“It’s so creepy, the feeling of being stared at.”She was amazed at herself for confiding so soon in Ben yet somehow couldn’t stop.“It felt so malicious, and I couldn’t locate the source.Don’t make fun of me.It ...it felt evil.”
Pulling into the town square of Mountain Wood, Ben parked at the two-story building she indicated.He put the truck in park and turned off the engine.Facing her, his expression was serious, honest.He placed a hand on her forearm.His palm was warm, calloused, and a flash of electricity shot up her spine.“Sarah, I’d never make fun of you.”
She met his gaze and something arced between them.Time stalled.Somehow his touch connected them in a way Sarah had never before experienced.For no reason she could identify, images of tangled sheets and sighs of pleasure filled her mind again.Images of him touching her in her most intimate places filled her mind.She thought of his hands stroking her, thought of his nude body, and hers, moving together in a sexual, time-honored dance.
Her breath caught.
“I’m here to protect you from all threats, both great and small.”His voice was low and rumbling.He gave her arm a small squeeze.“I’ll guard you with my life.”
Their gazes locked, and for long instants Sarah was wholly unable to look away.Out of the blue, an errant thought trailed across her mind.I can trust him.
She broke the link and took an awkward breath.“Let’s hope you won’t have to.”She started to open her car door.
“Wait.”From his shirt pocket he took out a cell phone.“Put my number in your contact list.”
She reached for her phone in her shoulder bag and gave him her number.He sent her the details and she added it to her list.She said, “I’m going to meet with the property owner, Donovan Sinclair about this building to discuss a lease.Not to be rude, but do you have to be there?”
“Depends.How long have you known this guy, Sinclair?”
“For over a year.”
“All right, I’ll walk you in, then I’ll snoop around town.When you want to leave, text me.I’ll be close by.Don’t leave the building until I get you.”
Sarah gave a nervous glance around her.While she felt safe with Ben now watching over her, she couldn’t forget that here in town was where her stalker had left that damnable note.Was he still there?Was he observing her, even now?
As promised, Ben walked her to the door.“Still have the peashooter?”
Shrugging off her misgivings, she raised her chin.“In my shoulder bag.”
“Good.Just curious ....why do you want to lease this building?”He held the door for her.
“I guess it’s no secret.”For the first time that day, she allowed herself to smile.“I’m planning to open a feed barn store here in town.We don’t have one and people have to go all the way into Billings to get supplies.”
He frowned.“Aren’t you still a little high profile for such a public business?”
“You mean because I was a model?”
“Your face is known to the world, Sarah.Don’t underplay that.You’re internationally famous.A celebrity.Aren’t people gonna bother you?”
She spread her hands.“When I first came home, I admit there was a bit of a fuss.Mostly by out-of-area folks wanting selfies and autographs.In time, things died down and I was glad.Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.The townspeople know me.They know my dad and Rio.I belong here.They don’t bug me.To them, I’m notSuper Sarah.I’m just Sarah.”
From a store two doors down, a mother and a young girl of about eight years old, spotted her, smiled, and waved.The girl called out, “Hi, Sarah!”They kept moving.
“See?”She beamed at him.“The people here are nice.”She watched the mother and child walk away.
“All right.”He didn’t appear at all convinced.“Text me when you’re ready to go.”
****
Ben figured he’d startright next door.The town was small enough that everyone would pretty much know everyone else, yet it wasn’t so tiny that every stranger coming through would be noticed.Mentally checking his weapons, he touched his Glock inside his waistband in a concealed holster.His shirt was pulled out to hang over the bump.In an ankle holster, he carried a sweet little secondary weapon, a small, Sig Sauer 938 handgun.Attached to his belt he had his trusty rusty, his Ka-bar knife.One couldn’t be too prepared.
He felt pretty good about leaving Sarah inside the office building.There were others around.She’d be safe and should she need him, he’d be only a store or two away.
He pushed through glass doors into a gift shop, and a woman behind the counter called out a friendly hello.He introduced himself as a family friend, visiting Big Jim and Sarah from Texas.
“Welcome!How is Rio?Isn’t his wife due to have her babies soon?”
“Any minute now,” Ben said.“Can’t wait to see those rug rats.”
