Sarah checked her watch. Three o’clock. Time to head up to the house and start dinner. The week had dragged, but tomorrow was Saturday, and her hike with Bruce. Her heart skipped. Working around him had been hard enough before he’d kissed her. Now every time he came close, her body tingled. And she’d swear he found more ways to be near her than ever before. She shook her head. Better focus on cleaning up and making a meal.
She headed to the far corner of the tack room and bent over to pick up tools. Soft footsteps sounded behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck raised.
“Don’t stand on my account. I like the view,” Todd said.
Her stomach catapulted. She swung around and glanced behind him at the empty barn. His car hadn’t been in the lot or she would have kept a better eye out. He must have just shown up.
“I have work to do.” She tried to move past him, but he reached and leaned his palm against the wall, blocking her path. Damn it. He might be bigger, but she had moves and speed.
“I’ve been waiting for the chance to have a word with you, alone.” He inched closer.
She glanced around for anything she could use as a weapon, but nothing was in reach. “We really have nothing to discuss. Now if you don’t mind—”
“You can stop with the haughty act. You’re a stable hand not a princess.” His mouth twisted. “A little respect out of you might be a nice change. I pay good money to board here.”
“You’re not my boss. And I’m not on your payroll.”
“You could be. Is that what it takes?” He sneered and raised an eyebrow.
Son of a bitch. Her body tensed, ready to take action.
“Don’t play innocent with me. I’ve seen the way you parade around here. What do you expect people to think when you send out those signals? I just want a little piece of that hot ass of yours like everyone else.” He slithered even closer. “Money’s no object. I can make it worth your time. Clothes? A car? What’s your price? Everyone has one.”
He reached a hand out and brushed the side of her breast.
Bastard. She wound her arm back and slapped him hard in the face.
He staggered to the right, and she darted past him. Her hand stung as she ran out the entrance. Good. Maybe she’d left a mark.
“You’re going to pay for that, whore,” he yelled after her.
She ran past the horses and out into the sunlight.
Joe rounded the corner of the barn. “What’s going on? I heard someone shout.”
The sight of him quelled her fight-or-flight response.
Todd burst out of the stables, a bright red handprint on his cheek and blood on his lip.
Joe took one look at him and waved his shovel as he marched toward Todd. “Get the hell out of here, and don’t even think of coming back.”
Todd glowered at Joe and then at Sarah.
“I mean it. Send someone for your horse. If you step one foot on this place again, I’ll shoot you,” Joe said.
“You couldn’t pay me to come back to this shithole. I’m done slumming. This dump isn’t good enough for me, and neither are you.” He spit on the ground in front of Sarah and stomped to the parking lot.
Greg jogged over from the field. “What’s going on?”
“You okay, Sarah?” Joe asked.
“I’m fine.” She nodded, her insides still shaky.
Greg’s nostrils flared. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. I handled it,” she said.
Bruce’s truck pulled in as Todd gunned his car. The wheels churned dirt and spit up stones before the Vette thundered down the driveway.
“Shit’s gonna hit the fan now,” Joe said in a low voice.
The truck door swung open and Bruce barged out. His gaze flew to where they were standing, and he sprinted over to them, his mouth set. That expression didn’t bode well.
Joe turned to Greg. “If you ever see Todd here, come get me. This place is off-limits now.”
“I’ll take care of him myself.” Greg’s chest puffed out.
Bruce looked up and down Sarah’s body as if checking for injuries. “What’s going on?”
“It’s under control.” Joe hefted the shovel.
“Why was Todd racing out of here? Did he do something to you?” Bruce stepped closer to Sarah.
“He tried, but no.” Lucky for Todd, he’d escaped.
Bruce’s eyes hardened with hot fury, and he yanked his keys from his pocket. “He’s a dead man.”
Joe grabbed his arm. “Don’t run off half-cocked and get into trouble. He’s not worth it.”
“I don’t give a damn. If he so much as touched her—”
“I told you it’s handled. I ordered him off the farm.” Joe banged the shoved on the ground.
“Not good enough. He needs a physical reminder.” Bruce jerked his arm away from Joe.
“He got one already,” Joe said.
Bruce swung around. “What?”
Sarah cleared her throat. “From me. I slapped him. Hard.”
“Drew blood.” Joe nodded as if proud. “I think he got the point.”
“Wish I’d been here.” Greg tapped a fist to his palm. “I’d have done more damage.”
The guys were all such macho men, wanting to defend her. Her heart swelled. She waved a hand. “Let’s please forget about this. I appreciate the support, but it’s over, and we have work to do.”
