Chapter 20
20
T heresa stepped from the bathroom after having showered to see Marco standing at the stove making them something to eat. Her stomach growled and she glanced at the clock on the stove and saw it was now two fifteen. They should have been at the Sandbar by now and she said, "Shit. I'm late."
He turned his head and grinned at her. She'll never forget that grin, it was the sexiest grin ever. "I texted Jace before we napped and told him we couldn't come in. Mitch had already been there and informed him of what was going on. They've also met with Blossom Springs PD and gotten their take and made a plan for your safety."
Relief swept through her. "Thank goodness. But that does put a burden on them."
Marco laughed. "Jace said he missed being in the kitchen so he's happy to be back in there for a bit. It'll be like old times for them."
"I suppose."
She stepped around the counter and wrapped her arms around him from behind. He turned in her arms and moved them across the kitchen against the counter. "No need for either of us to get burned."
"Right."
His head dipped down and kissed her lips. How was it possible his kiss felt better than it had before? His body felt more comfortable against hers now. They knew each other in a different way and she liked this so much better.
He pulled away from her slightly and grinned again. "I hope you're hungry."
She smiled. "I am."
"Good. I made Chorizo steak, fried potatoes, and asparagus."
"Oh my gawd, that sounds delicious."
Her stomach growled again as if it needed to make the point clearer. She chuckled and he kissed her forehead.
"Go sit at the table. I'll get this plated up."
"You don't have to wait on me. I can help."
He nodded. "Okay. I'd love a beer."
"Perfect. I'll set that up."
She reached around and squeezed his mighty fine ass. "Tight ass Mr. Karason."
He chuckled and shook his head. Turning to the stove, he plated up their food, which smelled amazing. She pulled two beers from the refrigerator.
Theresa sat on the opposite side of the table from where their laptops still sat open. Marco set a plate in front of her and one next to her. He sat beside her, picked up his beer, and held it out to her. She tapped her beer to his, and they each took a drink from their bottles.
"This smells amazing."
He grinned. "Thank you. It'll taste better."
She cut a bite from her steak and put it in her mouth. He was right, of course.
They ate quietly for a bit and her body began to feel sated. She'd had some rest. Some exercise. Now food and clarity came to the forefront of her mind.
"What did Mitch, Jace, and the police discuss?"
"I thought I'd ask Mitch to come over after we eat and get the details."
"That sounds good."
She finished her meal, and her mind began working again.
"I think I should publish these."
Marco looked over at her. "As in now?"
"Maybe one a day to build up an audience for them. I can post them to YouTube and add links on the other social sites to that platform. I'll note the next part will be posted on the following day at a specific time. That should grow interest. The more people who know, the more support I have and the safer I am. I can also add that I'm afraid for my life and that if something happens to me, the dead man's switch will engage, and all of the stories will be released at once. That's how they'll know something happened to me."
Marco turned in his chair and stared at her. "That's not a bad idea. But we need to speak to Mitch and Jace first. They'll need to put some protections in place."
She nodded. He was right. This could blow back on the others. "Also, the newspaper in Maine. I don't know who the editor is there, but I could call them and warn them that the rest of the stories are coming."
"You shouldn't be the one calling. I'm sure they have all the phones associated with the paper altered to let them know when calls come in, and they're most likely monitoring. So, it would need to be someone else. Like me. I can call and tell them they need to set up some precautions."
"I hate to get you involved."
"Too late. I'm involved. And I'm not sorry about it."
She took a deep breath. "I hate that Jace, Margo, and Mitch are involved too. I mean this is growing."
"And you need it to. Actually, the public outrage you instill should be to your benefit. The more people who know, the better protected you are."
She nodded slightly and closed her eyes. "Okay. Let's talk to Mitch first."
They finished their meals, and she cleaned up the dishes while she got her head around all of this. After a year of hiding and feeling like she couldn't be seen, she was throwing herself into the public eye and it was frightening.
Mitch knocked on the door. Knock. Space. Knock, knock. Marco chuckled and moved effortlessly to the door and opened it up to his friend.
"Welcome. Come on in."
Mitch stepped inside and Theresa moved into the living room. "Hi, Mitch. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Yeah. I'd love a bourbon."
"Coming right up." She turned and faced the kitchen, then froze. Turning her head to Marco he grinned. "Above the fridge."
"Okay." She reached up on her toes, opened the cabinet, and pulled down a bottle of bourbon. She poured one for Mitch and glanced at Marco. He shook his head no with a huge grin on his face. "But I'll have another beer."
She brought their drinks into the living room and sat on the sofa next to Marco, Mitch opted for the chair to the right of the sofa. It was time to get the show on the road.