Patience shot, I incinerate the old envelope and stamp. Put a new one on the re-addressed envelope. Go back to bed.
She gets the letter. She calls me. We video chat. She looks beautiful. Happy to see me. Our conversation helps her through her grief. “I wish I could give you a hug,” she says.
Yes. That’s what I want. How many days until my letter gets there? Mailed tomorrow, maybe three, four days? It’s so annoying that it takes the postal service trucks half a week to drive a distance I could fly in one night.
I pound the mattress with my closed fist, debating. I promised Gabe I wouldn’t bother Cari, but…
Fuck it.I’ll deliver it myself.
Chapter 6
Cari
Another long day at the clinic, but I’m not tired. I tidy my office, leash up Radar, say good night to Cynthia, and head out with a bounce in my step.
Shutting off my social media after all these years was good for me, I reflect as we cross the small, empty parking lot. No morepanic flutters when I see the unread message numbers climbing. No more avoiding emails because I’m afraid of what’s inside them. The agent who has handled most of my brand deals is fielding questions and I’m just…free.
I should have done this sooner.
Radar’s soft ears bounce as his little legs hustle across the street to the park. I can’t help smiling at his jaunty confidence. We’ve made this walk so many times, I’m sure he could do it on his own, even without being able to see.
We turn down the curving walkway toward home. A huge figure, silhouetted by the streetlamps, steps out from behind some shrubbery right in front of us.
Panic surges through me, and I let out an ear-splitting scream. Radar snaps to attention, lunging at the end of the leash as he snarls and barks in the wrong direction.
My brave little guy. Braver than I am. I feel like I’m going to pee my pants.
“Sorry! Sorry!” The figure waves its hands and steps into a pool of light, suddenly looking a full size smaller. It’s Tristan. Nobody scary. Not my stalker. My veterinary client. “Just saw you walking by and thought I’d say hi. Didn’t mean to frighten you!”
I hiccup a laugh and crouch to pet Radar to let him know everything is okay. He quits barking and melts under my palm, leaning his head into my touch. What a good boy. “No worries. You just startled us, that’s all.”
He reaches out a hand to help me up. “Not my best conversation opener, I have to say. Ladies don’t usually scream when they see me.”
I bet they do in bed with him, though.
I keep my dirty joke to myself, grinning as he pulls me upright. I shouldnotbe having thoughts like that about my client. I’m not even attracted to him. It’s just been so long since I had anyonein my bed, I’m as horny as a teenage boy, so everything sounds loaded with innuendo.
Tristan’s handsome brow creases. “I hope this isn’t too forward, but would it be okay if I walk you home? It’s getting late, and a woman alone...”
I shake my head, waving away his concerns. “The park’s perfectly safe. We walk this way all the time.”
He grimaces. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…you should probably vary your route. Someone could lie in wait for you if you go the same way every time.”
My worst fear. My heart skips a beat and my hand tightens on the leash. Radar feels the tension and presses close to my ankle. I nod and start to move around Tristan, but he pivots, falling into step beside me.
“I’m not trying to upset you,” he adds, sounding mortified. “It’s a general safety thing.”
“No, you’re right. Thanks.” I smile at him. I know he’s trying to be nice. He just doesn’t know my history. “I’d be happy to have the company, but I don’t want to put you out.”
“No trouble.” He smiles back, corners of his eyes crinkling and adding the right amount of imperfection to his perfect features. “So…this is probably a bad time to ask this, given that I just terrified you, but…I have an extra ticket to the Alliance for Animal Welfare Gala on Friday night, and I wondered if you wanted to go with me? Not as a date,” he rushes to add. “As friends, of course. I don’t want the ticket to go to waste, and I thought you’d enjoy it.”
The AAW Gala is one of San Drogo’s biggest and most exclusive events, designed to attract big donors to its programs. It’s the party where people go to see and be seen, and the very expensive tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale. I’ve had my dress picked out for months because the Alliance invited me to be a guest speaker.
“Actually, I’m already going,” I confess.
He raises an eyebrow. “By yourself or…?”
“Just me and Radar. Hopefully you can find someone else to give your extra ticket. Maybe someone from your firm?” I suggest, figuring another wealthy venture capitalist would have good donor potential.
