The brilliance of my plan was in question. Once lunch started to wind up, once I knew I’d have to make that phone call, once I knew I’d be facing my past and all the consequences that came with it, I started to get nervous.
“Are you okay?” Jake asked, eyeing my mostly untouched meal.
“Oh.” I blinked. “Sorry. Not very hungry, I guess.”
We sat at a cozy round table toward the back of the restaurant. Every time the front door opened, my eyes flew to the entrance. But it was always just another customer looking to be seated. I didn’t know what I expected. Mark certainly wasn’t going to walk right into the restaurant in front of Jake and a dozen other people. Or would he?
That way I couldn’t make a scene. That way I couldn’t get up and run out or call for help.
“Finn said you’ve been going through a difficult time,” Jake said.
I shrugged, trying to be nonchalant even though my stomach tensed. What else had Finn told him?
“Nothing specific,” Jake said as if reading my mind. He set his hand on mine. “I asked him about your ex and he seemed pretty…” Jake gave an apologetic shrug. “He was pissed. I get the feeling you and your ex didn’t split on good terms.”
“No,” I murmured, picking at my chicken.
“I know all about the dangers of exes.”
I glanced up. He was smiling but I could still hear the slight bitterness in his tone. “I know. Finn told me—and he was specific. Sorry if that bothers you.”
“No. It’s not a secret. She tried to drag my name—and the family’s name—through the mud. And did a pretty good job of it until we dug up some stuff on her past. It wasn’t pretty but it’s over. I hope your situation with your ex is over, too.”
I swallowed, unable to answer. It was far from over.
Jake squeezed my hand. “What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. Really.”
“You’re a terrible liar.” Jake laughed. “And always were. I won’t push you. But I’ll be around for a few weeks. Let me know if you need to talk. Better yet, let me know if you need an escape.”
“An escape?”
“Sure. The cabin in Colorado. Great fishing this time of year.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Because you know how much I love fishing.”
“Hiking, relaxing, wine drinking—whatever you’d prefer.”
A trip to the cabin sounded like heaven, even if it meant fishing. I’d been there a handful of times with Finn when we were in college and it always did wonders for melting stress.
Jake straightened, grabbing the check off the edge of the table. “Let me know.”
I reached for the check, but he held it from my grasp. “Not this time.”
“Thank you.”
“Sure.”
“No, really, Jake. I appreciate lunch and the talk and just…It’s nice to have you here.”
“It’s nice to be here.” He held my gaze when he saw there was more. “What else?”
I glanced to the door again. “Could you please tell Finn I’m sorry?”
“Sorry?”
“Yes. Just that. He’ll know what I mean.”
Jake’s inquisitive eyes narrowed on mine, a darker shade of blue than Finn’s. There were so many questions in them but they all went unasked. “No problem.”
Checking the time on my watch, I said, “I should get going.”
He stood as well. “I’ll walk out with you.”
Bad idea. I still needed to make my phone call. And Dustin was outside, keeping watch. I didn’t want Jake to know I had a bodyguard—that something serious was going on. I wasn’t ready for more questions, especially not when I had to lie about the answers.
“Actually,” I hedged, glancing to the back of the restaurant where the bathrooms were, “I need to make a phone call first.”
He angled his head, just like Finn did sometimes. “On the restaurant phone?”
“I forgot mine,” I blurted. A lie. No matter what, I still ended up lying.
“Here.” Jake pulled out his cell phone and passed it over. “Use mine.”
I opened my mouth to protest but I couldn’t think of another lie. Besides, it should be safe. It was my phone, or any other in Oasis I should be worried about.
“It’s sort of private.” I smiled at him and gestured to the back of the restaurant again. “Do you mind?”
He shook his head. “Take your time.”
Curtis was expecting my call any minute now. I dug in my purse for his card, my fingers brushing past my own phone before I found it in the side pouch. My heartbeat picked up. What if this was a terrible idea? What if it didn’t work out or Mark found out?
My hands were shaking by the time I got to the tiny hallway. I passed the restrooms and walked to the end, where there was a door for an emergency exit. A glowing sign above the door buzzed incessantly.
