Chapter 29
Ethan traced the ray of morning light that broke through the curtains over Maggie’s cheek. She looked so peaceful when she slept.
She lay on her back, her face turned to the side and a hand beneath her cheek. She was almost angelic.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been watching her, but he couldn’t move. Not a single muscle. It was like time paused and wrapped around them, holding them exactly where they were.
He wanted to memorize her. The gentle curve of her lips. The way her skin glistened like porcelain.
Her head shifted, causing a lock of hair to fall over her forehead. He reached up and slipped the lock behind her ear. As he grazed her skin, it almost felt like electricity running into his body, but the good kind. The kind that shocked the body to life.
When she closed her eyes even tighter, he held his breath, waiting to meet her gaze.
Then he did. Her hazel-brown eyes seared into him, and yeah, it hit as hard as he knew it would.
“Hey.” Her breathy voice whispered over his skin.
“Morning, honey.”
A slow smile curved her lips. “How long have you been looking at me like that?”
“Since the day we met.”
Her smile softened. “If that’s the case, how did I ever question how you felt about me?”
“I ask myself the same thing every day.”
A bit of her smile slipped. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“That night. I didn’t let you explain. And I just ran and cut you off.”
He ran his thumb over her shoulder. “You were young and hurting. We do dumb things when we hurt. Jay has no excuse though.”
“I’m sorry about Jay too. Not that she’s leaving, because I don’t want to share you. But I’m sorry that you’ve lost a friend.”
“Everyone saw it but me. I feel like an idiot. She contributed to what happened that night.” He’d told Maggie everything. She’d been shocked but also said she was relieved. Because it explained everything.
Maggie cupped his cheek. “She was your friend, and you trusted her. There’s nothing wrong with trusting the people we care about.” Her thumb swiped his skin. “Thank you for choosing me.”
He could have laughed. “I will always choose you, Mags.”
“I choose you too.”
“Thank God.” He lowered his head and kissed her. Drowned in her. Completely lost himself.
She moaned, and that sound raced through him.
He climbed over her, about to throw the sheets aside and lose himself in her, when she pushed at his chest. “Ethan, we can’t.”
He shifted his kisses to her neck. “We can.”
She chuckled. “I’m going to Lilith’s house.”
“What?”
“She’s still asking me to come grab those things of mine, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Polly’s coming.”
His brows flickered. “We still haven’t found the person who broke into her house.”
“I know. It’s why I have my bodyguard best friend and her pepper spray.” She pressed a quick kiss to his lips before getting out of bed.
Twenty minutes later, Maggie had showered, grabbed a granola bar, and left with Polly. And damn the house felt quiet without her.
He made coffee before video calling his team from his phone in the kitchen. One by one, they all jumped on.
Ethan’s attention went to Joel. “You got eyes on her?”
“She’s still in her Airbnb.” Joel’s gaze went to the window of his car. “I’ve seen her move across the window, so I know she’s in there, but she hasn’t stepped out yet.”
“You really think she could be behind everything going on with Maggie?” Connor asked.
“I have no idea, because I have no idea who she is anymore. The woman I thought was my friend wouldn’t have kissed me and she wouldn’t have messed with my relationship over a decade ago.” His fingers tightened around his mug. He was still in so much fucking shock.
“She’s good with technology, so it would have been easy for her to use the photos on Maggie’s social media accounts to figure out her location,” Ryan said.
“And I’m sure she knows how to pick locks and gain access to houses like Maggie’s LA home,” Zac added.
“And she has the motive—hurt Maggie because of her connection to me. Because I never got over her.” Ethan’s muscles tensed. That would mean he was partially to blame. He was the link between Maggie and her stalker.
“What about the missing women and Priya Tan?” Joel asked. “We don’t think she has anything to do with them, do we?”
There were a few seconds of silence before Ryan broke it. “Her reason for coming was to help us with Priya. If Jay was really desperate to get here, she could have done that to create an excuse to come and stay a while.”
Every part of Ethan rebelled against the idea. Was it possible? Could Jay really have killed someone to have an excuse to come to Deep River?
