Love Me Carefully

by A. C. Arthur

  Leah jerked her hands back as if she’d been burned, then chastised herself for being foolish. “Probably some new screen saver that girl has downloaded from the Internet,” she said to herself, then hit the buttons quickly and watched as the machine shut off completely. She was just about to get her purse and head for the door when she heard footsteps, then the door open and shut.

  By the time she turned in the direction the steps had come from, the front door had slammed closed, and the ‘Open’ sign was swinging erratically on its silver chain.

  Her heart hammered in her chest as she realized someone had been in the office with her all this time. She picked up the phone, prepared to dial 911, but there was no dial tone. She pressed the button repeatedly but still received no tone. Fear clawed at her. Leah reached inside her purse, pulled out her cell phone just before the last lights left on in the office began to flicker.

  “Dammit!” She gritted her teeth and her fingers trembled as she tried to dial. Deciding she could make the call from outside, she lifted her purse from Melinda’s desk and made her way to the door, wrenching it open and stepping out into the balmy spring evening. She turned for a moment, stared back at the door to her office, then gave it up. What’s the point in locking it? Whoever wanted to get in has already been in.

  With that thought she moved quickly across the street to where she’d parked her car. Stopping midway in the street she gasped, dropping her purse and her phone. Her tires were flat, thick pieces of rubber flapped from the rim. All her windows were broken, leaving glass all around the vehicle. She didn’t need to walk to the other side to see that the view would be the same, yet she felt her feet moving. Her trembling hands reached for her throat as the sight overwhelmed her.

  “What the hell is going on?” she said aloud.

  In the distance she heard the screech of tires and prayed that whoever had done this, whoever had just left her shop, wasn’t coming back for her.

  It was then that she realized how much danger she could be in. Instinctively she looked down at her hands, wondering where her phone was, then remembered dropping it. Running into the street, Leah retrieved her purse and her phone. Her fingers moved with lighting fast efficiency as she first dialed 911, gave them her location, then called Terrell. Lowering herself to the curb she tried like hell to keep tears at bay, yet she felt the warm trickles down her cheeks. Who could have done this?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Leah?” Terrell called out to her as he made his way through the uniformed police officers.

  “You have to step back, sir,” one of the officers informed him.

  Terrell glared at the man and pushed past him.

  “Sir, I said you have to stay back,” the officer yelled, grabbing Terrell’s arm.

  “She’s my fiancée. I’m not going anywhere but to her,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Terrell?” Leah heard him. Through all the talking and questions swarming around her, she’d heard his voice—because she’d been waiting for him to come. She stood, her legs shaky. The jacket one of the officers had thrown around her shoulders because she’d been shivering uncontrollably fell to the ground.

  Terrell pulled away from the officer, took the few steps required to close the space between them, and folded her in his arms. Her whole body shook as she sobbed. He rubbed her hair, whispered softly in her ear. “It’s alright, baby. I’m here now. Everything’s going to be alright.”

  “Sir, we need to ask her a few more questions,” another officer said, tapping Terrell on the shoulder.

  “Baby, you need to tell the police exactly what happened, and then I’ll take you home.” He wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of his hands. “Can you do that for me?”

  Leah nodded, never before feeling as comforted as she did in his arms. Terrell kept his arms tightly around her shoulders as they leaned against a patrol car to answer the officer’s questions.

  “Have you been involved in any altercations or incidents in the last few weeks? Anything that would prompt an attack like this?” This officer was a woman, a calm-faced blond who talked slowly and softly.

  “Ah…” Leah tried to think.

  Terrell filled the officer in, rubbing Leah’s shoulders all the while. “We were both involved in an FBI operation. Agents Tobias and Blum were heading up a drug sting and we sort of accidentally fell into it.”

  This statement got the attention of another officer, the man Terrell had run up against while trying to get to Leah.

  “You interfered with a federal drug investigation?”

  “That’s not what I said.” Terrell gave the officer an angry look. “I said we accidentally got involved in the investigation. That was about two weeks ago, and the culprits were arrested in Jamaica.”

  “Is it possible that this could be retaliation for your interference?” the female officer asked.

  Terrell thought then of Cable, but remembered the man had been killed in Negril. But the operation couldn’t have been run by only five men. He remembered all the photos Tobias had had on the wall in his office. “I guess that’s a possibility.” A very real possibility that he didn’t want to dismiss. “But why her? Why not me or Donald, the FBI’s informant?”

  “Sometimes it’s easier to go after a more vulnerable subject.” The male officer nodded to Leah. “A female is generally frightened faster than a male. They may be using her to get to the informant. What’s your connection to the informant, ma’am?”

  Leah had been listening to them, praying that what they were considering wasn’t true. She’d thought they were finished with the drug dealers and all that came with them. Now it appeared that wasn’t quite true. “Um, I’m planning a wedding for Donald Douglas and Rosie Pierce.”

  “Ms. Pierce is my mother, that’s how we became involved,” Terrell added.

