She’d done damn well for herself, and he didn’t doubt for one second that Ray wanted something more from her than just to reconnect with her mom.Something wasn’t right.He either had a thing for Dez or wanted money from her.
He rubbed his palm over his face.He’d only had an apple and coffee for lunch and his body was protesting the lack of calories.He’d used his lunch hour to rush home and do a rapid-clean of his duplex, but it was in need of something heavier.In just a few hours he was scheduled to pick up Dez at her shop, and he was nowhere near ready to have a guest.
He also had very little food, but he could stop at the grocery store on the way to get Dez and at least get some items for the next couple of days.If someone had told him he’d be playing “bodyguard,” as Dez had put it, he would have laughed.Yet here he was.
What to do for dinner?Dez probably ate too healthy to order takeout, but did him cooking her a meal make things romantic?Would she think he was trying too hard?Probably.He’d avoid the wine at least.
Although she sure seemed to like mojitos Saturday night.But he couldn’t put out the impression that he wanted to get her drunk in hopes of screwing her.
God, he needed a drink.He was overthinking this.He’d barbeque.Nothing romantic about that.Despite his nerves jumping inside his body, anticipation lit fire over his skin.Ever since she left Sunday morning, he’d just wanted her back in his home.Pinching the bridge of his nose, he willed his brain to turn off all thoughts and images of Dez.If he didn’t, he’d never get the fuck away from his desk today.
Lowering his hand, he stared at Ray’s mug shot.Red hair, brown eyes, and only a couple of inches taller than Dez at five foot eight.Distaste filled his mouth.If this cocksucker was the one trying to intimidate and scare Dez, Ray was going to have a big fucking issue when they came face-to-face.
His phone rang and he swiped the screen, answering Wes’s call.“Hey, man.How’s things?”
“All right.I’m in the office and have my schedule for the week.There’s some new clients touring over the next few days and I thought maybe it’d help your case.”
Aiden grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper.“Shoot.”
“I’ve got a family of four, wife’s name is Joanne Denison, husband Rick Denison.”
He jotted down the names and then a few others from a hunting group.“Anyone else?”
“Yeah, I’ve got one guy who’s taking a six-hour tour tomorrow morning.Name’s Ray Lester.”
Every muscle in Aiden’s body tensed.“Say that again?”It couldn’t fucking be.
“Ray Lester.Any connection?”
Aiden’s pulse spiked.If Ray was touring tomorrow, that meant he was here now.Maybe had been since Monday.He needed to get to Dez.Even if Ray wasn’t the one after her, he sure as hell hadn’t come to Whistlemore to sightsee.
He shoved his chair away from the desk and powered down his computer.“Gotta go.I’ll call you later and fill you in.”He hung up and charged out the door.
If Ray was anywhere within a two-mile radius of Dez or her shop, he’d kill him with his bare hands.
CHAPTER 8
“C’mon, Dezzy.It’sa couple grand.”
She’d paid for the coffee Ray was sipping, along with the untouched cinnamon roll in front of her stepdad.He swept his gaze out the café’s window toward her shop.“You’re doin’ good, ain’t ya?”
Dez simmered.Keeping her hands around the mug of her latte, she struggled to keep her temper in check.“Maybe if you’d stayed out of jail, you wouldn’t need money right now.”
He turned up his palms and chuckled, his thin eyebrows—the same shade as the ginger hair on his head—raised in mock humor.“You can’t seriously think that’s my fault.You know how your momma gets.Charlene was pissed and just wanted to get me back.That’s why she reported the car stolen.”
Dez’s eye twitched.“No.My mom reported the car stolen because you took it despite her telling you not to and drove drunk.She was afraid you’d kill someone.”Her stomach churned with nauseating emotions.This time last year, Ray’s actions had finally broken her mother’s spirit.
Now, she’d have to call her mom and let her know Ray came around to bug her, and he’d be off to Charlene’s as soon as he found a way to clean himself up and get some cash.
Ray pressed his lips together and shook his head.“No, no, no.I’d only had two—”
“Bull.”She slapped her hand on the table, making the fork in front of his pastry jump.A few whispers sounded around the diner.“Bull,” she repeated more softly.“You were three times the legal limit and drove into a fucking bank, Ray.Your gaslighting won’t work here.”
Ray’s eyes darkened.A shadow crossed his face, reminding her of the chilling times he’d been drunk and lost his temper.He’d never been physical with her mom, Dez would have killed him, but he’d been cold and harsh.His enigmatic personality could be flipped on and off like a light switch.
Damn him for coming back here and rousing all this anger inside her.
For years, she’d worked on elevating her consciousness, finding peace, love, and calm inside herself.An interest that had intensified over the years as she expanded her reading to books on personal transformation.And all it had taken was Ray waltzing back into her life to make her want to go on a violent rampage.