Joe and Greg looked toward the parking lot. After some grumbling, they walked back to the fields.
Bruce’s mouth drew into a hard line. “What did he do?”
“Please, let it go.” She took a step toward the stables.
He placed a hand on her arm. “Tell me.”
She blew out a breath. “Fine. He offered to pay me for sex and tried to feel me up. I slapped him and ran. You heard the rest from Joe.”
Bruce’s eyes turned dangerously dark. Good thing Todd had left.
“Pay you for sex?” Bruce fisted his hands and shook his head. “Screw it. Debbie has his address. I’m getting it. He’s dead.”
“Oh my God. Please stop.” Sarah clasped his arm when he took a step toward the house. “The man is filthy rich. If you touch him, he’ll lawyer up, and you’ll be in legal trouble forever. You could lose your clients. He’s not coming back.” She gazed up at him. “Please, I can’t take any more drama.”
Lynn’s car pulled into the lot.
Bruce glanced at his watch and frowned.
Sarah sensed his hesitation. She didn’t want any more trouble for him on her part. “Besides, the vets will be here soon, and I know you don’t want to disappoint them.”
Bruce sighed and nodded. “Fine. But if he steps one foot on this farm, he’s mine.”
Yikes. Maybe she was safe with all the men-at-arms surrounding her. At least she could eliminate Todd as the stalker. When he’d yelled, his voice sounded different from the stalker’s. Todd was just a spoiled brat who thought he could buy whatever he wanted. And now the jerk wouldn’t be hanging around anymore.
If only she could get rid of the stalker so easily.
Leonard adjusted his glasses and checked his email. Twenty-three days since Sarah had left, and still no replies from her. That didn’t mean she wasn’t getting his messages. He could picture her hunched over the computer reading and rereading them, excitement in her eyes as she realized he wouldn’t give up. She’d probably rub her hands together and peek around to see if anyone noticed her reaction because she’d be in some public place, like a coffee shop or library. Even that would be fun for her. Logging on to a computer and hoping there’d be a message from him.
He frowned. If she read his emails, then she should be coming back. Someone must still control her.
She hadn’t gone to Maddie’s, Anne’s, or her parents’. He had people watching their homes. Her sisters might be useful if she didn’t come back soon. Nothing more motivating than a relative in distress. He clicked on his photo file and brought up pictures of Anne and Maddie.
His cell phone rang.
George.
Leonard’s heart leaped. When he had needed a gun to kill Audrey, he’d hacked into the police computer database and found George, who came through with one. The guy had a list of offenses a mile long. Arrested multiple times. Now he was at Maddie’s apartment in search of any clues that might lead to Sarah’s whereabouts. Maybe he had a lead.
Leonard answered the phone. “Find anything?”
“Yeah, but I’m done being your bitch. After I give you this information, we’re finished.” George ground out the words.
“I don’t think so. One click on the computer and everyone will know you snitched to get out of jail early. And I didn’t dig any deeper, but I bet you have other secrets I could find.” Leonard sat back in his chair.
“Fuck you. Squeal and I’ll tell the cops about your hard-on for this chick. I’m done after this. You want what I found, that’s the deal,” George said in a no-holds-barred tone.
Leonard frowned. The cops couldn’t do much, but he wouldn’t need George anymore if he found Sarah. Besides, he could always go back on his word later. What mattered now was getting the information. He had to find his ballerina. “Okay. What do you have?”
“There’s a notepad here with impressions from a torn-off sheet. Did some pencil rubbing to get an address in Maryland written under some travel dates to Pennsylvania.”
Leonard stroked his chin. Pennsylvania. Maddie had booked a trip on her computer for an upcoming symposium. Everything checked out except her return flight was several days after the event ended. If Sarah was in Pennsylvania or nearby, Maddie might be staying to visit her. Excitement coursed through his veins.
George gave him the address along with a threat should Leonard contact him again, and then the line went dead. It didn’t matter. He had what he needed. His pulse raced as he pulled up an online map to survey the satellite images of the area. Adjusting his glasses, he leaned closer to the screen. A horse farm in rural Maryland. Exactly the type of place someone would send Sarah to hide. Nothing but trees, fields, and country roads. Yes. This had to be the spot.
He went to his bedroom and worked his way from left to right, touching every framed picture of Sarah precisely in the middle until he reached the last one. For the first time since she’d left, his body relaxed.
When he returned to his computer, he booked an open seat on the red-eye. Perfect. He would be in Maryland tomorrow morning.
Soon, Sarah, soon.