  “I’m going to need to get in touch with this Agent Tobias to get a complete story. In the meantime, we’ll write out a report and see if we can get any leads,” the male officer stated.

  “Is that all?” Terrell asked incredulously.

  Before her partner could say another word, the female officer intervened. “That’s all that can be done right now,” she said more to Leah than Terrell. “I would suggest you not being alone for the next few days. The scare tactic is usually just the first step. And if they know where you work, it’s likely they know where you live. Be very mindful of your surroundings and call the station if you see anybody suspicious lurking around.”

  Leah’s mind instantly went to the man she’d seen before they’d left Negril. Could he have followed them from Jamaica?

  “We’ll be sure to do that,” Terrell said tightly, thinking he’d be calling Seth the moment he had Leah safely at his apartment. He wanted to know who had done this and where he could find him. The authorities would most likely take their time finding him, Terrell wouldn’t.

  Terrell led Leah to his car, put her in the passenger seat, and buckled her up. Kissing her forehead he whispered, “I won’t let anybody hurt you, trust me.”

  Leah nodded. She did trust him.

  At his condo Leah sat on the soft leather of Terrell’s couch. She’d been here a couple of times since they’d been back so the surroundings were familiar. Her body ached from fatigue and the stress of the evening’s events. Terrell had left her alone and disappeared into the bedroom. She hadn’t a clue what he was doing and was just about to get up and go find something to eat when he entered the living room.

  “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” he asked, quickly coming to her side.

  “I’m hungry. Somebody was supposed to take me to dinner, and here it is after nine o’clock and I still haven’t eaten.”

  Terrell grinned. She was talking about food. That meant she was feeling better. “I’m going to feed you, woman, just relax. I’ve got something else for you first.”

  “What—” She was about to ask him what could be more important than food at this moment but he scooped her
up and started in the direction of the bathroom.

  His whirlpool tub was brimming with bubbles and when she inhaled she smiled. “Since when did you start buying vanilla bubble bath?”

  Terrell stood her up, keeping her tightly in his embrace, and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Since I smelled it on a beautiful woman.”

  Leah lowered her head to hide her blush, but his finger to her chin had her again looking into his intense gaze. “I am going to get to the bottom of this, Leah. I don’t want you worrying about it. Do you understand?”

  “Terrell, I can take care of myself.”

  He’d known she’d argue. “Mmm hmm, I know you can take care of yourself, baby. But it’s my job to protect you. Can’t you just let me do that? Please?”

  She could have told him she’d mastered tae kwon do and had managed to fight off three very big, very obtrusive brothers in her lifetime, but thought it best she keep quiet. Men had to feel superior. Besides, she kind of liked that he wanted to protect her. “Okay. But I’m not changing my lifestyle for this jerk. I’m going to keep on with my same routine and…”

  Terrell silenced her with another kiss. “You’re going to do exactly as I tell you until this is over.” His hands were on the buttons of her blouse, then on her bare shoulders as he slid the material down and off her arms.

  “Terrell?”

  “Shhh. We’re not talking about this anymore tonight.” He was unbuttoning her pants, pushing them, and her underwear, down her long legs. Her shoes had been discarded in the living room so that she now only wore her bra and with one deft movement he’d unhooked that and watched as it joined the rest of her clothes on his bathroom floor. “You’re going to enjoy this nice bath that I’ve prepared for you.” He scooped her up again and then gently lowered her into the tub.

  “I’m going to fix you dinner while you relax.” He handed her a sponge. “Then we’re going to eat and go to bed.”

  “But—”

  Terrell held a finger to her lips, scooped a handful of bubbles into his other hand and smeared them on her nose. “No, buts. Do as I say.” He moved away from the tub when a dangerously sexy gleam came into her eyes. As much as he’d like to share a bath with her, he still had a few phone calls to make.

  “You have to go to sleep,” she said to his retreating back, thoughts of seeking her revenge for the highhanded way he was handling her going through her mind.

  He disregarded her threat. “Yes, and you’ll sleep silently beside me.” He tossed her a grin. “Oh and both Nikki and your mother called your cell phone while you were sleeping on the couch. I gave them a quick rundown and told them you’d be staying with me until we got things sorted out.” Before she had a chance to speak Terrell made his escape.

  Leah growled, threw the sponge he’d given her at the closing door. She wasn’t about to stay with him until this was over. She had her own apartment and her own business and she planned on visiting both of them first thing tomorrow morning. She loved Terrell, but he wasn’t about to start controlling her life.

  * * *

  “So do you think it’s them?” Terrell paced the floor in his mother’s living room. Seth hadn’t come up with any leads as to who’d broken into Leah’s office and vandalized her car. It had been two days, and no other incidents had occurred, but he needed to know she would be safe. Leah wanted to return to her own apartment. She wanted to get her car out of the shop. Terrell took a deep breath—he’d never realized taking care of a woman could be so hard. Maybe because he’d never counted on such an independent woman winning his heart.

