Chapter 2
SKYLER
“It’s not happening,” I tell Logan.
He just smiles at me, and that smile grates on every nerve I have. I’m wiping down my kitchen counter, letting my anger fuel me. I’m scrubbing, huffing, and puffing. There’s no way I can give Logan what he wants.
He just told me that my other brother, Miller, had hired Logan’s company to serve security detail for me. I point a thumb to my chest. “I don’t need security. I’ve called the local police department. They will handle it.”
“Sky bug…”
The nickname from my childhood has me drawing up. I raise my hand. “No, you’re not going to call me that. I’m a grown-ass woman, Logan, and I can make my own decisions.”
He leans a hip against the island counter. “Sis, I don’t think you understand. He’s making threats on all your profiles. He’s hinting that he knows where you live. It’s better to just nip this in the bud.”
I stare back at him and debate whether I should tell him that flowers were delivered to my house just yesterday.
The card wasn’t signed, but I have a feeling it’s from the man that has been tormenting me online.
I don’t want to appear weak, but more than that, I don’t want my big brother to worry.
He’s supposed to be going on a mission out of the country today.
“Bub, don’t worry about me. You need to be focusing on your mission. ”
He clasps his hands together in front of him and stares at me wide-eyed. “Listen, I will be able to focus on my work if I know you’re safe. If you’re here alone, I’ll worry the whole time.”
I lift my hand and shake my finger at him. “Oh no, you can’t do that, Lo. You can’t guilt me into doing what you want.”
“Sky… please. I don’t ask much of you, but I’m asking for this. If the asshole isn’t caught by the time I get back, I’ll take over your protection detail.”
I tilt my head and look up at him. I know I’m not going to win this. Logan is just one of five brothers, and if I tell him no, the other four will be here before the afternoon is over. “I’m not saying yes, but what exactly would it entail?”
He heaves himself up onto my kitchen counter, and I lean against the counter across from him. He leans his elbows on his knees. “Well, let’s see. We will have someone move in—”
I interrupt him and point at the ground. “Move in here? Into my house?”
He rolls his head and laughs. “Yes, that’s how it works, Sky.
He would move in here. He would have full access to your phone, emails, social media accounts.
Hopefully, this will just last a few days.
Or a few weeks max. We find the stalker, neutralize him, and you can go back to your life of, well, doing whatever you do. ”
And there it is. Logan and the others don’t understand my work. They don’t realize how much I love baking and that I love sharing it with my audience. They think I’m just playing around. They have no idea how much time goes into it. And they don’t have a clue that I make a helluva living doing it.
“Doing whatever I do?” I repeat.
He jumps off the counter. “Don’t be like that. Look, I have to leave soon. Can you just do this… for me?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Who is it? Who drew the short straw and has to come and protect me?”
“We didn’t draw names or anything like that. Zach took the—”
“Zach!” I screech. I push off the counter and pace across the kitchen. “Nope. No way. It’s not happening. Forget it.”
“Sky—”
I hold both hands up, shaking my head, backing away from my brother.
He’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to let Zach Campbell anywhere near me.
The man makes me crazy. I haven’t seen him in person in years, but the majority of my childhood I spent crushing on him.
When I became a teenager, it was way more than a crush.
I was obsessed. I thought about him all the time, searching for things about him on social media or online.
It wasn’t until I left Whiskey Run and went to culinary school that I was finally able to let go of it. There’s no way he can move in here.
“Forget it, Logan. It’s not happening.”
I no sooner get the words out and my doorbell rings.
Logan looks at me with guilt on his face. “Sis…”
I feel as if my eyes are about to pop out of my head. “Oh my God, is that him? Is he here? What’s he even doing here, Logan? I thought he was working for Walker. I thought he was a silent partner or something.”
He stands to his full height and puts his hands in his front pockets. “He completed his last mission for Walker. He’s my partner with Stronghold Security, and you’re our first case.”
“Case? I’m not a case,” I tell him.
He comes toward me and puts an arm around my shoulders as the doorbell rings again. “Sis, please. Just do this for me. I can’t leave knowing you are in trouble. Zach is my best friend, and he will protect you.”
I pause, and Logan walks with me to the front of the house.
All I can do is stare at the door and think that Zach Campbell is on the other side.
I want to throw up. Heck, I may just pass out.
I come to a halt right before we get to the door.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. Please, Logan, I’m begging you. There has to be another option.”
He lifts his chin and lets out a breath.
“Sis, I never tell you what my missions are. I don’t ever want you to worry, but I’m also not allowed to tell you all the details.
” He shakes his head. “What I can tell you is this is a big one. It’s dangerous, and it’s out of the country.
I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I do know that it’s going to help me if I know Zach is here with you. ”
And just like that, I know I have to go along with this.
I don’t want to because it’s going to be really embarrassing.
It’s like I get around the man and make a fool of myself.
I want to stomp my feet and refuse to do this, but I know I can’t.
I clench my eyes shut, and when I open them, there’s no hiding the worry from my voice.
“I love you, Logan Brody. I’ll go along with this even though I don’t think it’s necessary, but I need you to promise me that you’ll come home. ”
He hugs me tightly. “I promise, sis.”
As soon as he pulls away, he opens the door. I can’t stand here. I’m not ready to face Zach Campbell. As my brother greets Zach, I’m gone, almost sprinting through my house back to the kitchen. I need to bake. That always makes me feel better.