2. Taylan
Chapter Two
TAYLAN
Walking away from Gingerbread, my chest is tight.
It’s the first time I’ve been that close to Ava. I’ve seen her at a distance, many times, but having her close enough to touch was something else. I’m dazed. All I wanted to do was reach out and stroke her soft blonde hair. To breathe in her fruity scent. I couldn’t work out if it was her shampoo or her perfume, trying to restrain myself from leaning in and having a good sniff.
That interaction did not go as planned. I picked the wrong moment; she was still worried from talking to her Mom. The shutdown behind her eyes when I said I knew her name was instantaneous.
But I know a lot more about her than just her name.
I’ve been watching Ava for months. Chief Brock had me look into her family’s background when Mila, now his fiancée, mentioned the reason why they’d moved to Snowflake Falls. I’m the department’s resident computer expert. Some of the guys like to call me Sherlock, because they think I can solve any mystery.
I did some checking up and found a photo of Ava, her sister and her Mom together.
That was it. One photo. I’d never had such an intense reaction to a woman before. Complete fascination. Love at first sight. I’d been waiting all my life to see her and once I did, I knew she was meant to be mine.
The problem? She had no idea I even existed.
Continuing my research, the threat her asshole of a stepfather posed also became clear.
I traveled to Thistleford, the large town a few hundred miles to the west of Snowflake where they’d moved from. While Silas Thorn hadn’t officially been charged with anything, there was enough in his background to suggest he had a history of violence against his previous partners. The man was a crook. I’d started digging into his employment history and it looked like he’d defrauded the last couple of places he worked for. Unfortunately, it also looked like he’d disappeared off the face of the earth, which I didn’t like.
After a couple of months of dating, Mila moved out of the house she shared with Ava to live with the Chief, leaving her living alone here in Snowflake. I decided it was now my job to keep her safe, even from a distance. So that’s been my life for the last couple of months. When I’m committed to a project, I don’t shirk. And Ava’s more than a project. She’s my future, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
When I get to the firehouse, Grizz is watering the flowers that Mila suggested the Chief put up outside. He’s the one who put up the hanging baskets. At 6’8” he’s also the only one who can reach them without standing on a ladder.
“Your dog’s been causing havoc, Tay.” He turns around, raising a bushy eyebrow at me.
“Not my dog, Grizz. Poupon belongs to my aunt. Dean and I are looking after him while she’s in Paris.”
He grunts and shakes his head. “Damn stupidest name I ever heard for a pooch. Poupo n. What’s that mean anyway?”
“Something to do with mustard.” I shrug and go inside.
My brother Dean is in the kitchen while Poupon attacks a small pink bone by his feet.
“Your turn, Tay. Poupon ate something weird and had to poop twice. Poupon by name, poop-on by nature. I have to go and do the rounds.” Dean is part of the volunteer service who visit sick and injured people in Snowflake. The two of us couldn’t be more different; he’s a jock and I’m a nerd.
I nod, pour myself some coffee, grab my laptop, and take his seat at the table. Some of the guys are yucking it up out in the backyard, so I tune them out. One of the better things about having a reputation as a grumpy nerd is that people tend to think twice before they bother you.
Poupon hasn’t got the memo, though. He leaps up into my lap, turning around a couple of times, and then curls up and starts snoring. Trying not to disturb him, I open my laptop.
I’ve kept a diary for the last few months to track what I know about Silas Thorn. I’ve also kept a close eye on Ava and her Mom. Mila lives with Brock now, so I’m confident he can look after. Brock knows what I’m doing, although I don’t think he suspects I’m keeping tabs on Ava so closely.
One of the latest initiatives in Snowflake’s ongoing nature program is webcams to track animal and bird life around the town. When I’m not out on a job, I can track Ava’s movements through these cameras, checking her house and the three different businesses she works for as a PA.
I review the footage, examining it carefully to make sure there’s nothing out of the ordinary. My cock jumps at her familiar, hip-swaying walk, her golden hair swinging in the breeze. Everything about her is perfect to me, even the way she brushes her hair away from her face and ties it up in a ponytail.
A dark red car I don’t remember seeing before, with distinctive orange-trimmed hubcaps and tinted windows, has driven past Snowflake Souvenirs three times today. It’s also been parked outside the library, where Ava’s mom works, for the last hour. I scroll back to check if anyone gets out of the car.
Poupon wakes up with a snort and starts yipping when Brock walks in.
“Hey Chief,” I raise a hand.
“Hi, Sherlock, what have you found out for us today?” As he sits, he reaches for Poupon’s pink bone. The little dog leaps out of my lap and runs for it, growling. Ember, the firehouse dog, sticks her nose around the door, looks at Poupon, and then withdraws.
“Check this out.” I move my screen around to show him the car.
A line appears between his eyebrows. “That car is from out of town. I’d remember if anyone here owned it. Looks like whoever’s in it is keeping tabs on Ava and her Mom.”
I nod.
“You aren’t on shift for a couple of days, are you? Just emergency calls? Can you check out who’s in the car? I’m going to make sure Mila and her Mom are okay. They’re at the house this evening, baking.”
Standing, I reach for my jacket. “I’ll do it now. Come on, Poupon.”
Once I’m outside, the dog and I walk to the library. The car is there, but it’s impossible to see in through the tinted windows. I knock on one, but nobody’s inside.
I don’t like this. I’m going to head over to Ava’s work and see if she’s there. If she’s not, I can look at the webcam footage to see where she’s headed.
I need to keep her safe.