Page 89 of Take The Risk

​When he’d told me he wanted to order some things and buy a program to learn about structural engineering, I’d given him permission. I just hadn’t thought it necessary to give him explicit limits. Technically, it was my fault. Ugh…

​Lock dropped his hands. “Fair. So we’re agreed. I’ll shower, you’ll feed me meat. Deal!”

​He turned on his heel, racing up the stairs, leaving me looking after him.

​My kid…

​“So, he knows about you and Ty?” Wade emerged from the kitchen, a glass of wine in his hand. Extending it to me, he led me to the couch in the semi-finished living room.

​“Yeah.” I went over what Ty and I had agreed, my conversation with Lock, and Ty’s this morning. I glossed over how Lock had figured out about Ty and me.

​Wade chuckled. “If he gives up on construction, Lock should be a cop.”

​No kidding. The kid was better than any detective. Nothing escaped him.

​“So what’s going on, Phoebe? What did you mean you know who your stalker is?” Wade asked softly, figuring I would probably space out again.

​Now that I was home and Lock was being, well…Lock, I was better. A bit.

​Summoning up strength I didn’t know I had, I told him about that afternoon.

​“Phoebe?”

​Turning away from my car, I found Amber-Rae dressed in some fifties style outfit. I’d just dropped some things off at the school and was getting ready to leave when she’d approached.

​“Amber-Rae,” I greeted her, pleasantly. You didn’t poke the bear. “Can I help you with something?”

​She needed to speak with me privately, so we walked away from the parking lot to a secluded spot of picnic tables near the back of the school.

​“What’s up?” I asked, wanting to get going.

​“I’d thought I’d give you a chance to change your mind about the contract.” She was direct.

​Ah, this. “Amber-Rae, I appreciate your offer. I’m sorry. I’m just not ready to take on more work at this time,” I quoted the note I’d sent to her along with the contract yesterday when I declined it. No need to be rude, after all. “Thank you for thinking of me. It’s just not the right fit.”

​“And that’s your final answer?” A look that made me uneasy passed over her.

​“It is. I truly wish you the best and will be glad to be a patron.” There. That sounded nice enough.

​As she reached into her purse, I tensed, my instincts suddenly screaming. I was suddenly all too aware of how alone we were, even though we were in the heart of town, at the school with kids and teachers inside. “Perhaps this will change your mind.”

​She pulled out an envelope and handed it to me.

​I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but another offer won’t change my mind.”

​“Oh, I think it will, A.J., or should I call you P.J.?”

​Ever been hit by a car full-on? I had a feeling that was how this felt. I was shocked, numb, confused, and yet not. Taking the envelope she handed me with trembling fingers, I looked inside.

​I felt the acrid taste of bile coat the back of my throat. “How did you get this?”

​“There’s more.” She smiled serenely.

​Looking at the rest, I found all my secrets in picture format. And she knew them.

​“What do you want?” I tried to sound strong.

​“You know.” She nodded to her demand in my hand. “I’m assuming Jessamina will be hearing from you by the end of the week.”