Chapter 37
“It’s so great to see you again!” I say, hugging Rosa at the hotel bar.
The upscale bar is sequestered off the hotel lobby and below a large crystal chandelier.
The lounge is swathed in gold and amber hues.
Small clusters of upholstered high-back chairs and low tables are spread out across the space.
“Same!” We snag one of the intimate seating areas for ourselves, sitting side by side and leaving the love seat across from us empty.
The hostess drops off a couple of drink menus and announces their specials. We smile and nod until she departs. “What are you thinking of ordering?” I ask. “The cocktails look amazing.”
She taps her red fingernail to her chin while flipping one of the pages on the menu. Then claps it shut. “Ketel One martini with ten olives. You?”
I’ve become more familiar with bourbon, thanks to Logan, the smell especially, and I think tonight calls for something strong.
“That old-fashioned is looking pretty good,” I say, closing the book and setting it on top of hers next to the small lit tealight on the table.
Our server shows up right at that moment, and we place our orders. Service is speedy.
A buzzing noise has Rosa pulling her phone from her wristlet. “Logan just texted me,” she says, chuckling. “The package . . . is . . . secure . . .” she mutters, tapping a message back out. “Hydration . . . en route.”
I wince and cover my eyes with one hand. “Ugh, I’m so sorry about that!”
“As long as you’re fine with it, I’m fine with it,” she says, shrugging. “Wanna tell me more about what’s going on, though?”
When I texted Rosa to ask if it was okay to give Logan her number, she was a bit apprehensive at first and wanted to make sure she wasn’t enabling a controlling boyfriend. The optics aren’t great, but he wanted to cover all his bases in case he was unable to reach me for whatever reason.
I reassured her this was a special circumstance.
It’s a little like being babysat, but I’d have agreed to any concessions as long as it got me out of the house.
Thankfully, Rosa was very understanding, and I kinda love that she’s giving him some shit about it; it makes the whole thing feel less crazy.
I sigh. “Yeah, it’s a long story, so strap in.”
I give her the rundown of everything that has happened thus far, right up to the stupid roses that may or may not have something to do with this? When I tried prying him for more information, he seemed to let it go. Who fucking knows.
“Wait, so you have no idea if the flowers are even part of this?”
I shake my head. “The flower delivery is an anomaly. I told Logan it was simply a mix-up. The message didn’t match the others—it didn’t even make sense! We’re not married! I have a feeling the wrong card got put on the wrong bouquet and they sent them out for delivery.”
“What about your ex? He gave you roses too, right?”
Our server shows up with our drinks, and I accept mine with a smile, taking a healthy gulp. I nod to Rosa. “Yeah. That’s another issue. Logan seems to think Jason is behind all of this.”
“Do you have any reason to doubt him?”
I shrug. “At first I thought it was Jason, but the longer this has gone on, it seems less likely.”
“Have you gone to the police?”
With a long blink and deep inhale, I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“Well, is he going to?”
I groan. “He says he wants to deal with it himself.”
“Of course he does.” She rolls her eyes. “How does he think he’s gonna do that?”
I scoff. “Honestly, I don’t know. He seems stuck on this whole Jason thing, but then it’s like he doesn’t do anything about it. I’m not sure if he’s just waiting for more proof or what?”
“Who else knows about this? Do you have anyone else to talk to?” she asks.
“A couple of my coworkers, they’re tight with Logan.
Both of them are like older brothers, so they’re on edge too.
The whole thing sucks. I’m so tired of this.
I feel like Logan and I haven’t had a chance at a normal relationship because all this other bullshit is taking up so much space.
” I sigh. “Logan is really struggling with it.”
She takes a sip of her drink. “I mean, maybe you need to take a break, just allow things to calm down first. If it is your ex, your new relationship could be escalating his behavior. Especially if you’re in danger, you don’t want to risk your safety.”
I shake my head. No way. “Logan is stressed. He cares deeply and is worried about me.”
“He ought to do something about it instead of sitting around and waiting.”
Lifting my shoulders, I ask, “What’s he supposed to do?”
“Kick that guy’s ass?”
Easier said than done. I chuckle and wave my hands as if I can erase the conversation we’re having.
“Let’s talk about something else. This stalker drama takes up enough of my life as it is, I’m not letting it ruin my nights out with friends, those are rare enough as it is.
I’m really happy you reached out so we could do this! ”
She nods and wraps an arm around me, offering a half hug. “Me too! This is one of the first work trips that I could actually look forward to!”
