Chapter 8
8
T heresa dressed for work, brushed her hair, and pulled it back in a braid so she didn't have to wear a hairnet. Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she sauntered out to the living room where Marco stood waiting for her.
He nodded and grinned. "Ready?"
She smiled because it was impossible not to. "Yeah."
"You mind riding together?"
She didn't hesitate. "No." She swallowed. "I don't mind."
He opened the door and waited for her to pass before stepping out and locking his door. As they made their way down the hallway to the stairs, Marco's hand was at the small of her back. She could smell his aftershave. It was the most compelling aroma. Clean and fresh with a hint of fresh-cut wood. She took a deep breath to breathe more of him in.
"Are you nervous?"
"No." Her cheeks burned. Had he figured...
"You took a deep breath. Was it to calm yourself?"
He had. Dammit. "Ah, yes. Today has been a lot."
"It has. You've handled it brilliantly."
"Really? I don't feel like I have."
He chuckled as he leaned forward to open the outside door and she managed a nice deep breath of...Marco.
"Trust me. You have." His voice was deeper than before. Sexier, if that was possible.
He helped her into his vehicle, walked around the front of the truck and all she tried to remember the last time she'd felt taken care of. It had been so damned long. Her last relationship had been six years ago. Even then, she didn't feel taken care of. More like an armpiece or something. She shook her head and intentionally pushed the negative thoughts from her mind. Her friends had told her he was a piece of crap. She thought he was smart and handsome. It took her three months to see he was a turd.
As Marco drove them down Main Street, she noticed he looked closely at the businesses in town. He turned to see her watching him and he grinned. That's when she saw it - he had a dimple in his right cheek. Gads, he had everything she liked in a man.
"I like watching the local businesses decorate their places for Christmas. Every day there's a change. Wait until we get home tonight. From the living room window, we can look down Main Street with all the lights on and see how magical it is."
She cocked her head. He looked for the magic in things like Christmas and even decorations?
"I can't wait to see it."
Turning them left toward the Sandbar, he continued to look at the surrounding buildings and she continued to try and not stare at him.
He pulled them into the parking area nearest the employee entrance. She hopped out of the vehicle, not waiting for him. They weren't on a date, she was his co-worker. But she saw his frown. Then she felt the tug in her tummy. She felt bad for making him feel bad. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. This situation was weird and intense and she didn't have the experience to deal with anything like this.
She stepped toward the employee entrance as he held the door for her. She smiled at him as she passed, and she saw that hint of a dimple again. Worth it.
She headed to the punch clock and clocked in. She tucked her purse in her locker and donned her black apron as Marco pulled his fresh white chef's jacket from the dry-cleaning closet and popped it on. He looked incredible in that jacket with his dark hair and tanned skin.
She hustled out to the dining room to begin setting up the condiments. She picked up the first tray of salt and pepper shakers from the kitchen when Marco entered. He opened the walk-in cooler and stepped inside. He hurried out of it and left the kitchen in a hurry. Her brows bunched together as she followed him from the kitchen, but she began setting up the tables instead of following him.
Soon Jace followed Marco from the office to the kitchen and her curiosity got the better of her and she followed them. She intended to pick up a new tray of salt and pepper shakers when Marco stepped from the cooler, Jace close behind. Jace's jaw was tight, and Marco's was tighter.
She met Marco's eyes but didn't say anything. Jace hustled toward the door, "I'll give them a call right now."
When he'd left, Marco motioned toward the cooler. "Someone slashed open the packages with the steaks. Ruining the entire order for tonight."
"Who would do that?"
"I don't know. Jace said he let them in to deliver this morning at six. The usual delivery man came. Nothing seemed off. And he left."
She swallowed a dry knot in her throat. Marco stared into her eyes. "You need to be very careful Theresa."
"How do you know it's..."
"We don't know it isn't. Nothing like this has ever happened before."
She leaned on the stainless-steel table in front of her and tried taking deep breaths. "I think I should go, Marco. Now it's affecting Jace and Margo."
"No. You aren't safe out there on your own."
"I might not be safe here."
"But you have people here who can protect you."
Jace entered the kitchen, stopped, and stared at them. "What's going on?"
She looked into Marco's eyes and hers watered. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Marco waited, which made her more nervous. Damn him and his patience. He nodded to her, and she sucked in a big breath.
"Jace. I was an investigative reporter back home in Maine. I wrote an article on the Celtic Crime Family, who have politicians in their pockets. They have money laundering operations, as well as criminal activity, including trafficking and drugs. I exposed them and shortly after, I began getting death threats. I left and ended up here, which I hoped was too far away from Maine for them to follow me. However, I think they've found me."
Jace stepped toward the table and stared at her. "Why do you think they've found you?"
"They texted me last night. This morning they threw a rock through my window. Luckily Marco was there and they ran away."
Jace turned his head toward Marco. "You were there?"
"I was out jogging and saw Theresa throwing packed bags into her car to leave."
"You were packing to leave?"
"I didn't want to bring any danger here."
Jace stared at her a moment, then turned his eyes to Marco. Marco said nothing so Jace turned back to her. "But you didn't leave?"
"No." Her bottom lip quivered. "I'm staying at..." She paused and cleared her throat. "At Marco's."
Jace's eyebrows rose. He slowly turned his eyes back to Marco. Marco stared at Jace and said nothing, which was interesting to watch if she wasn't so scared and creeped out right now.
Jace nodded his head once. "Okay. So, let me see if I understand." He took a deep breath. "You exposed a major crime family, and they are after you. You ended up here, but they've found you and now you're staying with Marco. But I don't see how this has anything to do with my shipment of meat being damaged."
Marco finally spoke. "I think they did it to scare Theresa."
"The Celtic Crime Family? If they are after her, why haven't they tried to harm her?"
Jace looked her way and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry Theresa, I don't want that to happen, I just..."
"It's okay. I understand."
Marco finished his comment. "I think they hired someone local to scare her. And Theresa thinks the Celtics know she still has dirt on them, and they want it."
Jace woodenly turned his head toward her. He looked into her eyes for a long time and her heart beat so forcefully in her chest it nearly made her lose her breath. "Do you have more on them?"
She bit her bottom lip slightly then nodded. "Yes."
"What do you have?"
"They were instrumental in getting the president elected by dirty means."
"And you have proof?"
"I do."
Jace looked at Marco. "Holy fuck."