I take a step back, feeling repulsed.
“Blissy Girl.”
I feel my legs buckle as he laughs, pushing off the glass. He jogs away from the Butter Bliss, and I stay on the floor, processing everything he said.
It takes a few minutes for me to realize that no one has come. Not the prospect who should have been watching for trouble. And not Rex, who told me to call him if the stalker showed up.
I feel spooked as I reach for my phone and call Rex’s number. “Rex?” My voice quivers as he answers on the second ring.
“Baby, you okay?”
“No. I just saw him, Rex. He came to the front window.”
“Fuck! Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” I answer with honesty.
“Just breathe, Cami. I’m close by. What’s he wearing?”
I describe him to Rex. “Give me a few minutes. I want to be sure he’s gone and check in with the prospect before you let me in.”
“Rex? I haven’t seen the prospect. He’s not checked in.”
The prospect should have been watching. It was his job to stay alert. I thought I’d see him once the stalker left.
Outside, sirens wail, alerting us to a possible problem. They draw closer as the red and blue lights light up the street.
“Rex? There’s a police cruiser outside.”
“I know. I’m almost there. You sit tight. Have that phone in hand and ready to call Boomer if the stalker comes back.”
“It might be Boomer outside.”
“I don’t think it is, baby.”
Rex arrives in less than five minutes. The rumble of multiple motorcycle engines tells me he’s not alone.
When he comes to the door, I flip the lock and open it wide. Phantom and Hayride are with him.
I greet the guys as Rex rushes toward me. “He’s gone. No sign of the stalker. Come here.”
I never have a chance to say a word before he’s tugging me into his embrace, holding my head over his heart as I fist his soft black shirt. “Why is the stalker doing this? I don’t get his obsession with me.”
“Don’t know,” he growls, “but I swear to you that I’ll find this fucker and find out.”
For some reason, that scares me. I think the stalker wants Rex to hunt him. He’s been bold enough to show up at the bakery, taking his time as he talked to me.
“You know, he finally spoke to me.”
“What did he say?”
“That fear will bind us together.”
Rex stiffens. “He’s not done yet.”
“He’s toying with us,” Phantom agrees.
“I think he’s enjoying this. Like it’s a game to him, Rex. He called me Blissy Girl.”
