“Must be tough keeping a beautiful girl like Tiffany hanging. I’d worry some other guy might snag her interest.”
Curt shrugged. “Tiffany and I aren’t exclusive, and lately I’ve had other priorities.”
“Your business?”
He looked up from the dripping sandwich. “Yeah, it’s really taking off. I neglected it for a week to attend my family reunion. Now I’m paying the price.” He cocked his head as he looked at Kane. “Why, exactly, am I a suspect in a police investigation?”
“Someone followed Rachel up at Granite Lake, most likely a fellow camper. The authorities think it’s the same guy who attacked her in Tahoe.”
“Wow. None of those guys seemed the type.”
“People can be good at hiding secrets.” Kane sipped his tea. “I don’t suppose you were with Tiffany Tuesday night or have an alibi for yesterday around two?”
“Why, what happened?”
“Let’s just say Rachel’s stalker has been busy.”
Curt pulled several napkins from the dispenser and wiped his hands. “No, I was home alone with my computer Tuesday night and all day yesterday. Anyway, why would I hurt Rachel?”
“Her stalker doesn’t want to hurt her. He just wants her.”
“No offense to Rachel, but she’s a lot older than me. Besides, I have a girl.”
“Tiffany of the non-exclusive relationship?”
“That’s right. It works for both of us.”
“Must be nice.”
“It is. Why are you involved in the investigation? I thought you worked in San Francisco.”
“I do, but I’m on leave until we catch this creep. Rachel and I have grown close.” His gaze never left the other man’s face.
“Good for you.” Dawson crumpled his napkins and dropped them into the basket holding the remains of his sandwich. He picked up the pickle and took a bite. “You should finish your lunch. The food here is excellent.”
“I will. Don’t let me keep you if you have someplace to go.”
“I was thinking of driving into the city, taking in a ball game. I need a break after the hours I’ve put in lately.”
“You like baseball?”
“Sure, but football’s my game. Too bad the Niners stink.”
“It’s a shame. Not like the good old days when Bryce Carpenter was playing.”
“He was a hell of a quarterback.” Curt met his gaze with a steady regard. “Just because I was a fan of Carpenter’s doesn’t mean I’m stalking his ex-wife.”
“Of course not.” Kane finished his sandwich. “Will you be around if I have any more questions?”
“Sure. Good luck finding the man who’s after Rachel.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
Curt crossed the street to head straight to a parking lot where he unlocked the door of a black sports car. When he pulled out onto the road, he waved.
Kane lifted a hand in response. The man hadn’t seemed very concerned about being a suspect in an assault investigation. He wondered why. After finishing the iced tea, he tossed his trash into a nearby can. Then, using a napkin, he carried Curt’s water bottle to his Jeep and slipped it into a plastic bag. The bottle had Dawson’s prints all over it as well as his DNA. It wouldn’t hurt to have a sample, just in case. He’d send it to the lab along with Dennis Olmstead’s water glass, which he’d removed from the table when he left the restaurant the day before.
All he needed now was a sample of Bob Mayfield’s DNA, and his collection would be complete.
* * * *
Rachel answered her office phone and smiled. “Hey, Grace, how’s it going?”
“How’s it going?” Her sister’s voice was heavy with sarcasm. “It’s going fine. I’m not the one with a predator watching my every move. Why didn’t you call me?”
Rachel pictured her sister’s green eyes snapping with indignation. Grace liked to be kept in the loop first hand.
“I was too tired to talk after we got home last night. Everything sort of caught up with me. Thank God for Kane. At least I was able to sleep knowing we’d be safe with him in the house.”
“Mom told me you’re shipping the girls off to Susan’s.”
“I want them someplace safe.” Her gaze strayed to the framed photo resting on the desk. All three of her daughters smiling back at her. She’d taken it the previous Christmas, catching the girls laughing at Daisy’s antics in a pile of wrapping paper. They looked the way children should, carefree and happy. Her voice caught. “I don’t want this deviant anywhere near them ever again.”
“They’ll be safe in San Diego, and they’ll have a great time.”
“They’re excited to go, at least two out of three are.”
Grace laughed. “Let me guess, our little tattooed friend is putting up her usual resistance.”
“I think it’s more for show than anything. Once Lark’s at Susan’s, she’ll enjoy herself.”
“What’s not to like about going to the beach or trips to the zoo and Sea World?”
“Exactly. Their flight leaves out of SFO at ten tomorrow morning.”
“Why don’t you stop by my apartment afterward? We can have lunch together.”
“Kane will be with me, and I should come straight back to the bookstore. We’re always busy over the Fourth of July with holiday shoppers.”
“You can take a few extra hours off work. As for Kane, bring him along. I’ll call Nolan to see if he can join us.”
“I’d love to get together.” She took a breath. “Let’s do it.” Making plans that didn’t revolve around what her stalker might be doing lightened her mood.
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Rachel hung up the phone and rubbed her temples. Despite getting a decent night’s sleep, a tension headache nagged her. She shook a couple of aspirin out of the bottle in her desk drawer and downed them with a swallow of water. If she didn’t eat something, the headache would only get worse. Grabbing her purse, she stood and nearly ran into Dennis Olmstead outside the office door.