“Oh!” I take a sip and set my glass on the table, then clap my hands together. “Okay, so there’s a guy I’d like to introduce you to. One of my coworkers. He’s really great, and I think you two would hit it off.”
Her brows pop up. “Oooh, tattoos? He’s an artist?”
“Yes, he’s so talented!” I feel positive about them being a match. “He does incredible script and lettering work, watching him freehand is wild. He’s gifted.”
“Is he tall? He’s gotta be taller than me, I want someone who can pick me up and toss me around.” She waggles her eyebrows, making me laugh—something I haven’t done enough of lately.
I nod. “He’s got the height. He’s also got muscles if that’s your thing.
Hang on, I have a picture.” After taking out my phone, I go into my photos and scroll back to some from the Bozeman expo.
I zoom in on his face and turn the screen toward her.
“This is Hawthorne, he goes by Thor. He’s a bit of a cowboy but very down to earth .
. . There’s just one thing. He’s got a bit of a rap sheet.
I know, not the greatest opener, but he’s a good guy, truly. ”
“Holy shit.” She takes the phone from me and blinks. “I don’t care if he kicks puppies, this man is hot. Like, hot-hot.”
“See?”
“Maybe I’ll swing by the tattoo shop before I head out of town, then . . . introduce myself. Or we could go out Saturday night, see if he wants to tag along?”
I wrinkle my nose. “I’m sorry, I can’t on Saturday.”
“What? Why?” She pouts out her lower lip.
“Logan has a night planned for us.”
She huffs a breath, rolling her eyes. “Come on. You can see him anytime. We can go clubbing. I wanna meet this guy!”
I laugh. “I know, I’m sorry—Logan’s just worked so hard setting up this date.”
She grumbles into her drink. “He probably hasn’t worked that hard. Men don’t put out serious effort like that. Unless they want sex.”
“Well, I’ll take the sex too.”
She raises her brows when I say that. “You slept with him?”
“Yes.” I smile into my drink. “A few times.” I shiver, relishing the memory of us in his office. I never knew humiliation could feel so secure. Like being laid bare and claimed with pride at the same time. It was sinful and delicious.
Rosa shrugs and raises her martini glass to her lips. “Cheers to you.”
Maybe most men don’t often put out effort, but mine does. He hand-painted an entire tarot deck, for fuck’s sake. “He’s my best friend. He put in effort before we even started dating.”
She’s a woman scorned, frustrated by the opposite sex, but she can’t judge Logan’s character based on other men.
Logan is different, she’ll learn that when she meets him.
She’ll learn that when she meets Thor too .
. . which is about to happen a lot sooner than she thinks.
My attention is drawn to the large hulking figure making his way through the door.
Tall and tattooed, Thor carries a casual danger about him.
He’s like Logan in that way. A smile grows on my face.
“Today is your lucky day, babe.” I shoot my hand into the air. “Thor!”
His eyes fall on us, and he stops scanning the room.
He does that sexy smirk that makes women drop their panties, and Rosa instantly blushes. She fixes her hair as casually as she can, then turns her head to me and mouths Oh my God. She’s wearing a tight red dress and looks stunning.
“Ladies,” he says in that low, gritty voice.
“Let me guess, Logan put you on assignment?”
The corner of his mouth cracks into a smile. “He just wants to make sure nobody does anything stupid.” His gaze flicks toward Rosa. “But he didn’t say I couldn’t join you.”
I smile and arch a brow, gesturing to the unoccupied love seat across from us. He sits, and immediately their body language changes. Rosa tucks her hair behind her ear and angles toward him more, showcasing a softer, shy side of her. That’s new.
This is interesting. I wish Logan were here to see this.
“I’m going to get another drink. Thor, what would you like? My treat.”
He glances at me momentarily before fixing his attention back on her. “Just here to watch.”
“If you say so.” I wander over to the bar from our cocktail table, making sure to keep my eyes on them. I get a little frisson of excitement when Rosa sits next to him on the sofa. Holy shit, I knew they would be good together, but they are seriously clicking.
Thor leans in to say something to her, and she laughs. Logan may have sent a babysitter for us, but this is the most interest I’ve seen Thor take in a woman since . . . well, since ever.
I order another round and take a seat at the bar, leaning back to observe the show with gleeful delight as they get to know each other. Based on the way Thor is looking at her like he’s already planning when to see her again, I don’t think either of them minds.