Chapter 21
21
What in the hell was going on? Someone had been following her? Because of Zach? That was so unhinged.
The picture in question was taken from the inside of a vehicle, judging from the glare of the windshield and the hood of a car.
“Ok, I get that’s a problem, especially the one of me crossing the yards. Too bad it’s too dark to see the color of the vehicle. At least that way I might have been able to say whether I’ve seen it in the neighborhood.” A sudden and horrible headache made her head pound.
Tovah turned to Zach and narrowed her eyes. “Exactly how long have you been getting those suggestive texts? Before I came to stay here?”
Zach ran a hand around his mouth. “Yeah. They started last spring and trickled in a bit over the summer. Nothing really regular.”
A thought occurred to Tovah, and she turned to Bach. “Have you been able to find any other pictures of women he’s…been associated with? Maybe someone he’s taken to the Gus Stop?”
“One or two, but nothing like this. Not to where the individual did such a deep dive into the woman’s background.” Bach tapped on a few more keys and pics of Tovah nestled in on the bike behind Zach popped up. The scene was low-level sexy and punched her square in the gut with the memory.
They were leaving the Gus Stop after the incident with Eloisa.
“I wonder where they stood to take this picture? I don’t remember any of them having their phones out and snapping pictures.” Someone might have had their camera in their hand, but no flashes had gone off close to them.
Bach closed the computer and tucked it under his arm. “I’m sorry. I wanted you to be warned and on your guard. Look around you when you leave the house and keep a look out around the neighborhood. Stay vigilant.”
“Yes. All right. I will.” The news shook her to the core. Someone’s fascination with Zach had pulled her into the woman’s sights.
So, the question remained if this was an old hook up gone wrong, or someone he knew but hid their crush. It had to be a crush, right?
The door opened and Rose entered the house. “Hello, boys,” she said and limped over to give them both a kiss. Her sharp gaze ran right into Zach. “Surprised to see you here.”
Zach shot a quick look to Tovah. In response she made her expression as haughty as possible and lifted a shoulder.
Before anyone else could speak, Tovah guided the conversation away from the topic they were too close to opening. “How was therapy?”
“Same as always,” Rose grumbled. “I don’t see why I have to go at this point. I can do the exercises at home.”
“Just listen to your therapists and go as long as they tell you to.” Tovah rose and went into the kitchen. “Does anyone want anything to drink?”
Bach waved off the offer. “I have some work I need to do.”
Zach refused as well.
When they had gone and the door closed behind them, Tovah locked up and then turned to Rose. “I’ve picked up a stalker.”
It took her a minute then she rolled her eyes with great drama. “You mean Zach picked up one and you’re collateral damage.”
“You could call it that. Anyhow, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m not seeing him now, so they’ll lose interest in me.” Still, she felt bad for Zach, having his every movement watched by someone.
“Are you safe?” The question shocked Tovah.
“I guess. I haven’t gotten any calls or notes that suggest I’m in danger.” But they both knew that didn’t mean a damn thing. “Besides, they’ll soon see that Zach and I are not together. We won’t be seen in public. I won’t be crossing the yard to his house.
Rose took off in the direction of the bedroom.
“You going to take a nap?” Tovah called after her.
“Nope. Clean my gun.”
Tovah spent the rest of the evening and into the night baking as she’d planned. By the time she was finished, she could have started her own bakery and done quite well. The house smelled amazing, and she had plenty to send around the neighborhood.
If Zach got any, they’d have to come from Rose. Being in the room with him after he said they couldn’t see each other had made her decidedly uncomfortable. At least she hadn’t been the one to cross the yard and breach that distance. Not that he’d been here for a social call. More like to back up Bach while he told her what he’d found.
If she was honest with herself—it hurt a lot that he’d closed them down. The sex had been the best she’d ever had no two ways about it. However, he probably didn’t feel the same way about her part in it.
The man was much more experienced than her and he had no doubt been bored after the second night. No telling the psychology behind it all. He did what he did and now it was done.
With the cookies and brownies cooled, Tovah divided them up into containers and stuck bows on top of each one. She’d begin distributing them in the morning.
