Chapter Thirty-Nine
Even though they were more or less waiting for the stalker to strike, Jake had reassured them that there were several sets of eyes on the house. Not to mention the top-notch security system that had been installed which had kept them safe so far.
As difficult as it was to admit it, Wren was still planning to leave, maybe even before whoever was targeting her was caught.
So, he’d ordered a few special gifts. He was willing to do anything to keep her in his life, but first, he knew that he was going to have to let her go. She’d been on her own for far too long, so she would have to be the one to make the first move. Maybe the memories of the time they’d spent together would draw her back.
Jeff couldn’t give up hope.
“Wren?” he yelled loudly, walking up the staircase.
“I’m here in the mudroom cleaning out my paint roller and brushes in the laundry sink,” she called out.
“Hey. I’ve got a quick errand to run. Maybe I’ll pick up some sandwiches from the Crystal Rock Tap while I’m at it. I’ll probably be gone for a little over an hour.”
“That sounds good,” she replied, grinning as she peeked into the kitchen. When she looked curious, he was suddenly surprised to realize that they no longer seemed to have any secrets.
“It’s a surprise,” he confessed. “And no, I’m not going to tell you where I’m going.”
“That’s alright. It’ll probably take me an hour to get all the paint out of my hair anyway,” she admitted.
He grinned. “You’re fixing up my office space for me, aren’t you? I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist decorating with that roll top desk that’s just been sitting there in the room down the hallway.”
“Well, you did say that you were going to have to start putting together some lesson plans for the classroom.”
“I’m sure I’m going to love it.”
“I decided to use the room that connects to the master. It should make it easier to stay organized for work if you have it separate from your studio space in the basement. You’ll have to help me move the desk from the spare room,” she said.
“That’ll be perfect. I do have a lot of paperwork floating around downstairs,” he admitted, tugging her into his arms.
“You’ll get paint all over yourself,” she murmured.
“Like I care,” he muttered, his mouth covering hers.
* * *
Another half hour later, Wren walked downstairs when she heard a knock at the front door. Checking the security screen in the kitchen, she groaned when she saw that it was Jeff’s sister, Kate.
Well, since she wasn’t a coward, Wren better let her in to see what she wanted.
“Hello,” Wren said as she opened the door.
“Where’s Jeff?” Kate muttered, brushing past Wren and walking inside.
“He went to pick us up some sandwiches,” Wren answered.
Kate looked taken aback when she glanced around what was now a stunning entryway, a round antique table graced with a vase of fresh flowers centered in the middle of the space.
“ Why are you still here, and not on your way back to California? ” Her hands on her hips, Kate stomped her foot. “Don’t you realize what you’re doing? Every time he’s here alone, he’s not going to be able to quit thinking of you. How in the hell is he supposed to move on? I know my brother. He wants to get married and have a family. Obviously, that’s not going to happen with you. ”
Kate made her way through the house, appearing more furious as she went from room to room.
She snorted. “I don’t even want to go upstairs. Granted, you do have good taste. But the best thing you could do for him is leave. The sooner you go, the sooner Jeff can try to move on with his life. He’s been hurt enough. I should have never signed that paperwork to get him into officer’s school. Maybe he’d be married to his girlfriend Aimee now, and out of the damn Air Force.”
And with that, Kate spun on her heels, heading to the front door, slamming the door behind her.
Wren’s eyes filled with tears. For the first time in a long time, she felt deflated.
She could care less about anything, including her safety right now. She needed to get the hell out of the house for a while. All she could see was the deprecating look on Kate’s face as she made it clear how she really felt about Wren.
Reaching for the keys to her SUV, she headed through the mudroom, being sure to set the alarm as she left the house.