Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) (24 page)

“Dottie is a coworker?”

Grace nodded. “She didn’t know him. He just asked her to give me a message.”

He scowled at his plate. “I don’t like that. It means he’s been watching you at work if he recognized the people you were with.”

“Or he was lurking outside the bar, spying on me through the window. I was talking to Dottie before you called.”

“He didn’t approach you?”

She slowly chewed and swallowed before answering. “He said something to Dottie after he turned and saw me, then he headed toward the door. ‘Next time,’ he called across the room with a stupid smirk on his face. I was still gaping like a moron when the door shut behind him.”

Travis held tight to the edge of the counter. Grace wouldn’t appreciate it if he punched a hole in her wall. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “What did he say to your coworker?”

“Something about catching up with me being long overdue—eighteen years overdue.”

“That’s an odd number to choose. I don’t get it.”

“Neither do I. It sounds almost personal.”

“You’re sure you’ve never met this guy before?”

“I’d remember. His looks are pretty distinctive.” She started on a second piece of pizza, and some of her energy seemed to return. She straightened then frowned. “Eighteen years ago Mason Rogers would have been a little kid.”

“Eighteen years ago you were—”

“Sixteen. I thought about it while Jen and Phyllis guzzled cocktails. No matter which way you turn them, the pieces don’t fit.” Her brows pinched. “I didn’t have contact with any kids back then except the ones I used to babysit. Definitely no connection there. I…knew a family named Rogers, but they didn’t have a young child.”

“Then we won’t worry about the why. We’ll just make sure he doesn’t have another opportunity to get anywhere near you.”

She shuddered. “The guy freaks me out, the way he looks at me like he knows something I don’t.”

“The guy’s a freak. Period. I thought this was all about Sutton, but I’m beginning to wonder. Maybe he just has a thing for you.”

“Since I’m with you, and he can’t have me, he’ll shoot me or you or both of us to end our affair?” Grace broke off a piece of crust and tossed it to the dog. “Sounds like bad melodrama. If it was the movie-of-the-week, I wouldn’t watch it.”

“I could understand a fixation like that.” He popped the last bite of pizza into his mouth and wiped his hands on a napkin. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the first guy who’s been crazy about you.”

She turned to face him. “There’s crazy good and crazy bad. Did you run around shooting at people when I didn’t return your phone calls?”

“I have phenomenal self-control.”

Smiling, she slid off the barstool. “Why don’t you take Wylie out while I clean up in here? I’d offer to do it, but I’m not in the mood to waste my breath.”

He stood and laid his hands on her shoulders, massaging the tense muscles. Her skin was silky smooth beneath his fingers when he stroked her neck. “Smart. Very smart. Then what?”

She tipped her head downward, exposing the vulnerable nape, as a sigh rocked her. “Forget vegging on the couch. I’m ready for bed. It’s been one hell of a day.”

* * * *

In the other room, the door opened and shut softly. Toenails clicked on the floor followed by footsteps. Grace spit and rinsed her toothbrush. Flipping off the light, she walked into the bedroom.

Travis sat on the edge of the bed, untying his shoes. He glanced up and smiled. “Finished in there?”

She nodded, bent to pat Wylie’s head and then slid into the bed on the other side. Just like an old married couple. She would miss this when he went home. She’d miss him—so much she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stand it.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

The lamp on the nightstand cast a muted glow over the lavender-painted walls and deep purple comforter. Girly. She’d be willing to bet Travis’s bedroom was navy blue or tan. Something boring and masculine. She’d never lived with a man. Never had to compromise her own taste. Sad, when she thought about it. Maybe a little pathetic.

He left the bathroom wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. The hair on his chest was slightly damp, as if he’d run a wet cloth across it or dripped water washing his face. An evening scruff darkened his chin and cheeks. Nothing girly there. Just looking at him curled her toes.

Tonight, she wasn’t in the mood for sex. Tonight she wanted to talk.

He stepped over Wylie and climbed into bed then pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. One big hand stroked her hair.

“He really got to you, didn’t he?”

“Not just him—his comment.”

“Why?” His voice rumbled above her ear.

