She rolled her eyes. “Please. We all know you haven’t been breaking into houses and trashing them, and we all know Lane is going to do everything he can to clear your name. You’ll be arrested and convicted of a crime when fucking pigs fly.”
Of course, she had a point, and I chuckled, but sobered quickly. “I just wish I could do more for myself. I wish we knew who the fuck was behind everything.”
“Everything?” Reagan asked.
Obviously, they’d been aware of the break-in since the night it happened—those Lawless brothers gossiped amongst themselves worse than little old ladies at Sunday knitting club—but not the extent of the damage, or how personal the destruction had seemed. I filled them in on that and the creepy lingerie delivery.
Reagan rubbed her arms. “God, my skin is crawling just thinking about that.”
“I’m glad you get it. It seems silly, but after learning Lane hadn’t been the one to send it, that I’d worn this thing that someone had sent me as a ruse, I felt…violated. I’ve worked really hard these years, and even more so these last few months with Lane, to heal from that, and I felt like I’d been punched backward a few steps.”
“Understandable,” Reagan said sympathetically, reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze.
“And I swear there’s been someone…stalking me when I go out on calls. You know how your scalp prickles when someone is watching you?”
Both women nodded, and Aspen asked, “Have you talked to Lane about it?”
“No,” I admitted. “There’s nothing to tell. It’s just…a feeling.”
“Women’s intuition is a powerful thing,” Reagan pointed out. “Listen to your gut.”
“Well, it’s not an issue now since I’m not allowed to go to work.”
“I have to ask,” Aspen started. “Do you or Lane think Addie could be behind this?”
“I don’t know about Lane, but I’ve definitely considered it. She made it pretty clear at the tailgate that she thought I was standing in her way.”
Aspen’s dark brows rose toward her hairline. “She said that?”
I nodded. “Actually, her exact words were, ‘Stay away from him, Sutton. You won’t like what happens if you don’t.’”
“Holy shit,” Reagan breathed. “Ballsy.”
“Crazy is more like it,” Aspen supplied. “And fucking delusional. Have you told Lane about that?”
“Nope.”
“And why the hell not?”
I sighed, sagging against the table. “There was obviously something between them, you know? And I don’t want to bring her into our relationship. Not when things are so new, and especially not when we’ve already ruined everything once before. Plus—” I cut myself off and shook my head. No, I wasn’t about to admitthat.
Unfortunately, I was sitting across from a woman who was too damn perceptive for her own good. “You’re scared,” Aspen said.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I can’t really explain it. I know he loves me, and I know we’re in this for the long haul, but…I guess I’m afraid of his reaction if I bring it up? Like he won’t believe me or take me seriously. It would feel too much like he was taking her side, and I couldn’t bear it if that were the case. It would just confirm all of my worst fears that he could be taken from me. That I could lose him again.”
“Well lucky for you,” Aspen started, “I took matters into my own hands and started digging.”
I smacked myself in the face, accidentally hard enough to make my forehead sting. “Why didn’t I think to ask you before?”
She reached out and patted my hand. “Because you’re a stubborn woman who never wants to ask for help or feel like you’re burdening anyone.” She shared a look with Reagan. “And I know this because we’re the same way.”
“I hate you for being able to read me so easily,” I said, though I was smiling.
Aspen grinned in response, then got up from the table, telling us she’d be right back. A minute later, she returned from outside with a file folder in her hands. Placing it on the table between us, she placed her palm atop it.