I forced myself to dial the number and pressed Send.
The phone only rang once before I heard his voice. “This is Powell.”
There was a long pause before I said, “Curtis…it’s me.”
“I’m glad you called.”
He didn’t sound glad, he sounded serious, like he was ready to get down to business. I guess he had been waiting for me to tell the truth. He already knew I’d been lying since the day I broke it off with Finn.
“Are you…” My voice lowered to a whisper. “Alone?”
Someone appeared around the corner, startling me. I gave a nervous smile to the man who walked into the bathroom and turned the other direction.
Curtis answered immediately. “Yes. I promise you, it’s safe to talk.”
“It’s…I would rather talk in person.”
“Completely understandable. Are you safe right now?”
“Wh—what?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder, afraid any minute Mark would walk into the restaurant and find me here.
“I mean, should I come there or can you wait until we’re able to set up a safe location?”
“Oh—no, I’m fine. But I’d rather not put this off for too long.” In case I changed my mind. In case Mark did something I wasn’t expecting. “I didn’t—I couldn’t tell you what’s going on because he’d know.”
Curtis was careful with his words. “We need to talk. It sounds like you know a lot more than you’ve told me.”
“I do. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know what else to do.”
“No need to apologize. Will tomorrow after work be all right with you?”
“I…” The man left the bathroom, giving me a curious look as he walked away. I hesitated long enough Curtis started talking again.
“We’ll be discreet. I’ll have Dustin pick you up at your office. We’ll meet somewhere outside Oasis.”
I swallowed down sudden fear. “Dustin?”
“I trust him, Charlotte.”
Nodding to myself, I said, “Okay. Just—please don’t tell anyone else. It’s…” Looking over my shoulder again, I bit my lip. “It’s not just Mark. He’s got help.”
“It’ll be safe. No one will know.”
“Safe,” I echoed, trying to believe him. “Okay.”
“Good. Call me if you need me. And stay close to Dustin.”
With a belated nod, mostly to assure myself I’d done the right thing, I ended the call. Passing the entrance to the restroom, I turned the corner and promptly ran into someone.
I was wrapped in his scent in an instant, and when my mouth opened, he put a hand over it gently.
“Don’t say anything,” Finn suggested. My eyes widened, then flicked to the rest of the restaurant. “No one followed me. I made sure of it.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him around the corner, my nerves dancing with a mixture of fear and relief that he was here. Guiding him to the end of the hallway, I slumped against the wall. “You shouldn’t be here.”
A muscle worked in his jaw. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “No cameras. No one watching us. I want the truth.”
“What?” I blinked, trying to find my bearings. I’d just gotten used to the idea of telling Curtis. I couldn’t deal with Finn right now, too. “I already told you—”
“I heard you, and I still think it’s bullshit. You don’t go from loving someone one day to breaking up with them the next. That’s not you, Charlotte.”
Panic climbed up my throat. He was right but it wasn’t the time to be discussing this. Curtis could be discreet and impartial, but Finn let his emotions get involved. If he found out what Mark had done, he wouldn’t deal with this in a rational way.
But I couldn’t keep lying to him either.
“It’s complicated,” I whispered.
I jumped when another person appeared at the corner and then slumped again when she walked into the bathroom.
“You’re scared,” Finn said.
I clenched my hand on the strap of my purse. “Finn.”
“You’re doing what you think is best.”
I was. Why couldn’t he understand how much it would help if he would play along? Just for another day or two?
Then he softened even further, his voice sinking to a whisper. “You’re trying to protect me.”
His thumb brushed my cheekbone and I melted with his touch. I couldn’t stand against this. I couldn’t do anything but sink into his gaze. “Yes.”
His eyes flashed with surprise just briefly, like he hadn’t expected me to give in. His arms came around me with frightening strength.
I let myself cling to him, burying my face in his jacket and breathing in deep.
“Let me in,” Finn murmured, his lips brushing my hair.
I was so close. So close to breaking down and letting him share the burden. But that was what had gotten me into this mess in the first place.
