by Wild Horses
“Holy shit,” Dewey muttered, his steps scraping on the gravel. She followed his gaze to look in the distance where the rising glow of dawn highlighted the black spray paint across the side of Adam’s house.
WHORE
SLUT
BITCH
LIAR
Fear wormed inside her and the fine hairs on her arms rose, gooseflesh prickling her skin. She glanced at the truck again.
There was something white stuffed in the door handle and she took a few steps forward, staring, hardly breathing, narrowing her eyes in the dim light from the house as she tried to identify it...
Her panties, lost two nights ago outside the restaurant.
He found me.
****
Adam paced in the hallway of the main house, his steps heavy and floorboards creaking. Dani’s door was closed, the light shone under it, and he couldn’t hear a damn word anyone was saying.
Dewey was out surveying the damage around the property and Carlee had already turned the horses out. Someone would call Angela and the parents of the kids for camp and make different arrangements, but not until around eight—it wasn’t yet six-thirty, too early to be making calls. Gus had locked himself and Dani in her room for the past twenty minutes and no one would tell Adam what in the hell was going on.
At last the door creaked. He ceased his steps to see Gus step out, leaning on his cane, eyes grave. He closed the door and hobbled forward.
“What’s happening?” Adam asked immediately.
Gus shook his head. “Not my place.”
Shit. Adam gestured to her door. “Can I?”
“That’s up to her—”
Gus barely got the words out when Adam brushed past him to knock on Dani’s door.
She didn’t answer. He pressed his ear to the door and vaguely heard sniffling.
His heart contracted. “Dani? Please let me in?”
Her voice was broken when at last she said, “It’s open.”
Adam threw open the door and stepped inside, pushing it closed behind him. “What’s going on?”
She sat cross-legged in the middle of her bed, Gus’s cordless phone beside her. Luggage was out and by the dresser, clothes thrust in and the lids still open.
Adam hung back, not entirely certain what to say or do. Her eyes were cast down, tears streaking her cheeks, and fingertips trembled as she fidgeted.
“Dani?”
She wiped at her face. “I have a stalker.”
He processed. “So that’s who vandalized things?”
A bitter laugh left her lips. “I sure as hell hope so—I’d rather there not be a second one.”
“That’s why you’re here.”
She nodded. “Dr. Van Ike—he’s a ‘threat assessment expert’, supposedly—thought I needed to close down contact with everyone and disappear. They’ve been intercepting my email, phone calls, blog comments, instant messages, blah blah. I think they were hoping he’d slip up or come out of hiding, maybe start hanging around my apartment.”
“Instead he came...”
“Here. Apparently.”
At last he gave up hanging back—if she’d wanted him to leave, she would’ve told him to already. He eased forward with cautious steps and when she didn’t protest, he sat next to her on the bed.
A vise gripped his chest, squeezing, and he found it hard to speak. “So are you leaving?”
“I don’t know.” She gestured to the phone. “Probably. Just talked to the good doctor and he was all, ‘Oh, we didn’t anticipate this,’ and I said, ‘No shit, thanks for all your help,’ and hung up on him.”
He gave her a half smile. “Of course you did.”
A ghost of a grin touched her lips. “So yeah, that’s why I’m here, and that’s what’s going on, and no, I’m not planning to blog about anything, except maybe your really hot bod—not including a name, of course.”
Jesus, she’d been keeping quiet about this for a week and a half and he’d had no idea—he felt like an ass. “I’m sorry.”
She reached for him, tentatively it seemed; he met her halfway and folded her into his arms, sighing deeply as she hugged him.
“Did Gus call the police?” he asked.
“No.” Her voice was partially muffled by his chest but he made it out. “Doc has said not to.”
That seemed like bullshit. Okay, granted, he’d heard that a few times—that getting a restraining order or whatever was just a piece of paper and could trigger some psycho, but at the very least she needed proper protection. “And what do you say?”
She shifted so she could look up at him, and he brushed curls of dark hair back from her eyes, his fingertip tracing the delicate outline of her face. “I think up until this point he was right—the reason was that this guy hasn’t overtly threatened me, just been...creepy. Creepier than usual creepy anonymous internet people. But this is vandalism. Aggression. Escalation.” When she looked away, he tightened his embrace, he hoped reassuringly. “So...I don’t know.”
Thoughts circled his mind for a moment, scanning possibilities. “What if we got someone to investigate the area without involving the police? See if they can’t track down who it is?”
“You have an idea?”
“There’s a private investigator in town—old friend of Gus’s. He can check around for new people in the area while keeping a low profile. If you know who it is, they can at least be charged with vandalism and you can decide what else to do.”
“I don’t know what good it’ll do. He’s...called me.”
Adam tensed. “When?”
“Few days ago. When Carlee’s horse got sick. And he emailed Friday night, before that.”
He bit back a comment about how she should’ve told him. Of course, why would she have told him? He was already busy flipping out on her about shit. And Friday night—Saturday morning was when they found the downstairs trashed. No wonder she’d been so bewildered and horrified at the sight.
