Did Greg blush? He had a pink tinge to his cheeks as he said, “Gotta take care of my people.” He cleared his throat and pointed to the office behind him. “Basket’s in there.”
“Mind if we take a look?” Tessa asked.
“It’s all yours.” Greg unlocked the door and stood to the side as Zane and Tessa entered. “I’ll be at my desk. Holler if you need anything.”
“Will do.” Zane shook Greg’s hand. “Thanks, man.”
Greg closed the door as he left.
Tessa stared at the contents of the basket.
“Zane—”
“I know. I see.” Zane was half beside her, half behind her, his body pressed against her back and side. One hand at her waist. “We’ll figure this out.”
“How could he know any of this?” Tessa pulled out a bag of individually wrapped butterscotch candies. Then a bag of Red Hots. Followed by a container filled with Pixy Stix. A note was written on a card attached to the side of the basket filled with an assortment of candy. In bold block letters it said, “Sweets for the Sweet.”
“Have you given any interviews? Talked to anybody about your favorite things?” Zane’s body was a wall of heat and tension at her side, and it took all her self-control not to lean into him and let him hold her.
“No.”
“Grocery delivery?”
“I don’t use a grocery delivery service. I’m too paranoid. I want to pick up the food myself.”
They stared at the basket for a long moment before Zane said, “We’ll figure it out.”
“It’s creepy, though. Right? I mean, it isn’t me overreacting to—”
Zane leaned into her, his lips at her ear. “It is twisted and sick. You aren’t overreacting. This isn’t a basket begging for forgiveness. This is a message telling you that he’s been watching you for a while. I can’t say whether he means it to be a threat. It’s possible he’s clueless enough to imagine this would flatter you.”
“It makes me want to take a shower.” Tessa stared at the basket and groaned. “If he’s ruined Pixy Stix for me—”
“I’ll buy you some on the way home tonight.”
She turned into him then. His arms slipped around her, one hand at her waist, one at the back of her head holding her close. “I’ve got you.”
“WE’LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.You aren’t alone.” Zane whispered the words against Tessa’s hair as he held her tight to him. Tessa rarely showed fear, and even more rarely admitted to needing any kind of comfort. He hated the cause of her distress, but he was so glad he was the one with her as she dealt with it.
He would have held her forever, but a tap on the door made him step back. Not far. He wouldn’t leave her to deal with this alone.
Tess, for all her courage and drive, was an intensely private person. When she chose to share something about herself, it was a gift to be cherished. For someone to snoop around and take that from her, take the choice to share or not to share? It only proved how little Hank Littlefield knew Tessa Reed.
“Hey. Greg told us what happened.” Luke entered the room, with Gil and Ben following.
“What are we looking at?” Benjamin picked up a box of old-fashioned peppermint sticks.
“This basket is filled with Tessa’s favorite candies.” Zanewanted to take the entire basket and toss it into an incinerator, but that would not solve anything.
“Are they poisoned?” Benjamin asked. “Laced with explosives? I’m sorry. I’m not understanding what’s got you riled up. It’s a basket of candy. Good stuff. If someone brought me a basket of my favorite candy, I’d probably kiss them on the mouth and invite them to Sunday dinner.”
Gil leaned toward Luke. “Make a note to never bring Benjamin anything. Ever.”
Luke nodded. “Noted.”
“Does Sharon know this about you?” Tessa widened her eyes in overdone concern.
“Of course.” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Why do you think she brings me my favorite candy on a regular basis?”