She closed her eyes. “It brought back memories both good and—ugly. I fell in love for the first time when I was sixteen, and a boy died because I wouldn’t sleep with him.”

The hand stilled, and the muscle beneath her cheek contracted.

“Maybe not literally, but that’s how I felt. I changed because of it. The girl I’d been, the one full of starry-eyed dreams, died that night, too.”

“Whatever happened made you a strong, self-reliant woman.” The hand resumed stroking. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“Talking never helped before, not with any of my many therapists, anyway. I discussed it with Lark and actually felt a burden lift. Helping her helped me. I
want
to tell you.” She let out a breath. “It was all so long ago, but hearing ‘
eighteen years overdue’
brought it back.”

“What happened when you were sixteen?”

“Nothing that hasn’t happened to a million other girls, but my little soap opera had a tragic ending. My boyfriend wanted to sleep with me after the prom. I said no, and he got pissed. The idiot went out drinking and smashed his car into a big rig on the freeway.” She paused as his heart beat steadily beneath her ear. “No one blamed me for his death—except me. I never told anyone but Rachel what happened earlier that night, but I’m sure he complained to his friends while he was partying with them.”

His arms tightened around her. “I don’t know what to say. Even at sixteen you should have been smart enough to know you weren’t at fault. He made a bad decision and paid the ultimate price.”

Her breath fluttered the hair on his chest. “Afterward, I didn’t want another boy to get hurt—or worse. I stopped saying no.”

“Oh, Grace.” He pulled her up and kissed her. “My heart aches for the girl you were all those years ago. Surely with counseling—”

“I didn’t want anyone to make me feel better. I wanted to wallow in my grief. It took years, but I finally realized I was worth more than that.” She blinked hard to force back tears. “I worked out my own form of therapy.”

“I’m not surprised.” He rocked her against him. “You’re such a fighter.”

“My five date rule. By date number five, I could be sure I was sleeping with a guy because I really wanted to, not because I felt I had to.”

“God.”

The pain in his voice twisted something deep inside her. “It works for me.”

“We didn’t wait five dates. I pushed you, and you were worried about the hit man—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “With you, I knew it was real, right from our first conversation on that poor excuse for a plane. I broke my rule because I wanted to, because you’re different.”

A long sigh shook him, and he pulled her so close every inch of their bodies touched. “We’re not going to make love tonight.”

“Why not?” Her arms wrapped around him and squeezed.

He couldn’t hide his need.

“Because what I feel for you isn’t just about sex. It’s so much more—you’re so much more. Sometimes holding you is enough.”

Tears dampened her lashes and slid down her cheeks. “Thank you.”

Travis clicked off his cell phone and dropped it on the counter. “I have a problem.”

Glancing up from her computer keyboard, Grace frowned. “I would have guessed from your totally pissed off tone during that call. What’s wrong?”

“Work. A client.” He let out a breath as frustration simmered in his gut. “I need to personally deal with the situation.”

She turned in her chair. “You can go home, you know. I’ll be fine.”

“No.” He regretted the sharp command the second it left his mouth.

Her lips set in a firm line. “That’s the second time you’ve told me no recently. Just to be clear—I don’t like it.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry, but I’m not going to put you at risk over a client. He may be a lucrative, important client, but you mean too damn much to me.”

“Gee, a compliment, and in such a friendly voice.”

“Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.” He’d need blood pressure medication at this rate. Pressing his fingers to his throbbing temples, he counted to ten. “Look, I said no about interviewing Casey because it’s an unnecessary risk.” When she opened her mouth, he held up his hand. “Doesn’t matter what either of us thinks because Fritz would never let you talk to him before the trial. I’m saying no to leaving you here alone because it’s beyond stupid. It’s practically criminal. After what happened yesterday, I can’t believe you’d even suggest it.”

“So I’m just supposed to sit around and watch you lose clients because you’re here instead of at home where you belong?”

“Until Rogers is arrested, where I belong is with you.” He jammed his hands in his pockets. “You could fly to Seattle with me. It’s Friday. I need the weekend and a couple of extra days to get caught up at work. Tell your editor you’d like some personal time off.”