“Rachel.” A smile stretched his lips as he reached out a hand to steady her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She stepped away. “I wasn’t expecting to see you there.”
“I stopped by to tell you about the truck.”
“The truck?”
He followed her into the office as she backed toward the desk.
“I asked my neighbor if I could borrow it, but he’s going out of town this weekend. I’m sorry. I was hoping I could help you with your garden.” His eyes brightened. “I don’t suppose you’d like to take a hike with me instead?”
“I’m afraid I can’t. I have to drive into the city tomorrow, but thanks for checking with your friend.”
He blocked the only exit and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “What about next weekend? I could borrow the truck then.”
“I’ll probably just get the soil delivered, but thank you.”
When Tim appeared behind Dennis’s shoulder, she let out a breath.
“Rachel, we could use you up front.”
“I’ll be right there. Dennis, I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me. Duty calls.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t mean to bother you at work.”
“It wasn’t a bother.”
His shoulders slumped as he shifted to let her by. “I guess I’ll see you around.” Turning, he walked through the store, dodging around a line of customers at the counter.
Rachel nodded. “Wow, you really did need me.”
“It’s been busy with tourists getting a jump on the weekend.” Chandra handed a man with a camera slung over his shoulder a cappuccino and a cinnamon muffin. “But I was worried when I saw that guy disappear into your office.”
“That guy was Dennis Olmstead.”
Chandra’s dark eyes widened. “The man you had lunch with yesterday?”
Rachel nodded. She helped three
more customers before there was a lull. “I still don’t think Dennis is the one stalking me, but I was a little nervous.”
“Kane isn’t going to like this.”
A family of four came down the stairs, followed by Tim.
Rachel rang up their purchases then smiled. “Have a great day.”
The door closed behind them, and she glanced around the store. A woman with two young boys browsed in the children’s area, but otherwise the shop was empty. “I guess the rush is over.”
“I think I’ll go get a sandwich while it’s slow.” Tim turned at the door. “Do you want me to bring you something?”
“A Caesar salad would be great.” Rachel reached for her purse. “I intended to go eat when Dennis showed up.”
“You stay here with Chandra. Kane would be pissed if I let you wander around town alone.”
Rachel grimaced. “What was I thinking, planning a trip down the block all by myself?”
Chandra patted her arm. “Better safe than sorry.”
The rest of the day passed without incident. When Kane picked Rachel up shortly before four, she smiled in satisfaction at the amount of work she’d accomplished. She shut the bookstore door behind them.
“Did Curt show up?”
“He did, but I couldn’t read him. The man was pretty blasé about being a suspect in a police investigation.”
He opened the car door for her then ran around the front of the SUV to climb inside.
“Maybe he wasn’t concerned because he has nothing to hide.”
“Or he’s the cocky sort who doesn’t believe he’ll be caught.”
Rachel studied Kane’s chiseled profile and tight lips. Lines radiated from the corners of his eyes, and he tapped the steering wheel as traffic stalled. She wasn’t the only one feeling the pressure.
“Curt didn’t strike me as the super confident type, just an average guy getting through each day. I couldn’t figure out what Tiffany saw in him. They didn’t seem very well suited.”
“She must see something. According to Dawson, they’re still dating, although not exclusively.”
“He doesn’t mind?”
“Didn’t seem to.” Kane parked next to the soccer field and turned to face her. “How was your day?”
“Fine. I talked to Grace. She wants us to have lunch with her and Nolan tomorrow after we put the girls on their flight. I said we would.”
He smiled. “Just like the first time we met.”
She leaned back in the seat. “Can you believe that night was less than a month ago? It seems so much longer.”
He picked up her hand and stroked her wrist with his thumb. “Is that good or bad?”
“Definitely good.”
With a sigh, he placed her hand back in her lap. “Looks like soccer camp is over along with our quiet moment. The girls are headed this way.”
Rachel released her seatbelt. “I want to go thank the coach.”
“I’ll come with you.”
They left the car walking side by side. They weren’t holding hands, but it felt like they were. Rachel’s heart beat a little faster.
“Your stalker must be taking a vacation day. After what happened yesterday, maybe he’ll back off.”
Her chest tightened. “I almost forgot. Dennis came by the bookstore earlier.”
Kane stopped and turned. “What for?”
“He wanted to let me know he can’t borrow his neighbor’s truck this weekend, but I think it was just an excuse to see me.”
“Maybe I need to have a little talk with Dennis.”
“Kane, don’t.” She touched his arm. The corded muscle flexed beneath her fingers. “I’m sure Dennis is harmless. Anyway, Tim kept an eye on me.”
“Good for Tim.” His jaw snapped closed as Jade ran toward them.
“Mom, Mom. The girls voted me MVP for soccer camp this week.” She skidded to a stop. Grass stains covered her shirt. Her braids were ragged, but a smile lit her eyes.
“Congratulations, honey, that’s terrific.”
“Your daughter is a talented soccer player.” The coach paused beside them. “I hope she’ll pursue the sport.”
