“Daniel and I have worked my hours out so that I can still be here for you at night,” he assured her. “Although I wish you’d stop the nightly stalking. Seriously, Dominique, tell me the truth. Aren’t you growing tired of doing it?”
Her frown grew deeper, indicating a deep anguish. “But, my mother—”
“Wouldn’t want you out doing this,” he said, cutting her off.
She released a big sigh. “I’ll admit I’m a bit tired of it, but if I don’t do it, then how are you all going to prove Pierre is guilty?” Her doe-like eyes gazed at him intently.
God, he wished he had a good answer for her, but he didn’t. “I don’t know the answer to that right now,” he admitted.
“I saw Jacque LeBlanc at the grocery store today, and I wondered if maybe it would be a good idea if we talked to him. Rumor has it he knows things about what goes on in the swamp. Maybe he knows something about the attacks on me.”
“If he knows anything definitive, I believe he would have already come forward. Daniel and I spoke to him before about your mother’s murder, but if you think it might be helpful, you and I could go to speak to him again about what’s happening with you.” He moved a little closer to her, wanting to be as supportive as possible.
She released a deep, heavy sigh. “Right now, I have more important things on my mind.”
“Like what?” He reached out and took her hand in his. “Dominique, I’ve noticed you haven’t quite been your sparkly self tonight.”
Her fingers tightened around his for a long moment and then she pulled away and stood. “The dead bird wasn’t the only thing left at my door this afternoon.”
As she walked over to the bookcase, his heart thudded into the pit of his stomach. She grabbed a piece of paper just like the last note that had been left on her door and then rejoined him on the sofa and handed it to him.
STOP SEEING THE LAWMAN. YOU BELONG TO ME.
“Dammit, who is this bastard.” He exploded with frustration.
“I don’t know who he is, but he can’t tell me what to do and I’m not about to stop seeing you whether we stop our nightly stalking or not.” Her stubborn chin rose upward. “I’ll see you as often as I want as long as you want to see me, too.”
While that part of the note concerned him, far more concerning were the wordsyou belong to me. It was a reminder that somebody out there wanted her and still posed a very real danger to her.
“Could this mean that you’re in danger?” Once again, her gaze was intense as it held his.
“Don’t you worry about me,” he replied firmly. “I can take care of myself. I’ll take the note with me when I leave and we’ll check it for prints,” he said.
“And you know there probably won’t be any on it,” she replied. “I’ll go get a baggie.” She got up and went into the kitchen and returned a moment later with the baggie in hand. He slipped the paper inside it and then set it back down.
“We’ll check the alibis of all the men on our suspect list and see who has an alibi for this afternoon. Maybe that will help us shorten the list a bit.”
She blew out another deep sigh. “I can’t imagine what I’ve done to get the attention of this person. Have I been too flirtatious with the men in the café? I thought it was just all in good fun.”
“Dominique, don’t blame yourself for this, and I’ve watched you and listened to you with your regular customers at the café and you don’t do or say anything out of line with them,” he replied firmly.
She once again reached out and took his hand in hers. “I swear, I don’t know what I’d do without you right now, Luke.”
He smiled. “I have a feeling you’d be just fine. You’re not only a beautiful woman, Dominique, but you’re also smart and incredibly strong.”
A small laugh escaped her. “I’m not feeling so strong these days.”
“You’ve been through a lot and here you are, still standing.” He hoped she heard his admiration in his voice.
“I don’t feel like standing right now. I think maybe I’ll just stay in tonight and not torture you with a dark traipse through the marsh. In fact, even though it’s relatively early, I think I’m ready to call it a day. Do you mind?”
“How can I mind? I got a great dinner and good conversation out of the evening.” He stood and grabbed the note from the coffee table. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m on the breakfast shift in the morning so I’m just going to go to bed,” she replied as she also got up from the sofa and walked with him to the front door.
He opened the door and then turned back to gaze at her. She looked tired. He raised a hand and cupped her cheek. She turned her head into the caress.
As the nights had passed, he’d tried not to touch her except for occasionally holding her hand as his desire to have her again still bubbled hot inside him, but he was determined not to make love with her again.
