Everything comes to a halt when I slam into the body in front of me. A scream tears from my throat that causes my arms to break out in goosebumps. I can’t think of a time when I’ve been this scared. Unless you count that near break-in at the hotel. Hands land on my shoulders as I begin to fight, lashing out with the keys.
“Hey, it’s okay. It’s just me, Ms. Parker.”
I stop struggling as I recognize David’s voice. He’s one of the security guards. A nice one. I blink as I stare at his uniform and cease struggling. “Oh, God. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” He glances behind me. “You okay? You’re here late.”
“I know. I fell asleep.” A sigh escapes as I attempt to regulate my breathing and not look like a nutcase. “Someone left roses in my room while I slept. I thought they were following me as I left.”
David’s hand goes straight to his gun. “When was this?”
“In the last hour.” I shake my head, knowing whoever did this got past security. “There’s a padlock and chain on the door.”
His eyebrows shoot upward. “In the studio?”
“Yes.”
David guides me to the right and points to the exit I never saw until now. “Go on. Go home, Ms. Parker. I’ll investigate and let you know if I find anything.”
If? The roses will prove someone was there. Right?
But how do I prove when they arrived? There aren’t any cameras in the dressing rooms.
“Okay. Thanks, David.”
He nods. “Goodnight.”
Since there’s no reason to linger and I don’t want to delay, I rush toward the exit and head into the cool night air. The parking lot isn’t far, but I run toward my car, still holding my keys as a weapon in case anyone else tries to bother me. Once I’m in my car, I lock the doors and start the engine.
Only when I’m out of the parking lot and heading home do I begin to relax. But it doesn’t last long. My cell ringing soon shatters the calm I find in my vehicle. I glance at the screen as my knuckles grip the wheel tighter.
Rex Coleman.
How the hell does he still have my number?
I ignore the call and send it to voicemail. He’s persistent. After the third time he calls back, I finally give in and answer with attitude. I can’t help it after the night I’ve had. “What do you want, Rex?”
His deep, sinful voice echoes through my car since I’m using the hands-free feature. “Darlin’, I need you to breathe. I’ve got news about Granny Jo.”
Shit. Every bad scenario I can think of goes through my mind within seconds. My voice cracks as I respond. “Tell me.”
“You need to come home. There’s been an accident.”
Accident? “What do you mean?”
“Someone set the Butter Bliss on fire with Granny Jo inside.”
Oh, God. I can’t seem to think or respond. Shock sweeps through me as I struggle to breathe. Is she injured?
“I’ve got her until you get here, Blissy Girl. Okay?”
Blissy Girl. The nickname implies intimacy we haven’t shared in three years. If I wasn’t so concerned about Granny, I’d tell him to fuck off.
“Rex.” Instead, my voice breaks further as I say his name, and with that single word uttered, a chasm opens in my chest. The one I’ve kept closed all this time. It’s full and bubbling like a volcano ready to explode.
I can’t do this. I’m not going down memory lane with Rex Coleman. “I’m booking the next flight home.”
“I’ll be there to pick you up.”
