“Maia?Is something wrong?”
A burst of music and loud voices told her Bryce was at the corner pub for the one beer he allowed himself after training.Maia closed her eyes, comforted by her friend’s caring.“No.Well, nothing life-threatening.Do you know where Sam is tonight?”
“We finished training an hour ago.Why?Has he done something?”Bryce’s voice hardened into protective.
Maia allowed herself a smile.She almost wished there was a romantic spark between them, but they were better friends than lovers, and both knew it.“Not if he was at training.”
The background noise faded, replaced by the honk of a horn.“What’s going on?”Bryce’s voice was sharp, demanding answers.
“Someone tagged my house,” she said, choosing her words carefully because she didn’t want Bryce to race to her rescue.She didn’t require a man for security.No, she wanted a man for vigorous, hot, sweaty sex.Her mind slid to Henry with his stern face and his narrowed gaze.His muscular body.A sigh escaped, and she shut down that yearning.Given his reaction to her today, there was no chance of friendship, casual or otherwise.
“Did you report it?”
“Yes.”She hoped the curt note in her voice let him know precisely how insulted she felt at his question.
“Right.Sorry.You’re the smartest woman I know.Of course, you reported it.What did the cops say?”
“It’s pitch black in the countryside.She took photos, checked the perimeter, and searched my house to make sure I didn’t imagine monsters under the bed.Not that I have beds at the moment.”
“She?”
Maia laughed.“Yeah, she arrived with her big, protective husband.”
“Damn, I miss all the kick-arse women.They get snapped up quickly.I guess I’ll have to continue my search.Are you sure—?”
Maia cut him off with a laugh, glad she’d called him.“Quit being a goof.Laura said she’d return in the morning and inspect the evidence in daylight.You’re one of the few people who know where I’ve moved, so I don’t understand why someone would target me.”
“Did the tagging occur before or after you moved in?”
“After, which makes it feel more personal.”
“What did the taggers write?”
“Die bitch.”
Bryce sighed.“Who have you pissed off?”
“I’ve been keeping my head down.”She’d had a writing deadline.“I had to pack my stuff and organize shipping.Then there was the legal stuff, quotes for insurance, and a hundred and one other things, including training.”
“Which is why you called to check on Sam.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, unless he organized someone to do his dirty work, that arrogant prick is in the clear.I can’t see it though.Sam takes pleasure in the personal approach.Nah, he wouldn’t hire someone to mess with you.”
Maia pushed out a breath.An understatement, not that she’d tell Bryce.“Yeah, he’s more likely to take a direct approach and tell me to my face.”
“You mean the man lacks finesse.”
“If Sam isn’t responsible, I don’t know what’s happening.My gut tells me this is more than a stupid prank, which was my initial conclusion.”Maia yawned, the audible sound reaching Bryce.
“Try to sleep.Call me tomorrow and let me know what the cops say.I’ll monitor Sam, but he has a big game in two days.I doubt he’ll be traipsing around the country to get back at you.”
“You’re right.His love for rugby is as huge as his pride.I do need to go to bed.Moving the length of the country is tiring.”
“And you miss me,” he teased.
“True,” she said with a smile.“I’ll call tomorrow.Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”
