Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Dane
Isee trust in her eyes. She trusts me. Not that I don’t want her to trust me, because I do.
It’s different seeing it in her eyes. It makes me want to continue showing her the real me, not the one-night stand guy.
The one I keep locked away for so many reasons, but with her, I’m myself. I don’t have to hide.
“Thank you.” She wraps her arms around my waist and holds my back, like I’m the one who needs to be held up. But it’s her I want to hold up.
“What time do you need to be back at the salon?” I hold her face and kiss her cheek.
She looks at her Apple Watch and says, “In about an hour.”
“Then let’s get ready and head out of here. We can stop at the coffeehouse first.” My hand slides to the back of her head, while the other one wraps around her—hand splayed, holding her up.
“Sounds like a good plan.”
We shower separately. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to resist her naked curves—her tits, that ass.
She hops in first, so I have time to grab my overnight bag from my car.
Yes, I have a bag in my car. When I brought Gram home last night, I stopped by my house to pack quickly.
I knew I wasn’t letting her out of my sight after talking with her ex, Jake.
I hear her shut off the water and wait patiently for her to come out of the bathroom before heading in.
She opens the door and strolls out in a towel.
Water glistens on her skin. Those long legs that were wrapped around me just hours ago.
And then it hit my nose, her watermelon shampoo.
Linger a few extra seconds, taking her in.
I walk by her and wipe my lips over hers.
Oh, fuck me!
I quickly walk into the bathroom, shut the door, and take a shower.
Once I finish getting dressed, I head downstairs to find Kendall. “You ready?”
She sits with her fiery red hair all done up and a beautiful emerald green dress that matches her eyes. “Yes, thank you.”
I slide my hand into hers and walk to the garage.
Opening the door, I gesture for her to sit, and I close it behind her.
I’m feeling high on life, and she’s the reason.
We drive with soft music playing. I reach over and take her hand into mine.
Glancing over, I catch her gaze for a few seconds before I have to turn back to the road.
We stop for coffee on the way, and the salon is up ahead.
I pull into the parking lot and park next to her car.
“You ready for today?”
“It feels like I’ve been waiting for this day for so long, and it’s finally here.
I know it’s going to be a huge success. I’m giddy inside, but playing it cool on the outside.
” She laughs, her head tipping back. The sparkle in her eyes, filled with anticipation for today, makes my heart squeeze, knowing I’m here with her today to celebrate this huge milestone and accomplishment.
I lean over, hold her face, and kiss her. “Today is going to be everything and more. I promise.”
We both hop out of the car and walk toward the back door. Out of the corner of my eye, I see what looks like a piece of paper under her windshield wiper. Kids must have been out early with the Main Street advertising.
I stalk over to her car to grab the advertisement off her windshield. When I grab it, I realize that this isn’t an advertisement. It’s a handwritten note. I don’t want Kendall to freak out, so I fold it up quickly and pocket it.
We walk together into the back of the salon hand in hand. She is full on prepping for the grand opening. I excuse myself to the bathroom. I’m not saying a word to her until after the grand opening. The last thing she needs to worry about is this asshole.
I take the paper out of my pocket, unfold it, and read it:
I know you still love me. When you looked at me today, I could feel how much. I wanted to come in, hug and kiss you, but you looked really busy. I don’t know why you sent that man after me because I didn’t do anything wrong.
How could you leave with him? You love me, not him. You want to marry me, not himI’m going to make you see I love you more than the guy you shacked up with.
I’ll see you tomorrow, my sweet love.
This guy has some brass balls writing this note, leaving it on Kendall’s car, and saying he’ll be back today. He has another fucking thing coming. I’ll bury him if he even thinks about showing his face today—or any other time, for that matter. He should be locked up, not harassing Kendall.
I storm out of the bathroom to find her. I can’t tell her about this note, not yet. But that means I need to be by her side or within a short distance of her every minute of the day, today. She might get suspicious, but I’ll play it off.
“What can I do to help during your event?” This is my in. I’m going to help.
“That’s kind of you, but you don’t have to do anything. We have a team on all this. I appreciate your offer.”
That backfired. New approach.
“Okay, then I’ll mill around and take you home after. Is that still the plan?”
She smiles shyly at me and says, “Yes, it is.”
I wonder if she’s thinking about what’s going to happen later as much as I am.
Not lingering on that thought too long, I casually walk over to the front door, walk out, and survey the surroundings.
There’s no sign of the fucker anywhere. What he doesn’t realize is that I know the chief of police in town, judges, prosecutors—he’ll be put away for a very long time.
Finding her back in the salon. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do while I’m here?”
“Do you mind going to the storage closet and grabbing a couple cases of bottled water? We can put them under the table.”
The grand opening went off without a hitch. Kendall has a massive smile on her face, and it makes me want to hold her, but she’s still cleaning up. It’s a little more effort tonight because we’re breaking down tables and moving things back to where they belong.
There was no sign of Jake all day, so it puts me on high alert as we clean up and get ready to leave. He might be lingering around, waiting for her to walk out back by herself. Yeah, not fucking happening.
I take a minute after helping to move tables and chairs, and I find a quiet corner to call my buddy, who owns a private security company.
“Joel, hey, it’s Dane. How are you?”
“Haven’t heard from you in a while. Doing well. What can I do for you?”
“Straight to the point. I have a woman who needs private security. Starting Monday morning. I don’t want her out of anyone’s sight.”
“Give me some more details.”
I sigh and say, “She has an ex that crawled out of the woodwork and is hanging around again. You know the deal; she has a restraining order in place. I’d like at least four people to start, and then you guys can evaluate the situation.