“The thing is,” she continued, “he isn’t stupid. Disposable cell. Throwaway email. He’s not going to room at the nearby Holiday Inn under Stalky McStalkerpants or anything.”
“Sweetheart, this town isn’t big enough for a Holiday Inn. And we have to try, right?”
“I guess.”
He hated how small her voice sounded. How...defeated.
“I really think I should go, though,” she said softly.
His heart sped. “I won’t let anything—”
But she pulled back, out of his arms, and shifted to sit against the headboard, crossing her arms at her chest and facing him. “He called me a whore, Adam. He knows I slept at your place. He collected my fucking panties from outside the restaurant—he’s here, he’s watching me, and he’s a lunatic who thinks we have some sort of relationship!”
“If he was going to hurt you—”
“He would’ve already?” Her eyes shone with fresh tears brimming. “What if it’s not me he decides to hurt—what if it’s you? What if he, I don’t know, burns the fucking farm down? What if you’re strolling off the porch one morning and he shoots you or something?” She glanced away, rubbing furiously at her eyes, sniffling and shaking her head. “I won’t do it. I won’t stay here and...”
Maybe she had a point, but what the hell was he supposed to do? Just watch her leave, not knowing...?
He swallowed a lump in his throat, looking away as well, that vise in his chest tightening, tightening. He had no right to expect otherwise. It wasn’t like her life was supposed to be here, with him, doing fucking farm chores all day.
“Once they figured it out,” he said carefully, “you were going to go back home anyway?” He cut her a sideways look and glimpsed her nodding.
That’s that, then.
“Let’s call the P.I. when they open at nine,” he offered. “It won’t hurt to get someone on it—someone who’s here and knows the area, unlike your expert. Stay one more night and have your friends pick you up first thing in the morning.”
His heart hurt but he didn’t comment further. Twenty-four hours with her was better than nothing and, like she said, she hadn’t been planning on staying anyway.
Chapter Seventeen
Danyiah was sitting on the couch with Jenny sprawled out beside her when a car door opened and closed out front. The Doberman tensed but didn’t growl, settling her head like she knew things were fine. Dani straightened her back, alert but not rising—she didn’t need to because Adam was already on his way to greet the P.I. at the door.
His reactions and behavior after she told him the truth that morning warmed her even more to him. He hadn’t left her side, made her breakfast, reassured her. She almost didn’t want to leave him the next day.
Not almost, Dani Girl—you definitely don’t want to leave him.
But it wasn’t fair to anyone there to put them in danger. The creep bothering her, whoever he was, certainly didn’t like her with another guy. Someone would pay for it, she knew. She’d heard all the stories from the doc, read up about women in similar situations—even if she initially thought it wasn’t really that bad, she wanted to know what she could expect. With things escalating, someone would be targeted for violence. Either her or Adam, and she couldn’t bear the idea of him being hurt.
No, leaving was definitely the right thing to do. So why was her stomach turning at the thought?
Gus sat in the chair across from the couch, silent, brows pulled into a frown of concern that basically hadn’t left his face all morning. She offered him a smile when he met her gaze. He’d been worried about her—they all had—and she was both grateful for the concern and burdened with trying to relieve it. She honestly didn’t want to cause any more problems than she already had, what with being the worst ranch hand ever and bringing some psycho to damage their property.
The urge to blog about everything had left her, strangely—definitely a first. But she’d reached a point where people might think she was making everything up; it was too weird, even for her.
The front door opened and Dani glanced up. It wasn’t the older gentleman she’d been expecting but a young woman, maybe her age or a bit younger. Black jeans, white tank top, and a black shrug made her casual and not the business-y person Dani was expecting. Her hair hung in loose black curls to her shoulders and her skin was a lighter brown. Pretty and naturally so with no makeup on.
Pretty and armed, Dani amended when she saw the gun holstered at her hip.
“Hi Gus!” the woman called cheerily, once again reminding Dani that everyone knew everyone in a small town like Stirling Falls. She took a seat on the loveseat across from Dani while Adam followed and came to lean against the arm of the chair, constantly tense like he was waiting for something to do.
“Leo off today?” Gus asked.
“Doing paperwork. He’s retiring this year, you know.”
Gus waved her off. “Bah, he says that every year.”
“Insists he means it this time.” She turned her gaze to Dani at last. “You’re Danyiah?”
“Yeah.”
She rose for a moment, leaned over and offered her hand. “Natasha Whitaker.”
Dani accepted the gesture. “You’re the P.I.?”
Natasha sent Gus a sidelong glance as she sat. “Probably not the one you were expecting, but yes. I’ve been taking over most cases for my boss right now. Why don’t you tell me what’s been going on and we’ll set up a plan of attack.”
Dani immediately liked her. She got that glint in her eye, a mix of excitement and devotion—something Dani recognized and sought in people. Most of the guests she had on her blog were widely varied but all had that in common: passion for what they did, be it raise kids, sing, or write comedy like she did.
She launched into a summary of what had occurred thus far, concentrating on recent events because she didn’t have documentation with her on the previous issues. Of course, the bit about sex beside the restaurant seemed slightly scandalous with Gus—old enough to be her father—sitting right there, so she was vague about that and just implied she must’ve been seen eating out with Adam. Natasha didn’t stop her, just continued jotting things down in her notebook.
