Page 33 of Risk Assessment
Raleigh nodded as Dylan put his arm around her but the gesture brought her little comfort. Her stalker had managed to get to her even with Dylan nearby. How? Was he a ghost?”
They made it back to the cabin in record time. Raleigh wobbled over to the sofa and collapsed. Dylan disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of water. “I’m just going to take a quick look around.”
“Sure,” she mumbled.
He was back moments later. “It all looks fine. Housekeeping has already been here, but there’s no sign of anyone else.”
She lifted her shoulders as she opened the water bottle and then took a deep drink.
“So, tell me what happened,” he said as he sat down in the armchair across from her.
She leaned back, closing her eyes. She took a long, deep breath. Opening her eyes again, she looked at Dylan. “He was there but I didn’t see him.” Anger that had started in her stomach on the walk over now thrummed though her whole body.
Dylan reached over and grabbed her bag from the side of the sofa where she’d left it. After unzipping it, he looked inside. “You didn’t see anyone around your bag?” he asked.
“No. You were there. No one entered the court while we were playing, and it was the only place I left it. I came back here after breakfast, changed into my tennis gear, grabbed my bag and then headed straight over there.”
“Your bag was over by the bench on the side right?”
She nodded. “I left it beside the bench. I don’t know—” She stopped for a second.
“What?” Dylan asked as he leaned forward in his chair.
She frowned. “I left it by the bench, but it was leaning on the fence. There’s a hedge and a patch of trees right there. If he crouched down behind the fence, he would’ve been within reachof my bag. The mesh on the fence wasn’t huge but someone could reach through it to undo the zipper enough to stick the rose inside. And with the bench in front of him, it would’ve made him hard to see.”
“Shit.” Dylan ran a hand through his hair. “I saw the trees but didn’t think he could get close enough to you to hurt you in any way. I didn’t think about him leaving something in your bag. This is my fault.”
She clenched her fists. He’d been so close. She had missed her chance to catch him. She slammed her hand down on the coffee table. “It’s just not fair!”
“No, it’s not,” Dylan agreed.
All at once the anger gave way to fatigue, and she readjusted herself so she could snuggle deeper into the sofa cushions.
Dylan picked up the conversation where they had left off. “No one else said anything?”
“No. The game was pretty intense. Your ex-fiancée does not like to lose.” She gave him a wry smile as she shook out her hands a bit.
“ You beat Jenn?” A grin lit up his face. “And, yeah; she hates to lose.”
Her smile faded. “This is so damn maddening!” She punched the cushion beside her. “I mean, how dare he? How dare some asshole follow me around, break into my place, and terrorize me? I deserve to feel safe, tobesafe. It’s so unfair that I’m the one who’s in a type of prison and not him.”
“I know it is. And we’ll find him.” Dylan leaned back in his chair. “Who knew you were playing tennis this morning?”
She sighed, trying to relax. “I’m not sure. Jenn asked me while we were at breakfast. I had just sat down, and you were still in the buffet line when she walked by the table. I didn’t notice anyone specific around. I’m not sure who else knew.”
He nodded. “Still, it’s worth some thought. We need to start paying close attention to who’s around you when these things happen. Today at lunch we’ll have to keep a close eye.”
“I’m not going to lunch.”
He frowned. “You have to eat. Just think of it as a chance to check everyone out.”
“Sorry, I should’ve been clearer. I have decided to skip the lunch buffet and sit by the pool. I already connected with a couple of influencers who have promised me that they’ll be there and Phil said he’d get me some good shots. I have a couple of other PR pieces to finish, and I want to do some prelim on the wedding stuff. Talk to more of the staff and some of the guests. So I’m going to eat lunch by the pool while I work.”
“Okay, then I’ll come with you.”
“That would be great.” Not really. Chances were good she wouldn’t get any work done with Dylan sitting next to her in nothing but board shorts. His chest bared to the sun, all bronzed and glistening with water. Oh, yeah, that would be bad but there was no way she was going alone now.
Dylan stood up, his eyes full of concern. “I am so sorry about this morning. It’s my fault. I didn’t anticipate the rose and I should have.”
