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“I’m making a list.”
He frowned at me. “That reminds me, should I find a room? I haven’t yet…”
My mouth dropped open. I closed it. “Are you serious? I might stop talking to you if you don’t sleep next to me tonight.”
“I hate freeloading on that bastard’s money.”
I punched him lightly. “It’s my money now. Not that I know what the hell to do with it.” I grabbed his chin with one hand and made him look at me. “Sometimes you have to accept good fortune. Do you think anyone would be better off with it back in the MacCullen family coffers?”
He took my hand and held it tightly in his. “No.”
“Damn straight.”
Smiling, he shook his head a little. “Robin Hood Sally?”
“Maybe. At least I helped to break up a bunch of asshat home-grown terrorists. My patriotic duty.”
He stood up and pulled me over to a quieter spot in the pool. “Sally, I managed to find out what they know about the stalker. His name is Keith Miller, a twenty-six-year-old from Arizona who’s suspected of raping and brutally beating several women. His parents are afraid of him.” He gripped my shoulders and shook me a little. “He’s obsessed with finding, hurting, and killing you. You have to move to a new city, unconnected to anyone from Austin.”
My ears were ringing, my heartbeat like a drum in my ears. “I’m not moving. Do you have his picture?”
“I’ll send it to you.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Please don’t be stubborn. Stay safe first.”
My stomach clenched and the hair on the nape of my neck stood up. I hugged him hard and kissed his cheek. “Whatever happens, you did your best. How much time do you have off from work? Can you stay until Saturday?”
He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m not giving up. And I might have quit my job.”
“Is that the only way you can get a vacation from that place?”
“No. But I’m fed up. And caring for my mother is all night lately. You’re driving me batshit. Why the hell won’t you do what it takes to be safe?”
I swallowed and stared at his ear. Knowing Keith Miller’s name and history solidified him into the real and looming asshole terrorizing my life. “Because he’ll just follow me wherever I go. I don’t want to be isolated when that happens. I like my friends in Oregon. They know about the stalker. I’m getting ready—putting in time and money.”
His arms were still around me. “Hire a security detail.”
“Okay.”
He sighed. “You should moveandhire security.”
I kissed him. “Let’s go back to our vacation now, starting with a drink. I ordered dinner already. You know what? I just remembered you used to play poker. Let’s do a hold ’em tournament tomorrow.”
He squeezed me against him one more time then gave in and let me lead him to the bar. He went for a pint of microbrew then I took him over and introduced him to Amber and Mario.
The guys fell into easy conversation. They were talking about beer when Amber pulled me into the cabana.
“Good idea,” I said. “I’m going to change into my other bikini for dinner.”
“Mario wants to take me to his parents’ house tomorrow.” Amber held her fists up against her mouth. “Girl.”
“That’s great. Can’t really know someone until you see their family.” I turned my back on her and got out of the wet swimsuit then wrapped myself up in a towel. “Maybe it’s a little fast though?”
“Right. Seems too big for our third day together. He says it’s a large party—live music, banquet tables and all.” She pulled out a compact and checked her makeup. Amber seemed to materialize compacts out of thin air. “Can you come?”
“Hank and I? No, thanks, shug. I’m going to force him to relax every way I can think of.” I pulled some dry clothes out of my bag.
“Ugh,” she said around reapplying lipstick. “It doesn’t sound relaxing, does it?”
“He’s probably worth it.”
