Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Monday morning came way too soon. Freya was struggling with an emotional hangover.
Yes, waking up in Xander’s arms again had been amazing—and yes, the man had once again skipped his early morning workout—but all the tears she’d shed as they’d talked into the night had left her with a raging headache.
She’d taken some Tylenol before she’d left Xander’s place, but they’d yet to kick in. Regardless, as she placed her purse into her locker, she couldn’t help but smile. The man was truly something else.
Yesterday, he’d given her the most pleasure—wild, sexy, sweet, and everything in between—and then he’d taken care of her heart, her soul. He’d listened without judgement . . . about everything. And through it all, he’d held her. He’d wrapped his arms around her, cocooning her until she’d felt safe.
How was it even possible that she trusted him so completely in such a short time span. It had only been a week. Granted, it had been an intense week, but still only a week. And yet she was falling for him.
“Now that’s what I call a sappy grin,” Audrey said, breezing by her and grabbing a banana from the basket on the table. “Please tell me you went out with Hunky Security Guy and had wild, crazy sex.”
Freya choked out a laugh. “Wow. You got all that from my sappy grin?” Work gossip spread like wildfire, and she wanted zero part of it.
Audrey eyed her up and down. “I can’t tell if you’re evading or not. But throw me a bone. Did you at least kiss the guy?”
Chuckling, she grabbed a fresh apron and made her way to the door. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Audrey squealed, following close on her heels. “So you admit there was kissing!”
She shook her head and wagged a finger at her colleague as they rounded the corner to the front desk. “I’m not admitting a thing. Now behave, miss!”
“You’re no fun.” Audrey sighed. “And FYI, your first appointment is here. She knows she’s twenty minutes early but wanted to have some snacks first.”
The next few hours were jam-packed with one appointment after another.
“Enjoy the cooking class tonight,” Freya said as her client stood, fluffed her hair, and thanked her.
It was one o’clock, and she finally had a half-hour break. She was contemplating running over to the café when Miriam strode toward her holding a large to-go cup with a giant pink straw popping out the top.
“Here you go.” Miriam handed her the cup. “A large peanut butter and strawberry smoothie.”
“Oh my God, I love you.” Freya took a grateful sip of the decadent goodness and sighed. Her stomach growled in approval.
“It’s the least I can do for booking you solid until five thirty.”
Freya’s eyebrows rose. “Five thirty? The schedule said my last appointment was a four o’clock men’s cut.”
Miriam cringed. “I know. I just added a woman’s cut and blowout at four thirty. The guest was a client of Hazel’s that was originally down for tomorrow, but she wanted to change it to today. I’m sorry. I’ll buy you whatever you want for dinner.”
What was another hour, right? “It’s fine, Mir, but I’ll take a rain check on that dinner.”
“I do come bearing good news too.” Miriam pulled out a key fob with a valet parking ticket attached to it. “Your rental car is here. It’s a gray Ford Explorer, which is nice since it’s supposed to snow at the end of the week. This is the spare key and claim ticket. Valet has the other key.”
“Thanks. Do you know how long the autobody shop is going to have my car?”
“I’ll have to double-check with security, but I think I heard two to three weeks? And again, the rental is on us.”
“Well, I appreciate that, and the car upgrade.” It would be nice having four-wheel drive if it snowed. She wasn’t the best at driving in the stuff, so she could use all the help she could get.
“Freya, out of curiosity, have you heard from Hazel?”
She noted the hint of unease on her boss’s face. “I thought I saw a couple texts come in from her this morning, but I haven’t had the chance to check them. Everything okay?”
“Well, just as an FYI,” Miriam said, “she left a message on my voicemail saying she’s planning on opening a salon downtown.”
Freya’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Miriam nodded. “I want to be completely transparent with you. Please know that we value you. If she offers you something at her salon, by all means, feel free to consider her offer, but know that we’ll fight to keep you here.”
Freya pulled her phone from her apron. Sure enough, there were three messages from her.
“Hazel did text.” She flashed her screen at Miriam.
“I’m not going anywhere. This place is great.
With everything that happened, not only with the shooting, but also my car getting damaged, it made me realize how lucky I am to work here. ”
“I appreciate you saying that, Freya.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Audrey said, walking toward them. “Your next client is here, Freya.”
Miriam glanced at her watch. “You still have ten minutes. Finish up your smoothie. Let me know if you need anything—another smoothie, snacks, or whatever, and I’ll grab it for you. Thank you again for staying late.”
“No problem,” she said as Miriam walked with Audrey back to the front desk.
Taking another gulp of her smoothie, Freya pulled up her text messages.
Hazel
OMG, I have some exciting news to share! Do you have time to meet for coffee tomorrow morning?
Freya checked her schedule and frowned.
I can’t tomorrow. Staff meeting. But how does Wednesday at 8AM work? Want to meet at Comfort Food?
Three dots immediately appeared at the bottom of her screen.
Yes! I have so much to tell you! I can’t believe how amazing the shooting turned out to be! See ya!
Freya cringed but gave her friend the benefit of the doubt. There was no way Hazel had meant it that way, there was no way she was that tone-deaf. Right?
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced down. This time, a smile lifted her lips as she pulled up the new text.
Xander
Still up for dinner? I can meet you at your place at 5. Or I can pick you up if you don’t have a rental yet.
The rental’s here! And yes, dinner sounds great. But I picked up another guest, so I won’t be out of here until about 5:30. Want to meet at my place at 6?
