“I like Roxy a lot, but our relationship is very young, Mom. I’m happy to just let it happen right now.”

She pointed at him. “You’d better protect that woman. Whoever this nut is that’s after her, you find him and put him in jail.”

“I’m working on it. And I will. Promise.”

“Don’t leave her side today.”

He wouldn’t actually be at Roxy’s side, but he wasn’t going to explain the details of the operation to her. “I won’t, Mom.”

“Good.” She put the towel down and sighed. “I suppose I should get ready to go. The car is packed?”

“Except for your toiletry case, your purse and you, yes.”

She pushed off the counter and headed for the guest room. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

“Mom.” He rolled his eyes. There was no winning this conversation.

A knock at the door claimed his attention. Roxy waved from the other side of the sidelight.

He let her in, barely waiting until she’d crossed the threshold to kiss her again.

“What was that for?”

“You said to kiss you hello from now on. So I am.”

She grinned. “You’re a quick study. I like that.” She hefted a dark red tote bag with her name and logo—a sly smile with fangs—printed on the side. “I brought the goods in one of my signature book bags.”

“My mother’s going to love that.”

“What am I going to love?” Carmen walked out of the hall, fastening a bracelet around her wrist. “Roxy, hi! I didn’t think I’d see you before I left. Alex told me all about your troubles. I’m so sorry. But he’ll take care of it, you’ll see.”

“I have no doubt he will.” She lifted the bag again. “I brought you a little gift since you can’t make the signing today.”

Carmen clapped her hands. “What have you done?”

“Just the first five books in the series, all signed to you, plus a bunch of swag for you and your book club.”

More hand clapping ensued, this time accompanied by shrieks of happiness and a few exclamations in Spanish. Then Carmen hugged Roxy. “Thank you. You are a dear girl. I’m so glad someone so good and kind has come into my son’s life. It’s about time.”

Roxy laughed. “Good thing I bought the house next to him, huh?”

“It was fate,” Carmen said, nodding. “You two are meant to be.”

Roxy glanced at him. “I guess time will tell.”

“That’s what I told her.” Alex took the tote bag. “I’ll go put this in the car with the rest of your stuff. Roxy needs to get ready for her signing, so why don’t you say goodbye and we can let her get back to her day. Plus, you need to get on the road, Mom. It’s a long drive. I don’t want you driving after dark.”

Carmen rolled her eyes. “My son, the worrier. Fine, I’m saying goodbye and getting the rest of my things. Thank you again, Roxy.” She hugged Roxy. “I’ll see you soon.”

“You’re welcome.” Roxy hugged her back, grateful for the woman’s efforts to bring her and Alex back together. “Have a safe trip home.”

“I will.”

Carmen went off down the hall again, and Roxy took a few steps toward the door. “Alex, I’ll see you in a bit.”

He nodded. “Thanks again. That was really sweet of you. I’ll be the favorite son for a long time now.”

Roxy winked at him. “And if you don’t want to lose that status, you’d better keep me happy.”

He laughed. “I’m aware.”

She left, smiling, and a few minutes later, he had his mother in the car and on the road. It was good to have his house to himself again. He stretched. Today was going to be intense. Roxy might not think her stalker was going to show, but Alex did. He needed to be sharp and focused. The crowd at the bookstore and in town would only make things more difficult.

With that in mind, he started to change into shorts and a T-shirt for a run to clear his head and use up some of the pre-game energy coursing through him. Then he stopped. What was he thinking? He couldn’t leave Roxy alone.

He jogged to her house instead and knocked on the door.

Roxy answered a few minutes later in a robe and with her hair wound up in a towel. She was bare-faced, and her skin was pink with heat. She looked beautiful. “Hey. Out for a run?”

“Not really. I was going to, but then I realized I can’t leave you alone. In fact, you really shouldn’t be here by yourself right now.”

“You’re too late.”

His hackles rose. “For what?”

She cocked her hip to the side. “To join me for my shower.”

He grinned, the imagined threat gone. “Clearly, I suck at my job.”

Her brows rose and her mouth bent in an amused line. “There is so much I could say to that, but I’m not going to because we might not make it to the bookstore.”

He laughed. “Save that thought for the end of the day.”

“Will do.” She opened the door a little wider. “Coming in?”

“Yes, if you don’t mind.”

“Nope.” She tightened the sash on her robe. “I’m sure it’s easier to protect me from here than your house.”

He came in, shut the door and locked it. “Abundantly. Just pretend I’m not here. Do whatever you need to do. When you’re ready, we’ll go back to my place, eat some lunch, then head over. Good?”