  “It’s just not their style, Terrell,” Donald told him honestly. After the incident in Jamaica, he’d moved in with Rosie. The wedding was only six weeks away and there was no real reason why they couldn’t live under the same roof. “If they wanted to get to me they would come right after me, point blank. They’d knock on the door and shoot me dead as a doornail, then board the first plane back to the islands. No, I really don’t think it’s them.”

  Terrell dropped into a chair, letting his head fall back, and groaned. “Then I don’t know where else to turn. Who would want to scare her and why?”

  “What about that woman you broke up with a while back?” Rosie queried. She’d been thinking on this since she’d gotten the call from Terrell about Leah’s incident. Women were vengeful creatures, and slashed tires were right up their alley.

  “Tanya?” Terrell hadn’t given Tanya a thought in weeks. Could she be doing this?

  “Maybe it was just a random incident,” Donald proposed. “You know, some kids getting their jollies off. ”

  “That’s a thought. But I can’t seem to shake the feeling that there’s something we’re missing here.” As he talked his cell phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi,” Leah spoke in a cheerful voice.

  “Hey, baby. What’s up? You ready to leave work so soon?” Terrell looked at his watch. It was barely past six. Leah had told him this morning that she and Melinda were going to work until seven.

  “Yes. That’s what I was calling to tell you. At lunchtime Melinda drove me over to pick up my car. So you don’t have to pick me up tonight.”

  Terrell was quiet.

  “Hello? Terrell?”

  “I’m here,” he said through clenched teeth. They’d been through this over and over again, until Terrell had finally given in. He couldn’t keep her under lock and key, it just wasn’t fair to her. She needed to resume her regular life. He understood all that, but understanding didn’t make him feel any better about it. “So I’ll just meet you at home. Do you want me to stop and pick something up for dinner?”

  “I made a big pot of spaghetti,” Rosie chimed in to his conversation. “Tell her to come on over and we’ll all have dinner together.”

  “Mama made spaghetti. She wants you to come over for dinner.”

  “That sounds good. But first I want to stop at my place and change.”

  Terrell was quiet again.

  “Terrell, we talked about this already. I’ll be fine. I doubt very seriously that this lunatic is going to be waiting at my apartment for me. I mean, I haven’t even been there in two days. He probably doesn’t know where I am.”

  “Leah, I just don’t like it.”

  “It will be fine. Just chill. I’m leaving the office now. I’ll call you once I get to my place, then I’ll call you when I leave. Will that make you feel better?”

  “No. But I guess I don’t really have a choice.”

  “Don’t be that way, baby.”

  Terrell sighed heavily, closing his eyes and trying to cut off the bad feelings he had going on inside. “Fine. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you back. Bye.”

  Terrell disconnected the phone and rubbed his temples. Rosie stood and went to him. “She’ll be okay, Terrell. All this is going to work itself out in time. Now keep Donald company while I go and fix a salad.”

  Terrell didn’t feel like keeping anybody company. He felt like getting in his car and meeting Leah at her apartment, but he knew that would only irritate her.

  Donald started talking as Terrell stared out the window. “Funny thing about women. We always want to protect them, but most of the time they do a damn good job of taking care of themselves.”

  “And what are we supposed to do about that?” Terrell asked with a grim attitude.

  Donald chewed on that question a moment, rubbed his sore shoulder, then answered, “Sit back and relax until we’re needed again, I reckon.”

  * * *

  Leah put the key in and pushed the door open, expecting that feeling of welcome and comfort after being away for a few days. She didn’t feel a bit of it as she walked in and closed the door behind her. Maybe because she was paying so much attention to her surroundings she couldn’t really enjoy the fact that she was home. She found herself looking around as if she’d never been in that apartment before in her life.

  Abruptly she stopped
in the middle of her living room and took a deep breath. This was ridiculous; she wasn’t this type of woman. She would not let the unknown frighten her. She moved to her answering machine and pushed the play button to listen to her messages. While the tape rewound, she undid her blouse and walked toward her bedroom to change. She’d throw on some jeans and a shirt, then gather all her laundry together before leaving for Ms. Rosie’s. Tomorrow was Saturday, and she could head to the laundromat early and get the bothersome chore over with.

  Humming a tune she’d just heard on the radio, she walked through the dark bedroom, letting her memory guide her around until she was near the nightstand, where she leaned over and switched on the lamp. Pulling her shirt from her slacks, she turned to go to her closet and stopped dead in her tracks.

  A scream died in her throat as her eyes fell to her bed. There in the center, laid out perfectly as if she were preparing to wear it, was a black negligee, one she’d never seen before. Over the pillows and down on the floor rose petals in an array of colors were strewn all over. At the end of the bed was a brass cart, two glasses and a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket.

  She brought her fist to her mouth to keep from yelling out loud. Staggering backwards, away from the frightening display, she backed into the nightstand, knocking the lamp to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes and her entire body trembled.

  “Somebody was in my house,” she whispered, then looked around to see if that person were still there. With her heart hammering in her chest, she bolted from the room and picked up the phone.