Sounds good. Can I stay the night? Or is that too forward?
A blush stole across her cheeks, and she chuckled.
After yesterday, I’m pretty sure “forward” has gone out the window.
I’d love for you to spend the night.
Excellent. There’s a whole slew of things I want to do to you tonight. See you at 6.
She hearted his last text and then fanned herself. Yowza. Six o’clock couldn’t come fast enough. A smirk kicked at her lips. Well, at least she’d be coming plenty tonight.
As it turned out, she had to wait an hour longer before she could see her handsome man.
Yeah, that’s right. Her handsome man. While she was waiting for the valet to pull around with her rental, she got another text from Xander letting her know the meeting he was in was running long. He’d meet up with her at seven.
Though a little disappointed at first, after parking around the corner from her apartment and trekking down the sidewalk, she was grateful for the delay.
Her left knee was beginning to throb, no doubt a combination of being on her feet all day and yesterday’s fall.
She planned on using the extra time to take a piping hot shower and shave everything that needed shaving.
Though she was pretty sure Xander wouldn’t care one way or another.
Smiling at the thought, she walked by various shops that had just closed for the evening and unlocked the door to her building.
Clutching on to the handrail, she winced as her knee protested each and every step.
Maybe she’d forgo the shaving and just soak in the tub for the next hour.
She let out a sigh when she reached the landing.
Another two steps toward her apartment door and—
She froze.
A large white envelope was leaning against her front door.
Her eyes darted around the empty hallway and came to rest on the closed door across the hall—the storage room for Knit Wits. She glanced back at the envelope, and the feeling of spiders crawling over her skin had her shivering. Spinning on her heel, she hustled back down the stairs.
She spilled out onto the sidewalk, her heart hammering in her chest. There were a handful of people milling about down the street, but nothing out of the ordinary. Just people going about their evening.
Standing in the alcove of Knit Wits’ entrance with her back to the door, she pulled out her phone. Her fingers trembled as she called Xander.
It immediately went to voicemail.
She frowned, disconnected, and redialed. This time it rang.
It’s just an envelope. You’re overreacting!
Was she though?
Yes, it was the same type of envelope the photos were always sent to her in, but those types of white mailing envelopes weren’t uncommon.
However, this didn’t feel right.
She grimaced as the phone continued to ring. Didn’t feel right? Seriously?
Right when she was about to hang up, the call connected.
“Hey, Frey, what’s up?” Xander asked, his voice hushed.
For a moment, her words failed her. Holy crap, what if that stupid envelope was nothing?
“Freya, are you there?”
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting.” She cleared her throat as heat washed over her face. “Um, when I got home there was an envelope and . . .”
And when you say that out loud, you can hear how ridiculous it sounds. You’re an overreacting nutcase. It’s a freaking envelope.
Letting out a sigh, she rubbed her temples and rushed on. “You know what, never mind. I’m so sorry I interrupted. I’ll just see you when you get here.”
“Hang on, Frey,” he said, his voice louder. “Tell me what’s going on.”
If she could clobber herself over the head, she would. “It’s nothing. When I came home, there was a large white envelope propped against my apartment door, and I freaked out. But I’m sure it’s noth—”
“Did you open the envelope?”
Though he couldn’t see her, she shook her head, feeling like a fool. “No. Like I said, I got scared, so I ran back outside. I’m standing in front of Knit Wits.”
“Don’t move from there. I’m going to call you right back.”
She frowned as he disconnected their call. Before she could question anything, her phone rang with an incoming video call. She tapped the button, and Xander’s face filled her screen. Some of the tension in her body eased.
“Hey, beautiful, you okay?” A muttered curse sounded off camera, and Xander glared to the side before looking back at her. “I’m only a few blocks over, and I’m heading your way right now.”
Guilt began to mix with the worry and uncertainty whirling in her gut. “It’s okay, Xan, you don’t have to rush over. Like I said, it’s nothing and—”
“And it was an envelope that gave you a bad feeling. A feeling that had you calling me. Did your landlord call or text you that they dropped anything at your front door?”
She shook her head.
“Has anyone ever left anything at your front door before?”
Again, she shook her head, and that uneasy feeling in her stomach grew.
“Freya, baby, trust your gut. It told you something was off, so you got the hell out of there. That’s smart.”
His simple words had relief battling the doubt within her.
“If it turns out to be nothing,” he continued, “which I hope to hell it is, then this will be something we can laugh about later. But if it’s not—”
“It’s best to be safe,” a deep voice interrupted. Xander swung his phone to the side and showed the man driving—a broad-shouldered, thick-necked man with dark hair that was cut high and tight.
“That’s Wilson,” Xander said. The other man lifted his chin, not taking his eyes off the road. “He’s a man of few words.”
“Whatever, dude.” Wilson snorted before glancing at the phone. “Freya, I’m looking forward to meeting the woman who’s had Xan blowing off the gym two days in a row.”
Before she could respond, the phone jostled, and Xander’s face filled the screen again. “Don’t listen to a thing he says, baby. He’s always full of shit.”
She let out a breath, and a soft smile lifted her lips. “Thank you for coming over early.”
“Of course. We’re turning onto your street now.” Xander’s eyes narrowed. “I see you, Frey.”
She glanced up. A familiar-looking SUV drove toward her and quickly and expertly parallel parked a few spaces down from where she was standing. She caught a glimpse of Xander through the windshield in the passenger seat, and the remaining tension and fear rumbling within her eased.