A text came through her phone.
Darla.
Girl, I will need to speak with you as soon as I can.
She was one of the attorneys on the list she’d put feelers out for Zach. Of course, he’d hire her since she was as gorgeous as she was smart.
The pettiness of her thoughts disgusted her.
She typed back that she was available.
The phone rang. “I need to know if you’re the woman Zach was seeing.”
“We were seeing each other, but I was never told the name of the complainant. I’m not even sure he was told or that it’s a matter of record. It might be one of those things that are anonymous.”
“It can be. Depends on if the complainant wants to remain so.”
“If I’m needed to give a statement supporting the facts, I will. I have no problem with that.”
“Good. Good. I’ll need you to do so.”
Darla had been one of her college roommates in her freshman year. Then Darla had pledged a sorority and was selected. Tovah, had opted to not follow in her mother’s footsteps and forswore the sorority that her mother and maternal grandmother had been active members of. Instead, she’d stayed in the dorms for the next two years, then moved to in an apartment for her final year.
Looking back, maybe that was her already separating from her family. However, Tovah and Darla had stayed in touch through the years, though no one would call them “besties.”
“Name the time and place and I’ll be happy to comply.”
“Are you still seeing each other?”
Tovah was taken aback. Was this part of the interview or for personal reasons? “No.”
She wasn’t going to give any of the finer details. ‘No’ was a complete sentence.
Zach spent the afternoon canvasing the neighborhood and speaking with all the people on the block. Most of them were retirees so were at home. The ones who weren’t, he would visit later.
As he walked away with varying descriptions of vehicles, he never once got one where the driver was clearly seen. Not even enough to tell if the person behind the wheel was a man or woman.
Frustrated beyond belief, Zach returned home to drown his emotions in a glass of Scotch. He should probably take time to update his resume. Even if the lawsuit was successful, he needed to distance himself from any student or employee who might be involved in his downfall.
Yeah, it made him look guilty as hell. However, he hadn’t done anything wrong and the evidence was on his side. He’d have to maintain that air of innocence…
…Right.
How in the hell was he supposed to look innocent when nothing about him even hinted at such a thing. The average person looking at him would condemn him out of hand. Not that he was worried about what the average person thought of him, but he did worry that he’d be out of a job.
Hell, he was good at what he did, and he loved it. Nothing better to him in the world than being able to have a small part in educating future generations. To have a part in shaping the careers of those wishing to go forth in research, medicine, or any number of other majors that required the biological sciences.
He took the bottle of Glenlivet from the liquor cabinet and poured a glass. The first sip went down smooth and warm. For this glass, he drank it neat. No use putting ice in the glass and watering it down.
All right, time to call his contacts at other universities and see if there were openings. Never hurt to put feelers out. Fact of the matter was until the one who had stirred all the shit was caught, he didn’t dare go back to campus. Not in a teaching capacity.
Oh, he’d take over Rodger’s job if only to throw up a middle finger at the asshole with a big fuck you .
The thought made him laugh, cracking the silence of his house. Maybe that’s what he’d go for. The throat, the jugular, anything to get Ol’ Rog taken down a peg or four. Serve him right for not following the rules he was supposed to operate under.
The part that pissed him off the most was that his own colleagues assumed that even with a PhD he was too stupid to understand they hadn’t followed procedure. That he’d roll over and allow them to steamroll him into doing something as stupid as resigning. Not in this life or any other. Not when so much was on the line.
In this business, reputation mean everything. He might have pushed the limits in acceptable dress and presentation, but his academic skills and teaching methods were solid.
Damn, he hated this.
And he shouldn’t have taken a drink because now he really wanted to go and ride. Maybe a trip to the Gus Stop later was in the cards. He needed his brothers right now and to let go for a night.
On the heels of that thought came the kick to the gut that Tovah wouldn’t be with him. That’s another strike against whoever chose to harass him.
What kind of man would he be if he allowed her to be harmed or messed with because he chose to ignore the possible dangers presented? Not one that he’d like to know.
