Page 21 of Secret Admirer

“A person!” I say at the same time Bodhi says, “A dead cat.”

I step back and look up at him. “A dead cat?” I ask confused.

His back stiffens and his brows narrow. “What do you mean a person? What did you see, Coco?”

“Just what I said. I was looking out and saw a shadow moving over there,” I point in the direction the shadow man had been. “That’s when I called out for you and you answered…from a different direction.”

“And you just stood there? You could have been hurt or worse.” He looks back outside but there’s nothing to see. It’s completely dark out except for the landscaping lights and the city lights below. He turns back to me so that he’s right in front of me as if blocking me from whoever could be out there. “Has this happened before?”

“The lights have come on, but I’ve never seen anything before. I’ve never gone out there.” My body starts to tremble at the thought of what could have happened if I’d gone out there.

Placing his large warm hand on my arm, Bodhi speaks soothingly. “Hey, it’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen to you while I’m here. I won’t let anyone harm you.” The conviction in his words calms my nerves a fraction, but I can’t stop thinking if it could have been the man who attacked me tonight. Or could it have been Dwayne? I don’t think he’s capable of stalking me. He never cared enough to go to these extremes. Why would anyone attack me or try to scare me?

“Maybe you should call the police if you saw someone…they can examine the dead cat on your doorstep.”

“Could it have been an animal that brought it up? A coyote?” I hope for a simpler solution than someone placing it there on purpose.

“It’s possible,” he answers sounding unconvinced. “Call the police.” He looks up and seems to be examining something, but I have no idea what. Walking over to my bed, I slump down on it, unable to hold myself up any longer. Tilting his head to the side, Bodhi asks. “Do all your windows have shades?”

“Yeah, they’re built in. Why?”

He doesn’t answer me but asks another question. “Can you control them from your phone?”

“Yes, why?” I don’t understand why’s he’s asking me these questions.

“Close them. Close all of them, Coco, and do it now.” He orders turning to look at me, his face locked down.

I do as he says as I watch him observe the blinds coming down in the bedroom. The moment we can no longer see outside, he leaves the room and I follow him as if we’re tethered together. We move from room to room until he’s scrutinized every last window and we’re back in the living room where we started.

“Turn off all the lights. You can leave the fireplace on if you’d like and then call the police.” Bodhi moves to stand by the fireplace and stares out as if he can magically see through the shades.

I shut down the house, even the fireplace and then promptly key in 911 on my phone. The entire time I relay what happened, I stare at Bodhi and answer the dispatcher's questions before hanging up. In the distance I think I hear my phone ringing, I continue to stare at the man in front of me as we wait for the police to arrive.

“I know this is none of my business, but do you have the money to have a fence built?” He breaks the silence after long minutes of nothing but us breathing.

I jump from the sudden noise and being freaked out. Deep down I know a coyote didn’t leave a cat at my doorstep. If I had been feeding a cat, and it brought a dead bird, maybe, but not this. No, someone purposefully left me a dead present. Is it a threat? Is Bodhi not telling me something?

“I…yes, but I don’t want a fence. I want an unobstructed view.”

“And I want to keep you safe and alive.” He looks down at me, his eyes and mouth unyielding. “At least meet with someone and see what your options are. You’re out here in the middle of nowhere and the closest person is miles away. At least have your security put up motion censored cameras all around your property and send you an alert when there’s movement.”

“That’s a good idea and it would make me feel…better. Safer.” What would make me feel better is for the lights to stop popping on at night and for Bodhi to never leave, but I’m not going to voice that out loud.

“Good. Now, what do you want to do while we wait for the cops to show up? Watch Friends?”

I let out a humorless laugh. “I don’t think even Friends can keep my mind off all that’s happened tonight.”

“What will?” he asks in all innocence. How can he be so sweet and shy, and dare I say perfect?

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I wrap my arms around myself. “Normally the only thing that settles me is doing hair.” I chuckle to myself. “That’s one of the reasons I got into being a stylist.”

Bodhi steps toward me with his hands clasped behind his back. “You can do my hair.” He shrugs as if it’s not a big deal. “You were going to do it tomorrow anyway, so why not now?”

“Are you sure?” My fingers twitch as if grabbing for the scissors. I’m desperate to cut his hair and see the man underneath.

He laughs and it’s beautiful. It’s deep and rough as if he hasn’t laughed in years making me desperate to make him laugh again and again. “You’re dying to get your hands on this.” He flicks his long hair with his index finger.

He’s right, I am, but I don’t want to be rude. I’m sure he hasn’t had his hair cut because he hasn’t had the money to get it cut.

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