Riding southtoward the ranch felt like riding straight into a headwind. Everything in me screamed to turn around, to hunker down in the mountains with Lennon until the danger had passed. Whatever was waiting for us back at the ranch, I’d rather take my chances out here with the mountain lions. Mountain lions might have teeth the size of my thumb, but at least they weren’t evil postcard-writing motherfuckers.
I glanced back over my shoulder for the twentieth time since we had started down the trail. There was no reason for me to believe that Lennon was anywhere other than right behind me. I could hear the steady clip-clop of Indigo’s hooves on the dirt, for fuck’s sake. But still, I couldn’t stop myself from checking, just to be sure.
“We’re almost there, aren’t we?” Lennon called. “I’m pretty sure I recognize that tree. The one that looks like it’s going for a run.”
I laughed at her description of the large evergreen with an arch hollowed out at the bottom of its trunk. “We should be back at the ranch in another ten minutes.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Someone would have called you if my stalker set the ranch on fire, right? No bloody rampages or anything like that in our absence?”
“Liam said everything’s been quiet since we left. Exactly what we expected to happen. The ranch isn’t his target. You are.”
“So are you.”
We didn’t say anything else the rest of the way home.
Lennon was uncharacteristically quiet as we untacked the horses. We set them free in the pasture and then headed straight for the lodge. Not taking any chances, I did a quick sweep of the apartment, even though I had left the door locked and there was no sign of a forced entry.
“Give me your phone, honey. We’re putting Life 360 on it. Should have done that days ago,” I muttered as she handed it over.
“You, too,” she snapped.
My eyebrows went up. “What’s going on, Lennon? Twenty-four hours ago, you were ready to drag this jackass out of hiding by his ball sack.”
“I’m scared, Jay. I’m scared he’s going to go after you instead of me. Last night changed things. I don’t know how to explain it, but the thought of something happening to you makes me…” She swallowed, blinking. “I don’t care if you’re a SEAL. I need to know you’re safe.”
I had to bite back a grin as I pulled her into my arms. Of course I didn’t like Lennon being scared, but I had to admit it felt good that she cared so much. “All right. Whatever you want.” The tension eased from her muscles somewhat, but there was still that worried crease between her eyebrows. I smoothed it with my lips. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“You don’t know that.” She leaned into me. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess.”
“I’m not.”
“What?”
“I’m not saying I’mgladthere’s a psycho after you. I’m saying, consider the alternative. No stalker means you’d still be in New York. And I’d still be a virgin.” I nuzzled her neck, brushing my mustache right where she was ticklish. She squirmed and giggled, and I grinned.
“Now, that would be a shame,” she murmured. “That dick of yours is too good to waste on celibacy.”
“I’m glad you think so, honey.”
Just as I finished getting our phones set up with the tracking app, my phone buzzed with a text from Holly.
Holly:
Ducky is ready to talk when you are.
Ducky—who everyone else knew as Ciaran Doyle—had been one of Holly’s university professors long ago, but he also moonlighted as a consultant with the FBI. Profiling was his specialty. Particularly psychopaths. Before Lennon and I had headed out yesterday, Holly had suggested reaching out to him and getting his take on who we might be dealing with.
I typed a quick message back.
Me:
Meet me at the office in five minutes. Bring Mateo.
Sliding my phone into my back pocket, I glanced up to find Lennon watching me shrewdly.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Holly and Mateo are waiting for me.” I handed her phone back to her. “Stay here. Take a shower. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