The fact Tovah had jumped to the conclusion that he blamed her or that they were accusing her of anything—that hurt. Then he hadn’t exactly explained why he’d called it off. She hadn’t given him a chance.
Now, he just wanted to keep his head down and eyes forward looking to the next task that got him out of this fucktastic mess.
Then and only then would he head across that yard and tell Tovah what he meant by staying away. If she even cared. She might decide to move on. No way was a woman like Tovah going to stay off the dating market for long.
Besides, she wanted to learn how to live in the moment and expand her experiences.
Heat scored his insides as memories of her hot body underneath him filled his head. If she’d wanted experiences, she’d gotten them and then some. Not enough to suit him, though. He’d wanted to show her everything.
Maybe someday.
He rubbed a hand through his hair then took another drink.
You got a text from a Victoria.
Zach looked down at the message from Bach.
What does it say?
The next text was a forwarded message from his old phone.
Dr. Quinn. I just heard. I’m so sorry. What can I do to help?
Great. Someone had already talked, and the gossip had run around the campus already. The good news was that classes were out for the holidays and the semester was over. Victoria being a TA for the department had probably heard from one of the other professors, or the department head himself.
Fucker.
Rodger, not Victoria.
Tell her thank you but that’s all.
He wasn’t about to expound on his problems, though Victoria had read Eloisa’s final exam essay. Darla might need to speak with Victoria to back up their proof.
He’d text her and give her Victoria’s name and contact information.
He laid his head back on the sofa and woke up four hours later.
Damn, he needed that sleep. He rubbed his neck as he stood to go to the bathroom. If there were any massage parlors open, he’d go get one. God knew he needed one.
Along with a happy ending.
Oh, yeah, he needed to go to the Gus Stop and see if any of his regular hook ups were there.
And why didn’t that sound good?
He changed his clothes then went out into the garage.
Day had already shifted to night. Lights from decorations filled the yards. He threw his leg over the bike. He turned the key and the engine roared to life and he flew out of the garage.
Traffic was heavier than he would have expected for the time of evening. This close to the holidays people were probably still out shopping and getting their shit together. He didn’t envy them. Not the stress, not the headaches, and certainly not the forced celebrations with family members they hated.
A few familiar bikes were parked in front of the Gus Stop—including Gus’s. That was something that didn’t happen often lately.
Zach hung his helmet on back of the bike and headed inside. Lola tended bar and gave him a nod when he entered. He glanced around before sitting at the bar.
“What will you have?”
“Glenlivet.” Might as well stick to what he’d started with earlier in the evening. He wasn’t going to get pissed, but he wanted to smooth the rough edges.
“I’ve waited for you to come in.” The voice came from beside him. Low, female. Husky. Hairs on the back of his neck went up as he recognized who owned it. “I heard what happened.”
Zach was in a mind to ignore her until she said that. He turned around about the same time that Lola put the drink on the bar. To keep from answering he picked it up and kicked back a swallow.
Now why would Eloisa say something like that unless she was deflecting her part in it?
Since the lights in the Gus Stop were never what one would deem dim or even ambient, it was hard to get a read on her eyes. From what he could tell, she was sincere.
“I’m being called to answer charges of harassment.” She had lowered her voice so only he could hear.
The news surprised him, but he acted as if he didn’t hear her.
“I guess I deserve that.” She lifted a shoulder. “My parents, of course, have hired a lawyer and are threatening the university.” A nervous laugh. “Hell, I’m not even supposed to be talking to you until it gets straightened out. But for what it’s worth, I wanted to apologize.”
So much he wanted to say and ask. Did he do the stupid thing and try and get the answers out of her along with her apology, or did he back off and let his lawyers and Bach handle it.
Rough decision. He was used to handling his own shit. Had been for a very long time. Letting someone else do the work went against everything inside him.
He could at least give her one thing. “If you’re talking about what you wrote on your essay, I never mentioned that to admin. Not the notes or invites or any of it. If someone got you into trouble with the university, it didn’t come from me. You offered, I refused, there was no need to take it further.”
She frowned and tilted her head. “Well, if you didn’t, who did?”
That was a very good question.
And the answer chilled him to the bone.