“Finn,” I said, the word coming out like a sob.
“I love you.”
He knew just what to say and when to say it. The perfect thing to break through my defenses.
I straightened. Not yet. Not until I talked to Curtis. I brushed hair from my cheek and said, “I need to get back.”
“Charlotte,” he growled, propping his hand on the wall to stop me from turning.
“I really do.”
“That’s not what I’m frustrated about. Damn it. Charlotte, what do I need to do?”
“Trust me,” I said.
“I am.”
“Understand.”
“I do.” He lifted his other arm, bracketing me in against the wall. “But you’ve got to give me something here.” When I frowned, he let out a low laugh. “I mean some assurance, though I’d like more…” His eyes dipped to my lips. “Assurance. Information. Something.”
“One more day,” I said. “Give me that. Keep your space at work and in the rest of the building.”
“The cameras. I know. Isn’t that what I’ve been doing? Giving you space even though I don’t want to? Even though I want to yell at you to stop all this because I know you’re lying to me? You don’t want this either.”
“It’s necessary,” I began, but he gritted his teeth and I backed down. “I’m sorry.”
His eyes held mine, still waiting.
And then I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to reassure him but there weren’t words, so I lifted my lips, catching him just under the jaw where I always used to kiss him. His skin was warm, with a slight prickle and smelled like the woods, like the cabin Jake had talked about.
Somewhere dark and dangerous, somewhere I wanted to be right now with my body tangled up in Finn’s.
He groaned and pressed closer, pinning me to the wall. Every inch of him was hard. Toned. It would only take one word to be back in his arms again.
Not even a word. Just a look. My eyes locked on his.
“No going back now,” he whispered.
Before I had the chance to ask what he meant, his lips were on mine. My mouth parted in a quiet gasp and his tongue slid inside. One of his hands was in my hair and the other gripped my hip, holding me against him possessively.
My heart thundered in my chest, out of both longing and protest.
“Finn,” I managed, my mouth breaking free from his. “It’s not—”
“I can’t do this without you,” he said, lips tracing my jaw. “I’m not giving up.”
“One day,” I gasped. “Just give me one more day.”
He reached up, hand gripping my chin gently. “You promise?”
“You’re asking a lot of me,” I said, my voice choked.
“I feel the same. I need your word.”
Heart still hammering against my ribs, I nodded. “Okay.”
He dipped his head, forehead resting against mine. His breath tickled my lips. “I have…a million things I need to say to you.”
“One day,” I reminded him.
He straightened, hands falling away. It said a lot that I wanted them back on me. Now. He’d coerced me into a promise I was only too willing to give. I needed Finn as much as he seemed to need me.
“It’s too long,” Finn said.
That brought a small smile to my lips. “I know exactly what you mean.”
One day felt like an eternity. It had already been a week since I’d broken up with him. That might not have been so bad if I hadn’t had to see him every day at work. Or if he’d taken the break-up how he was supposed to. If he’d believed it was real. Instead, it had been torture.
I’ll make it up to you, I wanted to tell him. I promise I won’t do this again.
But right now wasn’t the time to make that promise.
Finn’s hands twitched like he was going to reach for me again. I shook my head.
“Let me drive you back,” he said.
“Dustin is waiting for me. If I’m not out soon, he’s probably going to come in here.”
“I saw him on the way in. He knows we’re together.”
I opened my mouth, almost ready to agree. But no. We had to stick to the plan. If I could work with Curtis and figure out how to deal with John, that would at least solve the problem of the cameras. It was a step—and hopefully one in the right direction.
“It’s better if I go with Dustin.” I eased around Finn, putting some space between us. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Fuck.” He released a slow breath and nodded. “Tomorrow.”
I handed him Jake’s phone. “You can give this back to your brother. I’m assuming he’s the one who told you where we were having lunch.”
Finn had the decency to look contrite. “I didn’t tell him anything else, though. No details.”
I nodded. “I know. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Back at Oasis, Dustin accompanied me up the elevator to my apartment. I almost told him he didn’t have to but we’d done this before. He was doing his job, and I needed to get used to him being there. If Curtis trusted him, I should, too. I wanted to feel safe.