“Oh, I will.”
“She certainly enjoyed your camp.” Rachel wrapped an arm around Jade’s shoulders. “I’m sure we’ll sign up again next year.”
“Great. Enjoy the rest of your summer vacation.”
“Way to go, Jade.” Kane examined her certificate after the coach walked away. “Earning an MVP award is quite an honor.”
“Thanks.” She pushed her hair away from her face. “I’m hot. We worked really hard today.”
“You can take a cool shower when we get home, but right now we have to go pick up your sisters.”
“Then I have to pack. I can’t wait to try surfing.”
When she ran ahead to the car, Kane squeezed Rachel’s hand.
“She certainly is single-minded when it comes to athletics.”
“A regular chip off the old block. Bryce would have been so proud of her.”
He dropped her hand and opened the car door. “Let’s go gather the rest of the troops.”
* * * *
The evening was beyond hectic. Rachel squeezed one more shirt into Ivy’s overstuffed suitcase then let out a breath. “Those bags are going to be overweight.” She eyed the pile of luggage in the entry hall. “I can’t believe you girls really need to take so much stuff with you.”
“It’s not like we know how long we’ll be staying.” Lark dropped her suitcase with a thump. “I refuse to wear the same clothes over and over for the next month.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I couldn’t stand having you gone so long.” Rachel’s heart ached, the reality of their departure suddenly sinking in. “I’ll miss you guys.”
Ivy threw her arms around her mother’s waist in a fierce hug. “I’ll miss you, too.”
Rachel hugged her back and forced a smile. “You’ll have so much fun in San Diego you won’t have time to miss me.”
Daisy stuck her nose between them and whimpered softly. The dog knew something was up. Ivy released her mother to hug Daisy.
“I’ll miss you, too.” She pressed her face into the dog’s fur. “Mom, you have to promise to play with Daisy while we’re gone. She’ll be sad if you don’t.”
“I will.” She rubbed the dog’s ears. “Now, off to bed so you’ll have plenty of energy tomorrow morning.”
After the girls were settled upstairs, Rachel sat down next to Kane on the couch and slumped against the cushions. An all-news channel droned on the TV. He turned it off then pulled her against him.
“How are you holding up?”
“Okay, I guess. My kids have never been away from me for more than a night or two at a time. It’s going to be tough to let them go.” She sighed. “I hope I’m making the right decision.”
He stroked the hair away from her face. “You’re absolutely making the right choice. This guy is willing to take risks, and that makes him unpredictable.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Reassuring me I’m not overreacting.” She closed her eyes and pressed fingers against the bridge of her nose. “Lark thinks it’s all an elaborate ploy on my part to get you alone in the house.”
Kane laughed. “She’s giving me a lot of credit.”
“Lark’s no dummy. She sees you’re important to me.”
“Look, I know your decision to send the girls to San Diego isn’t about us.”
She opened her eyes. “No, but their absence will change the dynamics around here. How do you feel about that?”
He picked up her hand and held it between both of his. “I’d like nothing better than to spend the next week in bed with you, but I’m not going to push.”
“You wouldn’t have to push very hard.” Emotion churned inside her. She looked up and met his gaze. “Am I kidding myself, believing what
’s between us is more than mutual lust?”
“Is that how you see our relationship?”
“No, and it scares me. I don’t want to get hurt.”
“Before I met you, I was simply going through the motions. Some days I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. I didn’t want to go to work, and I didn’t care about much of anything. You’ve changed that.”
“Is it me or the situation? Maybe hunting for this predator has shown you what a difference you make. Your work is part of who you are.”
He sighed. “I suppose, but this isn’t about my career. When we were up at Granite Lake, I woke up eager to start the day because I looked forward to seeing you. You pulled me out of a sea of self-pity without even trying.”
She tightened her grip on his hand. “You’ve given me something, too. You’ve made me realize I’m still a woman, not just someone’s mother or daughter. After I left Bryce, I let those needs fade away. It’s nice to know they’re still there.”
Kane pulled her across his lap and nuzzled her neck. “I’m more than willing to satisfy all your needs.” His breath whispered across her face.
For a minute she let herself enjoy the feel of his lips against her skin. She allowed herself the luxury of touching the rough stubble of his beard, stroking his silky, overlong hair. When his hand caressed her breast, she pulled away.
“As much as I’d like to end this evening differently, I should go to bed. Alone. The girls—”
“You will. I understand your priorities.” Taking her face between his hands, he kissed her. “Except I have to tell you, you’re killing me here.”
Rachel groaned. “I’m sorry about that. You make it hard.”
“That’s not the only thing hard. I respect your choices, but I still want you. We can’t go on like this indefinitely.”
Standing, she crossed the room to pause by the window with its drawn curtains. “I realize that. Once this is over—” She bit her lip. “Do you think he’s out there?”
Kane stepped up behind her. “I can check around outside if it’ll make you sleep better.”
“Don’t. Knowing you’re here is enough.”
He walked with her to the foot of the stairs. Daisy trailed at their heels.
“I think I’ll check anyway, just to be sure. Sweet dreams, Rachel.”
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