an unknown person.”
Tension slid through Henry, but he did his best to hide his concern. Maia was freaked enough now. He guided her toward the door. “Let’s go eat.”
Dinner, family-style, was a lot of fun. Everyone chatted about their day, including Levi. He told them about his rugby team and how hard they were practicing.
“I’m driving to Dunedin to watch Maia play,” Henry said. “Anyone else want to come?”
“Megan and I are going,” London said immediately.
“Can I bring my friends?” Levi asked.
Jacey grinned. “Looks like the entire family is going along with extras. I can’t wait.”