I disconnected the call before releasing the breath I’d been holding when I heard the fall of footsteps behind me.
“Um, I thought you should see this.” Briar winced as she handed me her phone.
Was this guy for real? I swore as I glanced at the screen. A suggestive pic of himself, taking matters into his own hands, telling her that he was thinking about her.Ugh. I was gonna hurl.
“What do you think we should do?” She bit her lip. “I hate to even respond but—”
“I’ll handle it.” I knew it was stupid to engage with a stalker. That meant giving them exactly what they wanted: attention. But there was no way in hell I was gonna let him think he could get away with crap like this.
I took a minute to collect myself as I sat on a stool at her island. There were so many things I wanted to say to him. So many threats I wanted to issue. But I knew I’d be an idiot to threaten him via text.
Looking at Briar over my shoulder, I said, “You sure you wanna go through with this fake engagement? Last chance to back out.”
“I’m sure.” She winced when she stepped up beside me and caught a glimpse of her screen.
“Okay.” My text was short and to the point.My fiancée is not interested in your junk mail, asshole.
Briar gasped before laughing when she read the message. “Wonder what he’ll say to that.”
We didn’t have to wait to find out.
Who is this?he demanded.
I smirked as I typed my name. Let him Google me. Then he’d understand the threat without me uttering a word.
Her fiancé?
Yeah. Now that you know, I trust you’ll leave her alone…The warning was implied, always implied. Unless it was face-to-face, with no witnesses. And if he came within ten feet of me, now that I knew what he’d done to Briar, it would be the sorriest day of his miserable life.
Briar let out the breath she’d been holding before she said, “It doesn’t look like he’s going to respond.” She flattened her palm against her stomach. “God, that guy creeps me out.”
I set her phone face down on the quartz countertop before opening my legs to make room for her between them, pulling her into my arms. “Relax, baby. This guy’s an amateur. Nailing him will be like child’s play for me and Jake.” I wanted to tell her that my buddy had already uncovered some Intel that could put him behind bars, but I needed to learn more before getting her hopes up about the probability of getting this guy off the streets.
“I hate feeling like this,” she said, releasing a shaky breath as she curled her hands around my biceps. “Weak. Scared. Vulnerable. It’s not who I am.”
No one knew better than I did how tough she was. But that only made me want to take care of her more, to prove to her that sometimes she did need a strong shoulder to lean on. And I could be that for her. If she’d let me.
“I know it’s not. And you’ll be able to put this behind you soon enough, Bri. You just need to give us a little time. And in the meantime…” I thought of what Jake said to me. “I’ve got your back.”
She smiled before curling her arms around my neck. “Thanks, that means a lot.”
ChapterSeven
Briar
My mind was officially blown. Rhett’s birthday surprise? A sleek black Dolce & Gabbana dress with sweetheart neckline and black pearl encrusted Jimmy Choo pumps with a killer clutch. And as if that weren’t enough… he booked a private dining room at my favorite restaurant. But not before he planned an afternoon of pampering in my own home. And I mean the works. Hair. Massage. Mani/pedi. Facial. Make-up.
I knew the guy was flirting with the billionaire’s club, but this was ridiculous. He was making me feel… like we were a real couple. And I knew that could be dangerous.
Gia squealed when she saw me, squeezing my hands. “Oh my God, you look like a million bucks!” She pulled me away from the crowd of forty-plus who Rhett had invited to celebrate my special day.
“I feel like it,” I said, feeling slightly nauseous when I considered how much his gift must have cost.
She looked me over from head to toe. “Okay, I know that’s not the dress you picked up off the sale rack at Nordstrom’s for your Christmas party last year.”
I laughed. “Uh no, it’s not. Rhett gave it to me, for my birthday. Along with the purse, shoes…” I swallowed when her eyes widened. “And he, uh, brought the spa to me today. Hair, make-up, massage, the whole nine—”
“Shut. Up!”
