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“Yeah, I was thinking that too. Why don’t you whip up some breakfast for everyone while I make that call.”
“He doesn’t have to cook breakfast. I’ll handle it.” Moira entered the kitchen looking fresh as a spring day in gray capri yoga pants and a soft pink tank top. Her gaze slid over me but held no hint or memory of our kiss. What was she playing at? Had it been that forgettable for her? Because it had been branded into my DNA.
“I hope we didn’t wake you, Moira.” Wyatt gave her a gentlemanly smile.
Moira returned his smile, and jealousy slammed into me with claws and teeth. I wanted to shove Wyatt out of the way. Make him and any man who came within arm’s reach of her regret it. What the fuck? I was acting like a caveman—over a woman. I’d never gotten bent out of shape like this when it came to women. And here I was, considering ripping apart one of my best friends because he smiled at her.
I was in trouble. I’d not even been in her presence for twenty-four hours yet, and I was already acting like an idiot.
“No. I’m usually up early, even with the late nights at the club.” Moira shrugged and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“I can cook breakfast. It’s no bother since you’re giving us a place to stay free of charge,” I offered, wanting to take care of her, which was also a new thing for me.
Moira finally turned her gaze my way. The moment our eyes connected, the air between us sizzled, amping the room temperature up to a hundred degrees. My entire body came alive under her stare. I wanted her with such vicious, clawing need that I clenched my fists to keep them from trembling. “While I appreciate the offer, it’s my kitchen, and I’ll handle breakfast.”
“We appreciate all you’ve done for us. I hope you know that,” Wyatt said.
Moira’s sunny disposition returned when she smiled at Wyatt. “I do. Give me an hour and breakfast will be ready.”
“We’ll get out of your hair.” I jerked my chin toward the living room. Wyatt nodded his understanding and followed me. There was plenty more we had to discuss. And it was better done without her hovering. It would worry Moira, and I refused to add to her burdens.
In the living room, I quietly murmured, “You go call the spook. I’ll wake up the guys. We’ll reconvene here in thirty before we eat, that way everyone is on the same page.”
Wyatt pulled out his cell and scrolled through his contacts. “Get James to examine her security cameras while I’m on the phone. See if he notices anything out of the ordinary.”
“After breakfast, we’ll search outside, make it look like we’re taking care of her yard as payment for her hospitality. There’s a lot of downed branches from the storm we can pick up.” The woman was too crafty by far. And I would only tell her when or if something was found, but not until then.
“Good. Be back shortly.” Wyatt sauntered off, heading out back.
The spook we worked with on multiple missions owed us some favors for saving his ass. In this instance, I would take whatever help we could get. Whether I hated being beholden to anyone for any reason. It wasn’t about me. It was about keeping her safe.
* * *
“Hey, check this out?” Lucas hollered from his perch on one of the bald cypress scattered around the perimeter of the yard and waved me over.
I cut the mower’s engine off. The story we told Moira was that we’d take care of her yard as payment for staying here. And it had worked like a charm. She’d smiled and everything. Then she headed in to work in her home office. The woman worked an awful lot.
But I respected her commitment and drive.
When I reached Lucas beneath the bald cypress, he pointed at a tree branch about six feet above our heads. The moment he pointed it out, I swore.
“Son of a bitch. Is that camera part of her security system?” It was the stalker’s. It had to be. And it was proof that whoever this was had no intention of backing down, even when we left.
“Doubtful. It’s totally different from the cameras stationed in her home and at her front door.”
“Here, mark it on the map for the spook to check out this evening.” I removed the map from my back pocket and handed it over.
“I’m gonna take this with me while I check all the trees. If there’s one, there’s bound to be more. You don’t set up surveillance like this and not have backup cameras and the ability to get more than one angle of your quarry,” Lucas stated, taking the roughly sketched map of the house and grounds I’d drawn earlier.
Camera surveillance took the stalking to another level completely. This wasn’t someone who had pure intentions. This guy was obsessed with Moira. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge. “You’re right. If we can paint an accurate picture for the spook, it’ll make their job easier when they’re conducting the bug sweep. And it’ll bring us one step closer to figuring out who this psycho is.”
“Yeah, but don’t you think we need to talk to local law enforcement?” Lucas asked.
“Wyatt and I are meeting Roman, Liam, and Owen for lunch today. One of them is sure to have someone in the area they would recommend.”
“I haven’t seen those guys in ages. Why aren’t we all going to meet them?”
I explained, “Because we need people here to guard Moira. Since I’m staying behind, I need to talk to them more. They’re going to be my backup on this op.”