Adam brought them out a few cups of coffee while Natasha sat back, tapping the end of her pen against her notes. She accepted the drink and sipped it, frowning as she thought.
“So he’s at least been in town the past few days,” she said at last.
“Presumably,” Dani replied.
“Or since Friday,” Adam said. “The room was trashed before the party, remember.”
Of course, how could I forget. Dani shivered. “And we changed that lock. Still don’t know how he got in the first time, of course but presumably if he could’ve gotten in last night, he would’ve...” I don’t want to finish that thought.
“At least since Monday, possibly Friday—okay. Unfortunately, this time of year we have a chunk of vacationers here—there are campgrounds about five miles outside of town, a trailer park, and tons of people with boats by the marina. There are a handful of regulars who might notice new people in town, but it’s not like winter where that’s a rare occurrence.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’ll start by asking around for who might’ve been seen lurking around town Monday night when you were there, and for anyone who might’ve been asking questions about the farm.” She slipped her pen into the notebook’s spiral binding and stood. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow with an update, whether it leads to anything or not.”
Dani, Adam, and Gus stood as well. Her throat tightened. “I...won’t be here after tomorrow morning. It seemed safer for everyone...”
Natasha nodded. “I understand. I’ll touch base with Gus and call to fill you in as well.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll be in the city with friends and can leave the number.”
“No problem.” Natasha backed up, rounding the loveseat, and gave a little wave as she headed toward the door. “By the way, I loved your mashup video of Friday the 13th to ‘Bring me to Life.’”
Dani grinned. She respected a woman who did her homework.
****
Dani’s bedroom was dark with moonlight spearing through the window, making both Adam’s pale form and the white sheets blue. The fan whirled above, steady thrum punctuating their breaths as she rode him.
Compared to the frenzied lovemaking during earlier sessions, this was slow and easy, tender. He gripped her thighs as she rocked, rolling her hips up and down his length. His skin was smooth, etched in the crisp light. She leaned down to taste his flesh, kissing and flicking her tongue over his chest, and he groaned appreciatively. She moved over him to make it last, bringing them close to climax and then easing back, prolonging it despite her impatient nature because she didn’t want it to end.
Later, she lay wrapped in his arms, satiated, eyes fighting sleep. “Maybe when this is over, I can come back for a visit?”
“Maybe,” he responded. Quiet. Noncommittal. Maybe he didn’t want her to come back—maybe the back and forth thing didn’t appeal to him. Maybe he thought she was going to ask him to come see her, and given his attitude so far, she suspected he’d loathe the city scene.
So she said nothing more, let her eyes close, and fell asleep to the steady beat of his heart.
Thursday
NEW POST: Draft Mode
It’s early in the morning and I’m going home today.
I don’t want to. Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep. Instead, I’m sitting here before dawn, blue light from the computer screen spilled over me, listening to the heavy breath of the man next to me.
I’ll never publish this post, I know. For one, it’s personal—too personal. For another, it’s not remotely funny. But I’ll keep it here for me to read later, when I’m home and remembering what it was like for a while to kind of like the person I got to play at being.
And wonder where this would’ve gone if I could have stayed.
Chapter Eighteen
Just after nine the next morning, Dani had her bags packed and on the front porch next to where she sat on the steps. There was a distinctly melancholy air around her and Adam selfishly hoped at least some of it was because she didn’t want to go.
The day was gray and thick with clouds but not rain so far. It seemed to match his mood, which grew darker by the minute. They’d spoken little that morning, air between them tense with things unsaid, and just awkward half-smiles with few words exchanged. There seemed no reason from Adam’s perspective to get sentimental when it wouldn’t do any good.
Eventually a silver four-door turned down the driveway in the distance, slowing and spitting up dirt as it neared the house. Adam’s chest tightened but he forced his feet to move, so he could scoop up her bags.
Dani rose as well when the car pulled up. A tall, broad man with glasses stepped out of the driver’s side and waved over the back of the car before coming to take the luggage himself. Adam stood awkwardly on the porch steps, thumbs hooked in his back pockets, reluctantly meeting Dani’s gaze. She parted her lips as if to speak when the front door opened and the others piled out.
Carlee and Dewey came first, and it was Carlee who went straight for Dani to draw her into a hug. Dani blinked, freezing for a moment before reciprocating, her gaze going to Adam. He hid a smile.
Dewey moved up next to see her off, then he stood back with Carlee, who had a handful of tears pricking her eyes.
Dani took a breath, and walked up to Gus, who grasped her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You take care, Dani Girl. And come back to visit.”
She smiled. “Promise. Thank you so much for—”
He waved her off, leaning on his cane with one hand and drawing her into a hug with the other. “Anytime. You get this sorted and come back when you’re ready.”
She nodded. Noticeably didn’t say she would but Adam tried not to read too much into it.
For a minute, Dani paused two feet from Adam, staring up at him and biting at her bottom lip. He longed to reach for her, hold her, tell her everything—offer to go with her and stay with her so she wouldn’t have to be alone.
