I WAS LOOKING over some new floor plan ideas at my desk when my phone rang. Seeing that it was Lia, I quickly answered, eager to hear her voice.
“Hey, babe. What are you wearing now?” I chuckled out my greeting.
“Cale…” Her voice quivered into the phone.
“What the hell, Lia? Are you okay?” I demanded as I burst from my chair, worrying over the fear in her voice.
“Yes, I’m okay, Cale. I just got really spooked. As much as I hate to keep bothering you with my problems, I just wanted to see if you could come over for a bit. At least till I calm down some? If you’re busy, I understand. I’m probably just being a baby, but—”
“I’ll be over in ten,” I said, interrupting her. “You will never be a bother to me, babe. I’ll see you soon.”
“Thank you,” she whispered into the phone before hanging up.
After only eight minutes, I slammed the truck into park and jogged up to her door, trying to quell my growing anxiety. She was scared shitless about something. I’d been able to tell by the way her voice had shaken on the phone not long before. I saw the curtains by the window move slightly when I knocked on the door and then heard the click of one, two, three locks. She flung open the door and I rushed up to her, enveloping her with my arms. Kicking the door closed behind me, I pulled away from her, needing to know what was wrong.
“Lia, I’m here now,” I comforted her, my voice filled with worry.
“Oh, Cale. I feel like such a baby,” she confessed with tear-filled eyes.
Pulling her close again, I kissed the top of her head in an effort to soothe her. I inhaled her scent, a mix of woodsy and sweat plus the smell that was uniquely hers. We stood in that embrace for a short while before she pulled away to nervously secure all three of her locks.
She quietly went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of wine from a cabinet before locating two glasses. “I need a drink,” she mumbled as she popped the cork from the bottle, her hands trembling. Pouring some wine into each glass before handing me one, she said, “Cale, you remember those ‘ugly demons rearing their heads’ that I promised? Well, one decided to torment me tonight. I’m completely afraid of being outside after dark. While running, I realized I had gone too far and that it would be dark before I could make it home.”
She shivered and continued. “I was racing to get home before daylight completely disappeared on me and I ended up tripping on my shoelaces and taking a nasty fall,” she said, holding up her shaking, scraped hands.
“Babe, it’s okay. You’re home safe now,” I softly reminded her, taking both hands gently into mine.
“When I fell, I hit my head, which dazed me a bit. I got home as quickly as I could, but I was absolutely terrified,” she whispered, eyes misting over again.
“You’re okay now. I’m here,” I assured her, pulling her in for another embrace.
“When I got onto my porch, I discovered a rose and a note,” she shakily explained.
My entire body tensed at her words. Pulling away from her, I waited for her to continue, concern painted all over my face.
“It was from Sam,” she muttered, walking over to the trashcan. She pulled out a letter and handed it to me.
As I read it, I became insanely furious. “That motherfucker!” I growled. “Lia, I’m here now. You are safe and that dickhead isn’t going to mess with you without me kicking the shit out of him. Why don’t you go shower and put some ointment on your scrapes? I’ll fix us some dinner,” I stated, trying to calm her down.
She drained her glass and nodded before heading for the shower.
This motherfucker was pissing me off. His obsession with her was unnerving. Considering that, according to the delivery company, he didn’t exist, I really needed to step up my investigations. It wasn’t a good time to tell Lia that he wasn’t who he said he was. She was already scared to death of him and I wasn’t about to freak her out any more.
I busied myself making my famous cheesy scrambled eggs and toasting some bread. When Lia walked in freshly showered with wet hair and smelling of soap, I walked up to her and leaned over, softly kissing her lips.
“I made us breakfast because you don’t have much to work with in there,” I teased, handing her a plate. “But lucky for you, I’ve made my specialty.”
She smiled and sat down at the table with her plate. “Not too bad. Look out, Food Network. There’s a new chef in town,” she winked at me as she chewed.
I laughed and looked her over as we ate. She was beautiful even with her face clean of makeup. Somehow, she could even make pajama pants and a tank sexy. After struggling not to blatantly stare, I unwillingly pulled my eyes away from her breasts, which, underneath the tight, white tank, proudly boasted no bra. She shyly smiled at me when my eyes finally met her glowing, green ones.
This woman is killing me.