Joel, whatever it takes, just let me know.
This guy, Jake Cross, seems like a dipshit, but he’s not; he left her a note on her car last night.
I just want to make sure no one gets through.
Security at every entrance of her business and home. ”
He has me give him a list of her home and business addresses, the make and model of her car, and a few other places she frequents. Although I don’t have addresses for her friends, I know he’ll take care of that. Once I confirm all the details, I hang up and put my phone in my pocket.
I casually walk back to where everyone is.
Everything is cleaned up, and it’s time to head out.
The thought of pampering Kendall tonight has me itching to leave.
We’re taking her car with us tonight. What she doesn’t know is that I've already talked with two of the massage therapists, and they are meeting us at Kendall’s house for a couples massage.
We both could use it. Then I’m having dinner delivered so we don’t have to leave the house after spending a couple of hours relaxing.
The entire night is planned to perfection—exactly what she asked for and a little extra.
Walking up to Kendall, I drag my hand down her arm. I feel her shiver under my touch. “Ready to go? I’ll follow you home.”
“Yup, just need to lock up,” she says, hesitating to leave my touch, but finally tears herself away. She’s at the door locking up. I watch her, unable to look away.
She is staring out the door and calls over her shoulder, “Dane, can you come here?”
With the tone of her voice, I run to her, immediately looking for any signs of that asshole. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Over by the bench, across the street.” My eyes track across the street and, sure as shit, there’s that motherfucker.
I keep my cool and say, “Let’s head out the back door.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her through the salon as she shuts off the lights and sets the alarm at the back door. We walk out, and she locks up the back door.
I’m unsettled about her driving herself, but I know if I make her get into my car now, after already saying I’d follow her, she’ll know I’m being extra cautious.
So, I decide the best way to take care of this is head-on. “Do you want to ride with me again?”
With one eyebrow raised, I see the wheels turning and a hint of hesitation. “I’ll be okay. I don’t want to leave my car here again tonight, knowing he’s lingering around here.”
She’s right. I’m going to be tailing her the entire way, and I’ll be on the lookout for anyone following us. “I’ll follow you. Call me if there’s anything unusual about your car as you drive home or when you pull into your driveway. Okay?” My tone is serious. I try to temper it down a few notches.
I don’t need Kendall on edge like this. Tonight is supposed to be our night to relax, and with this asshole around, he’s interrupting our perfect night.
“I can do that. Thank you, Dane.” She steps closer to me and presses a kiss to my lips while taking her fingertips along my beard. Her touch is welcome and wanted.
We both get into our cars and drive toward her house. In the rear-view mirror, I notice a small black SUV trailing just far enough behind. I’m watching it like a hawk as I follow her.
Contemplating what to do next. I ask my car to call one of the guys I know on the police force to see if we can have an officer pull this dickhead over.
I’m in luck; he’s on duty and only a minute away.
I keep looking in my rearview mirror and watching Kendall in front of me.
My hands tighten around the steering wheel; my knuckles turning white. I loosen my grip only slightly.
After what feels like an hour but really was a few minutes, I see blue lights flashing, and the SUV is being pulled over.
The guy I know will give me an update once he figures out who was following us.
I bet it was Jake, and now he’s on the force's radar.
Not a place anyone wants to be with a restraining order against him, but he brought it on himself.
It doesn’t take us long, and we are pulling into Kendall’s garage.
We both get out of our cars, and she says, “What was that all about? I saw the police pull over the SUV that was following us.”
“Let’s just say I called in a favor.” And right on cue, my phone rings. “I’m going to take this inside. You coming?”
“I mean, if that’s what you want to do,” she says as she winks and smirks at me. She is going to do me in, and I don’t mind one bit.
“Hey, Craig,” I say to the police officer I called earlier.
“Jake Cross. He said he was in town visiting family. I continued to question him. He seemed like a solid guy at first, but he became agitated when I kept asking questions. I asked him how long he was in town for, and that seemed to bring out the beast in him. Started screaming like a lunatic. I asked him to calm down, and he went to grab something from his glove box. Long story short, we arrested him for illegal possession of a firearm without a license to carry. Then he attempted to punch me and run, but we have him in custody.”
“What the hell!”
“Yeah, we’re transporting him in the morning. I’m glad you called. This guy is unstable.”
The way Kendall spoke about him, I got that from her. Even when I spoke to him, he seemed fine at first, and then the facade slipped. This is why I’m not leaving her side, and I’m lining up private security.
“Craig, thank you. Keep me posted with any information. I’ll do some digging around to see who his judge will be.”
“You bet. I’ll be in touch.”
I hang up, and when I turn around, Kendall is firing darts from her eyes, and her arms are folded across her chest. She doesn’t look happy.
Walking toward her, I raise my hand to put my arm around her, and she moves away.
“What was that all about?” she demands, standing firm, her tone serious. I actually like it when she’s feisty.
“You haven’t given me a chance to tell you what happened on the ride here.”
“Okay, well, we’re here, so start talking.”
I fill her in on what Craig told me. Slowly, her arms fall to her side, and her face goes from angry to shocked.
She gasps and then says, “What would have happened if you hadn’t been following me? He would have found a way to get to me. How do we keep him away?” Tears well up in her eyes, but she holds them back.
The overwhelming need to console her and never let anyone hurt her overtakes me.
My blood is boiling. I should have taken care of him when I had the chance.
One step and I’m grabbing her tightly in my arms, rubbing her head and back.
She rests her head on my chest. I’m going to make him pay for making her feel this way.