“I’m not all that happy about it either, but there’s not much I can do about it. The notes haven’t been threatening. They’ve been…flattering? I don’t know.” Bree shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “I haven’t noticed anything that makes me feel uneasy or makes me think someone’s watching me, but I haven’t been hyper-vigilant either.” Polly padded over to her and whined. Bree placed one of her hands on the dog’s head and scratched her ear.
Denise walked around the counter and hugged her. “Hey. You got this. We got this.”
Bree dropped her head to Denise’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “Someone is killing women because of me.”
“No.” Denise forced Bree’s head up. “Do not take that on yourself. Someone is killing women because they’re bat-shit crazy. It hasnothingto do with you.”
Bree tilted her head. Her forehead furrowed as she pursed her lips. “It’s easy to say that. It’s a lot harder to believe that when someone is leaving me notes on their bodies.”
“I know. But you need to try.”
Bree simply nodded her head.
Jase put his hands on Denise’s shoulders and moved her to the side. He took her place and embraced Bree. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
She rested her head and stared at Denise. “I know, intellectually, it’s not my fault. It doesn’t stop me from feeling responsible for those women’s deaths.” What-ifs ran through her head. What if she’d broken it off with Chad sooner? What if she’d made a scene and turned him down when he proposed? Would any of this be happening?
The alarm beeped, and she groped for the snooze button. Jase leaned over and kissed her shoulder. “How many times are you going to hit snooze?”
She snuggled deeper under the covers. “A couple.”
“I’m going to get in the shower then.” He dropped another kiss on her shoulder.
Bree rolled over. “Why are you getting up?”
“I’m going to follow you to work.”
She watched his tight, naked butt walk toward the bathroom.Wait. What?She rose to her elbows. “Why are you following me to work?”
“Because a murderous psychopath is stalking you.”
“Jase—”
He stopped in the doorway, turned, and braced his hands against the doorframe. “Don’t argue with me about this, Bree. I’m following you as far as the gate.”
What was the question?Her strength left her and she dropped down to the bed. The alarm started beeping again, and she turned it off. There would be no snoozing with that full frontal image burned onto her retinas.
He was angry. No…he was afraid. For her. Something unfurled in her chest and she rubbed the heel of her hand over the spot. She looked at the half-closed door, catching a glimpse of his naked back as he turned on the water. The least she could do was thank him for looking out for her.
She grinned and threw back the covers.
Jase gripped the top of the car door and pulled it open for her. “You’ve got your cell?”
“Yes.”
“Call me if you see anything suspicious. Or anyone suspicious.”
She threw her bag onto the passenger seat and sighed. “Jase, I know you’re worried, so I’m trying to see this overprotectiveness as cute rather than annoying and overbearing.” She set her hands on her hips. “But I swear to almighty god, if you don’t stop talking to me like I’m an idiot, I’m going to punch you in the balls again.”
He stepped closer, but kept his hand on the door. “You like my balls.”
She tilted her head back to maintain eye contact. “I do. So it would be a shame if I couldn’t use them because they had to be surgically extracted.”
He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I don’t like that you can’t carry your gun on base.”
“I promise to be safe. I know how to maintain situational awareness. Okay? I’ll check my six.”
He grinned and kissed her. “It’s hot when you talk tactical. Do me a favor? Text me when you leave work.”