She tapped her fingers on the desk. “I could take today off. I was going to go in late anyway, after I finish the piece I’m working on. I’ll have it done in another hour, and there isn’t anything else of critical importance I can’t put off for a few days. The weekend won’t be an issue.”

“Ask for Monday and Tuesday, too.”

Her gaze dropped, and she turned back to the keyboard. “I have an interview planned for Monday. I don’t think I can change it.”

“How about if I book the flight one way only? We’ll see how it goes once we’re in Seattle.”

“Works for me as long as I get this story finished first.”

He booted up his laptop and checked the flights. “There’s one with space at noon. If we leave here by ten-thirty….”

Wylie whined and put a paw on his knee. He’d promised the dog a walk.

“Crap.”

Her head swiveled. “What now?”

“The dog.”

Her eyes softened as her gaze dropped. “He’s awfully cute, begging for a…crap.”

“Exactly. What’re we going to do with him?”

Her brow furrowed. “Either Rachel or my mom and dad would take him. Maybe one of them would pick him up later today. My sister has a spare key.”

“Can you call her?”

“I hate to make her drive all the way into the city.”

“I’m pretty sure Rachel won’t mind under the circumstances.”

She picked up her cell phone. When she set it down a minute later, a grin stretched her lips. “Jed is here for some meeting this morning and is driving to Vine Haven afterward. I should be able to catch him before he leaves.”

“Jed?” The name sounded familiar.

“Kane’s brother.”

“The one you decided not to date because it would make holidays awkward if it didn’t work out?”

“Did I tell you that?”

He nodded. “Go ahead and call him.”

Humor brightened her eyes as she spoke on the phone, and her voice softened once or twice. By the time she hung up, Travis was in a pissy mood.

“Well?”

“He’ll be here in an hour. Maybe you could take Wylie out before he arrives?”

“As soon as I book the flights and pack. Finish your story. At the rate we’re going, we’ll barely make it to the airport on time.”

An hour later a brisk walk had burned off some of his ill-humor, and he arrived back at Grace’s apartment by a circuitous route just as an older model SUV pulled into a parking spot directly in front of the building. There was never a parking spot in front of the building.

The man who stepped from the vehicle had to be Jed. The resemblance to Kane was striking, though his brown hair was a shade or two lighter. In sharp contrast to his brother’s serious demeanor, an air of lighthearted good humor radiated from him. The guy had a face that probably made every woman he passed on the street take a second look, and Travis suspected six-pack abs were hidden beneath his T-shirt.

Pasting on a smile, he held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Travis.”

“Nice to meet you.” Jed glanced down. “Is this my passenger for the drive to Vine Haven?”

“Yeah, that’s Wylie.”

“No offense, but he’s one ugly dog.”

“Grace loves him.”

He stuck out a hand for the dog to sniff. “Grace has a soft heart under that take-no-prisoners exterior.”

“Come on up. Lucky you, getting a parking spot.”

Jed grimaced. “Karma tossing me a bone after kicking my ass to the curb.”

“Oh?”

“Long story.” He followed Travis up the stairs and waited while he unlocked the door.

Grace walked out of the bedroom pulling a wheeled, carry-on bag behind her. A smile lit her eyes as she dropped the handle and rushed forward to hug Jed. “You look great.”

He took a step back. “So do you, but then you always look like a million bucks.”

Travis cleared his throat, and Grace turned to touch his arm.

“You two met?”

“Unofficially.”

“That’s good enough for me. Damn, I wish we weren’t on such a tight schedule.” She turned back to the other man. “How’d your meeting go? Rachel mentioned you had an issue with the camp.”

“Not good. When I took over Granite Lake Retreat—God, ten years ago—it included the remainder of a ninety-nine year lease from the government. I figured I’d be able to renew it, but the Forest Service wants that land returned to a natural state since it’s in the middle of a wilderness area. All my pleading that the retreat has very little environmental impact fell on deaf ears.”

“I’m so sorry. What’re you going to do?”

“Finish up the summer before the land reverts back to the government. After that…” He shrugged.

Grace slipped an arm around his waist and squeezed. “I don’t know what to say. I know how much you love running that place.”