Chapter 19
19
An unfamiliar buzz came from the living room. It woke Zach from a sound sleep. Tovah was curled up on his chest, with an arm slung over his stomach. He kissed the top of her head then crawled out from under her while trying his hardest not to wake her.
From experience, he knew she slept like the dead. Her alarm clock must consist of a pan of cold water splashed on her face.
This time, however, she woke and looked into his face. Her expression was grumpy, and he doubted very much she even knew what was going on although her eyes were open.
“My phone is buzzing,” he said by way of explanation, though he didn’t owe her one.
She continued to frown before putting her head back on the pillow and closing her eyes. There was a good chance she wouldn’t remember that come morning.
After tucking her in, he went into the living room. His phone sat on the end table next to where he’d parked himself the night before while dealing with his miserable life.
Damn it all to hell and back again. What in the fuck had he done to deserve some goddamned coed trying to ruin his career and reputation? Tovah might be a student at the university, but she wasn’t a traditional student. She wasn’t underage, and he hadn’t touched her until their class was complete.
Questionable? Maybe. Worth losing tenure over? No fucking way.
Yep, after a round of exceptional sex and some sleep, he wasn’t shocked at the day’s events. Now, he was just incredibly pissed off.
He looked at the screen. A text from Bach about his old phone.
Bach had suggested that they keep that number open in case any other texts or pics came through. More evidence to stack against the culprit.
Watch your 6.
What the fuck?
Did someone have eyes on his house?
Shit.
He moved to the back deck and opened the sliders, careful not to make any sound. This time of night in the neighborhood was so quiet the sound of a door closing sounded like a gun firing. Making as little noise as possible he went to the side gate and used the deep shadows of the trees to hide as he left the back yard and made his way to the front.
A slow study of the entire street and he didn’t see anything out of place. No cars, no people, nothing that didn’t belong.
A twig snapped behind him. He turned to defend himself and found Tovah standing behind him. Damn, she’d gone from sleepy and grumpy to wide awake in record time.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
Zach motioned for her to go back inside. He took her hand and walked her back into the house and locked the slider.
She waited for him to tell her with her coat wrapped around her. Judging from the amount of skin at her throat, she’d only put on her pants and coat, and had forgone the shirt.
The thought she had nothing on under that coat on her top half heated his blood. He fought to stay focused.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated.
“I got a text from Bach. He warned me that someone was watching me.”
“How does he…?” Tovah didn’t complete the sentence. “Oh. He still has your phone turned on.”
“Yes. I figure something came through that alerted him that whoever keeps sending me things was in the neighborhood.”
Tovah crossed her arms and tilted her head. Her hair was impossibly crazy from sex and sleep. But Christ, she still looked like a million bucks.
“That’s downright frightening.”
Yes, but not for him. Not in so many words. He didn’t fear for his physical safety. Hell, anyone who looked at him and didn’t know him, usually thought he was going to kill someone if crossed. With his body of knowledge, he did know just where to hit someone to cause maximum damage and instant death.
What he worried about was Tovah getting mixed up in it all. Without knowing the person involved, he had no way to judge what lengths they’d go to hurt him or anyone with whom he associated. Hell, anyone that desperate might be unhinged enough to take a stab at Tovah or Miss Rose. That fact was enough to make his throat close and steal his breath.
She narrowed her eyes as if reading his mind. “I don’t like whatever it is you’re thinking.”
He shook his head and reached out for her. “I’m sorry. I…don’t think we should see each other again.”
Tovah stood there with her big, green eyes blinking a few times, as if forcing her mind to reset between what they’d done earlier and his current statement. That sensuous mouth opened a bit to draw in breath. Then her spine went straight, and she turned to go back into the bedroom. She came out with her shirt in her hand and stopped to pick up her phone.
“I will forward any information from the lawyers I contacted so you can deal with them directly.” No fight. No pleading. Nothing about what he’d said to her. She just picked up what she’d left behind and headed out.
So much haughty dignity. Her tone had been neutral, even business like. With her face slightly turned from him as she studied her phone screen, he couldn’t see her eyes. When she reached the door, she left without another word or backward glance. Nothing. She acted as if someone—he—had flipped a switch in her that turned her from warm and inviting to indifferent.
Immediate and complete regret seared him.
Wait.
Don’t go .
The words got stuck in his throat. He tried to open his mouth to speak, to call after her but his jaw stayed stubbornly locked.
Quiet, still and absolute as a grave, closed in on Zach. The hum of the refrigerator seemed so loud. The heater kicked on and warm air brushed over his shoulders from the vents. Where the sounds normally brought comfort, at the moment they only emphasized Tovah’s absence.
But shit, what was he supposed to do? No telling who it was that followed him—who had come to his home to stalk him. Hell, he didn’t even know if it was the same person who stole his keys. Nothing had shown up on his video doorbell. At least no one coming to his door. Watching video for people driving down this far into the cul-de-sac seemed a bit time consuming. However, he had an entire neighborhood of people who lived to stick their noses in other peoples’ business.