When we saw movement farther down the hall, Dustin held out his arm, forcing me to stop. His hand moved to the weapon on his belt. I instinctively eased back, taking steps toward the elevator. But then the figure waved and Dustin’s shoulders relaxed.
“John,” Dustin said.
I recognized him now. The awkwardness of his walk and his greeting, like he wasn’t used to social situations. The uneven part of his hair and the sad looking brown jacket he wore that seemed to be the dressiest piece of clothing he owned.
“Some of the cameras were out,” John said. “Thought I’d come take a look.”
I forced a tight smile, my mind already on alert. Something was off. It didn’t make sense for John to be up here. Some of the cameras had been disabled at Finn’s request and Curtis knew that. And if Curtis knew that, so did John because he was in charge of the cameras.
Dustin scanned the hallway and then gestured to my door. “I’m going to do a sweep of the floor. I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
“I can wait with you,” John volunteered before I could say anything.
“It’s not necessary,” I murmured.
John’s smile encompassed Dustin when he said, “It’s no trouble.”
My hand shook when I opened the door. I didn’t want John anywhere near me or my apartment but how was I supposed to get him to leave without being suspicious? One day. That’s all I’d needed. And now he was here, following me into my apartment.
I wanted to leave the door open but John closed it behind him with a final click.
“Nice place,” he said, though his gaze was on me.
“I like it.”
Play along. Pretend you’re happy he’s here. Don’t let him suspect anything.
But inside, I shivered. I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time he’d seen my apartment from the inside.
I pulled my phone out of my purse, clutching it like a lifeline. His eyes dipped to my hands and then returned to my face. He didn’t say anything but I could see the subtle shift in his posture.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked, walking to the kitchen. Anything to break free of his gaze.
“Water would be good.”
I was all too aware of him following along behind me. His slow, even breathing. His light footsteps. Close enough it made the hair on my neck stand up.
When I reached the kitchen, my heart stopped. On the edge of the counter was a yellow rose lying on its side. It was wrapped in delicate tissue paper like a gift. There was a note beside it.
“What’s wrong?” John asked.
He did this. It had to be him. Which meant he was in my apartment before were came up. That’s what he’d been doing. But why a yellow rose? Wasn’t he supposed to be delivering it for Mark? Mark had always given me red roses.
My throat dried, making it hard for me to answer. I pointed. “The rose. Where did it come from?”
He gave me a blank look and walked to the counter.
“Don’t touch it,” I managed.
“Why?”
“It’s—it’s evidence.”
His eyes landed on my face. Confusion melted away and he smiled. “Maybe it’s from an admirer.”
My heart climbed into my throat. I squeezed my phone so tightly I was surprised it didn’t break. I shouldn’t have let John in my apartment. I should have gone with Dustin. I should have done a million things differently. But now I was stuck in the house with him, trying to pretend like I had no idea he’d been in my place.
The knock at the door made John step back.
I gave a nervous laugh, trying as hard as I could to stay calm. “That’s probably Dustin.”
Without looking back, I walked as fast I’d let myself without seeming suspicious and opened the door. Dustin stood there, hands on his hips.
“It looks clear.”
“Good. Good,” I said again, holding the door open to invite him in. John joined us with his easy smile, and I blurted, “My neighbor—I’m supposed to meet her at her house.”
It took a moment but John picked up on the unsaid message. “I’ll get out of your hair, then.”
Forcing another smile, I returned his wave as he stepped out. But my smile wobbled when Dustin’s eyes narrowed on my face.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
No. There was a rose in my kitchen, one I was sure came from John. Even if it was a message from Mark, it had been delivered by John.
“I’m…tired,” I said, choosing not to say anything about the note and the flower. “It’s been a long day.”
He nodded in understanding.
I’d tell Curtis tomorrow. I’d tell him everything. The notes, the flowers, the cameras, John’s visit tonight and Mark’s phone calls. I’d tell him I’d lied to Finn and I’d tell Finn the truth, too.
I was tired of being terrified in my own apartment.