“I checked with her commander,” Joel said. “Her story checks out. She took a leave to come here, and her leave date gave her time to take and kill Priya.”
Fuck.
A Facebook message from Maggie came through on his phone. It popped up at the top of the screen before disappearing, but the first line made him frown.
“I’ve got to go,” he said quickly to his team. “Joel, let me know if you find anything.”
He hung up and opened the message.
Maggie: I thought I could do this, but I can’t. Being back here has reminded me of Mom and the guilt of her death is suffocating. I’m hurting and it’s all too much. I’m sorry.
Shock made him go completely still.
Then he shook his head.
No. This message didn’t make sense. He’d seen Maggie less than thirty minutes ago, and she’d been fine. This message wasn’t from her. It couldn’t be.
But then…who was it from?
He hit Maggie’s phone number. It rang out. He tried again.
Dread filled his chest when she didn’t answer.
When a call from Joel came through, he answered immediately. “Joel—”
“I know who’s been messing with Maggie.”
Joel Dawson leaned back in the driver’s seat, the broad canopy of the maple tree covering most of his truck.
Not all of it. He could still see Jay’s Airbnb. She’d walked past the window a couple of times, and the rental car was parked out front, so he knew she was home.
His cell rang. He tensed when he saw who it was.
Mom.
And he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about. The same thing she always wanted to talk about.
He wasn’t in the fucking mood. Not right now. Hell, not ever.
He let the call go to voice mail. Immediately, it started again.
Jesus. The woman didn’t give up. You’d think after he’d spent over a decade in the military, she’d get the message that her plans for him weren’t going to eventuate.
Apparently not.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, turning back to the house. Why the hell he’d even gone back home for the last year, he had no fucking clue. Because he’d actually thought his parents had changed?
That sure as hell hadn’t happened. If anything, they were worse. That was what money and too much power did to people. He wanted as far away from all of that as possible.
He was looking at the house when a text came through. At first, he assumed it would be his mother again. It wasn’t. It was an unknown number.
He opened the text.
Unknown: Did you hit on my barista yesterday?
He frowned. Unless this was Basil, there was only one other person it could be.
He grinned before texting back.
Joel: Depends—do they make good coffee? Because I really can’t be held responsible for my actions when caffeine is involved.
Unknown: Stay away from my barista. She’s eighteen. In fact—stay away from everyone who works here.
Joel: I’m assuming “here” is Bloom.
Unknown: Confused because you hit on baristas at The Pancake Bar too? Have a thing for Basil?
Joel: I’d ask how you got my number, Polly, but I’m sure if you want something bad enough, it’s easy to get.
An eye roll emoji came back, making him chuckle.
He saved her number. He had a feeling he’d be using it again in the future.
He didn’t know what it was about that woman, but she made him laugh. And even though she put on a tough exterior, there were moments she probably thought no one saw, moments where flickers of vulnerability were on full display.
He saw them. He liked them. He liked everything about her. The fire, the strength, the fact that she stood so fiercely behind what she believed in.
He leaned back again, gaze going to the house.
That’s when the front door opened and Jay stepped out, holding pieces of paper in her hands.
He dipped lower in the driver’s seat.
He thought he’d done a good job at positioning the vehicle in a spot where he could see her but she wouldn’t easily notice him. But she headed directly toward the car.
Shit.
When she reached his truck, she leaned over his open window. “Watching me?”
“Just checking that you get back to Coronado safely.”
She lifted a brow. “So you’re not watching me to make sure I’m not the one harassing Maggie?”
Double shit. “Look, Jay, we’re just trying to cover all our bases.”
“I haven’t hurt or harassed Maggie. The only thing I did was mess with Ethan’s phone eleven years ago and make the mistake of falling in love with the guy.” For a second, emotion clogged her features, then she blinked and handed him the papers in her hand. “Here.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s what I’m good at—finding the information everyone else misses.”
He took the papers.
“I hope you get her,” Jay said, straightening. “Ethan deserves to be happy.”
Jay walked away, and Joel glanced down at the papers. His limbs turned to stone.
Fuck. He hit Ethan’s number on his phone.
“Joel—”
“I know who’s been messing with Maggie.”