They usually knew when someone was out of place. Yeah, come tomorrow, after he spoke to a few lawyers, he needed to canvas his friends who lived close enough to his house to see it. Find out if any of them had seen someone in the area that didn’t belong.
Numb and feeling somewhat used, Tovah let herself back into the house and went to take a shower before going to bed.
Disappointment and anger swirled in her gut. Not at Zach, but at herself for allowing it to happen again. She’d promised herself after the first time their lovemaking had been treated with a cold shoulder that she wasn’t going to make herself available sexually for him. Seeing him sitting there looking lost and vulnerable had done something to her and she had no resistance when he’d taken her hand. No way to say no.
The fact it happened was totally on her. She could have declined the invitation. Weakness for what he offered had tripped her up.
She’d help him because she had promised she would. Because no matter that he’d told her he didn’t want to see her again, he didn’t deserve to have his career taken from him by a spiteful person.
Then again, who was to say that he’d been honest with her? He’d never told her where he was on Thanksgiving. Maybe he’d been with a student.
She’d hate to think he was such an accomplished liar. Just because he took such good care of her grandma didn’t mean he wasn’t whatever he’d been accused.
Not up to her to believe or disprove any of the allegations. If she was asked, then she’d intervene. Better to stay out of it for now. Let the lawyers do their jobs. She’d done her part in helping him.
And he’d turned me loose for it.
Face it, girl, you never had him.
At least not for more than a few hot encounters. Maybe he thought she’d overstepped a boundary by giving him the names of lawyers she knew. He could do with them what he wanted. If he chose not to use them, then so be it. She’d provided the information and that was really all she could do.
She closed her eyes and stepped under the warm spray, letting her body unwind and her mind calm. Yeah, that was probably going to take a long time. Was she going to be able to interact with him in the future? Act as if nothing happened between them? Living next door was going to be difficult, but she’d manage.
No, maybe not at first. But she’d try. For Rose. The last thing Tovah wanted was to make things awkward with her grandma’s favorite neighbor.
No telling how long she stayed there, trying to wash the stupidity from her mind and body. It might take a long time and all the hot water.
Reluctantly, she turned off the tap and dried off. Fresh pajamas were definitely in order. She wrapped a towel around her body and headed to the bedroom.
She closed the door with a quiet click, then turned on the light. And jumped.
Her heart beat up into her throat and her breath came fast. “Grandma! You scared me to death.”
Rose didn’t look as if she cared. “I don’t know if you’re coming in late or early.”
“Either. Both. It doesn’t matter.” She waved the comment away. “I need to get dressed and go to bed.”
Rose sat there stoic and somewhat sad. “He broke your heart, didn’t he?”
Emotion choked her, but she fought a valiant effort to keep the tears at bay.
“Do we have to have this discussion now?” It had to be three in the morning. “You should be in bed.”
“You’re one to talk.” Rose made a face. “I blame myself. I pushed. I’m sorry. I thought you’d be good together.”
Tovah went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. “If I learned anything from the Vincenzo experience, it was to not stay where I’m not wanted. I’ve given Zach exactly what he wants. To be left alone. You don’t need to apologize for that. It is what it is. He’s not the boyfriend type. He’s the hook up and get over it.”
“I’m still sorry. I shouldn’t have meddled. Now, I’ll owe Zach an apology, too.”
Tovah turned and looked at Rose. “I think it might be best if you carry on with him as always. Don’t change how you interact or associate.”
Rose was too perceptive by half. She raised a silver brow. “Did something else happen?”
“Yes. But I’m not sure if he’d want me to tell you.” Tovah considered the conversation she’d had earlier with Zach, and he hadn’t mentioned keeping it in confidence. At least parts of it. “He’s in trouble with the university admin for dating a student.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “You?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s me.” Tovah stepped into her pants under the towel, then turned to put her shirt on. “He was so careful to only take me out after my final was complete and I was no longer technically his student.”
“Well, that’s horrible. How did anyone find out?”
Tovah explained about running into Eloisa.
“Jealousy.” Rose nodded. “It’s ruined more than one relationship—not to mention career.”
“Yep.” What else was she supposed to say?
Suddenly, she was more tired than she ever remembered being. Even more so than when her world blew up before. At least then, she was energized to start fresh. Now, she felt as if she’d been knocked down when the rug was pulled out. No matter how much she’d prepared herself, she wasn’t ready for the whiplash of emotions handed to her in one night.
Rose levered herself up with a small grimace. She walked over to Tovah and opened her arms. “You’re a good girl. You deserve every good thing that comes your way. Don’t settle. Even for a gorgeous biker professor.”
There didn’t seem to be much chance of that.
“I suppose I can always look at this as that transition situation one is supposed to have after a breakup.” Though what she and Vincenzo had wasn’t exactly worthy of a rebound guy. Hell, he wasn’t even worthy of a revenge fuck. “I’ve proven to myself I am attractive to the opposite sex and able to let myself relax enough to have a little fun. That’s good enough for now.”
Rose sent her a pitying glance. “I don’t think it is.”