Page 14 of Tempt My Heart

"Jared threatened to hurt you if I didn't do what he demanded."

Her mom snorted. "Let that little weasel try. It's been a while since I shot anything."

"As much as that response thrills and alarms me equally," she said, beginning to relax at the familiar sound of her mom's voice, "Freya has someone there to help keep you safe. He should be outside the house in a dark car."

"I'm not sure that's necess—"

"Go outside and ask him to come into the house," she said, cutting her off. "Promise me you won't go anywhere without him, okay? His name is Caleb and Freya said he's one of the best."

"Okay, sweetie. If it will make you feel better."

Ali bit her lip and then decided to tell the truth. "Jared sent me a photo of the outside of the house."

Her mom didn't reply but she could hear the sounds of her moving, opening the door and then talking to Caleb. "You should have led with the fact that he's a gorgeous mountain of a man. I would have protested less."

A laugh slipped out and she relaxed fully, knowing a professional was there to make sure her mom was safe. "If I had known then I would have told you," she assured her, knowing her mom was probably just teasing. Her parents had been separated for a while before her dad passed, but it had still hit her mom hard.

"Check in with me every night, okay?"

"Yes, Mom," her mother teased and Ali chuckled, knowing she was maybe being a little overprotective. But she'd already lost one parent and she wasn't going to let Jared take the other from her. "I love you."

"I love you too," Ali murmured. "Stay safe."

"I will if you will."

It was such aMomresponse that Ali smiled as she hung up. She had every intention of staying far, far away from Jared. Maybe she'd go to Paris, or somewhere with a beach and no cell service until things blew over or the wedding had passed. She could work all of that out later, for now she just needed to make it out ofHorizonswith her professional reputation intact.

ChapterEight

If she believed in signs, then the universe didn’t want her to quit her job. But then again, the universe had let her date Jared so what did it know, anyway?

She’d tried to enjoy a slow stroll into the office the next morning but had ended up practically running as her skin crawled with the sensation of eyes on her skin. Was Jared watching her? Or was he still camped out at her mom’s? A couple of times she’d actually thought she’d caught a glimpse of him walking on the sidewalk opposite her but when she’d looked back it had just been another brunette, tall man. He was making her paranoid.

The elevator had been blissfully empty when she’d got to the office, and she was grateful because it gave her the chance to catch her breath after the intense pace she’d kept up on her walk.

That was where any semblance of good luck ended, however. The silver metal doors slid open with a ding and Ali walked past the rows of cubicles that held a few early risers before stopping dead in front of her desk around the corner.

How could she have forgotten that today was David’s day in the office? Worse, not only was she unprepared to see his well-cut, blonde form in Christopher’s office, he’d also brought Rose with him.

She swallowed hard and forced her feet to continue moving, rounding the desk and plopping down in her seat just as Christopher’s door swung open.

“Ali,” he said with a smile, and it felt like her heart stopped before resuming its pace at double the speed. He was wearing that light gray jacket that emphasized his shoulders and waist, she’d always had trouble focusing when he wore that suit. “I know you wanted to talk to me yesterday but I’m going for a brunch meeting with Blake and Rose. I can have a quick chat now before I go though?” he offered and she wrinkled her nose slightly as she noticed David and Rose hovering behind him. How could she resign with them watching? Especially if he pressed her and she ended up confessing—withholding the truth was just another form of lying and Ali was bad at that too.

“Oh, no. That’s okay. You go and enjoy your brunch.”

“Did you want to join us?” His dark eyes on hers were steady and warmth curled in the bottom of her stomach in response.

“I’ve got a lot to do,” she murmured. If it wasn’t for everything with Jared then she probably would have jumped at the chance to get to know the people in her boss’ life a little better. As it was, she wasn’t sure she could sit across from the happy couple without spilling everything she was keeping under lock and key. “But thank you.”

“Maybe another time,” he said easily and she nodded. He hesitated, staring at her for a moment in a way that brought heat to her cheeks before he nodded and turned back to David and Rose who were watching them with keen interest. “I should be back later, but if I’m not then don’t work too late, okay?”

She laughed and the echo of it was still on her lips when she smiled. “Sure. I promise to leave at a reasonable time.”

He waved goodbye and Rose smiled at her as she walked past to the elevators Ali had only recently vacated.

Ugh.Christopher was too charming for his own good and she wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do when she told him she was leaving. She was a good employee and he was a great boss, so she hoped it would be alright. It almost felt like the buildup to getting to resign was going to be worse than actually leaving, but maybe it wouldn’t be as awful as she imagined.

Her phone vibrated and she cursed as she saw Jared’s name on the screen. He’d sent her at least four messages, each more threatening than the last as he waited to see what decision she would make.

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