Chloe checked her messages for the tenth time in less than so many minutes. She was becoming obsessive. She hadn’t heard from Easton since the night of the barroom brawl. That was two days ago.
“Still no word from the White Knight?” Ty asked from where he sat in the stylist chair beside her.
She held out her wineglass for a refill. “No. If we were dating, I’m pretty sure that kiss was the breakup kind.”
Ty filled her glass, then his own. “Show me how he kissed you again.”
She lifted her palm to her lips and demonstrated the brief, unsatisfying kiss they’d shared. Actually, it had been a very nice kiss. But with Easton, she’d never be satisfied with a quick lip-lock. And then there’d been that look in his eyes. The one that said he was thinking of an excuse to take off. Work had always been hers. It seemed they had something else in common. Within minutes, he was headed for his pickup. Though he did turn to tell her to get inside before he reached his truck. The man was nothing if not protective…
She blinked. “Ty, I think I know what the problem is.”
He nodded sagely. “Me too. His brothers don’t like you.”
Even though that hurt to hear, she made sure the emotion didn’t show on her face. “You’re right, but that wasn’t the problem I was referring to. I guess I didn’t think this through. Easton and I never had a chance. It’s probably for the best that we didn’t take our relationship any further. I’ll be going home after the fashion show anyway.”
“You’re not giving up on Easton. He’s your one. His brothers are just being overprotective. All we have to do is prove to them that you’ve changed. And the only way you can do that is to stay in town. There’s nothing for you in LA. You got an audition for Estelle in London next week, and we both know she’s a shoo-in for the part.”
In her bid to keep Estelle from interfering in Cat and Grayson’s life, Chloe had called her former agent yesterday morning. By nine that night, Estelle had an audition for a docudrama about the queen of England. Ty was right, Estelle was perfect for the role. It was kind of depressing that the older actress had received an offer for an audition in less than twenty-four hours while…
Ty cut her off mid-thought as he continued. “I don’t like to think of you by yourself in LA, Diva. You don’t need to be in Hollywood to get work, you know.”
Given her recent experience with Estelle, obviously that was true. And if Chloe was honest, she didn’t like the thought of being alone in LA either. At least here she had Ty and her family. Cat had texted her yesterday and extended an olive branch—more like a twig, but whatever. At least her sister no longer hated her. Grayson had explained their kiss, and he’d also told Cat about Chloe’s heroic defense of Ty at the Penalty Box. All right, so Cat hadn’t exactly said heroic. She was just glad Chloe had been there to defend Ty. As to her sister’s engagement, from what Cat said, they still had issues to work out.
At the ping of an incoming message, both Ty’s and Chloe’s eyes jerked to her phone. They reached for it at the same time. “Ty, it’s my phone,” she groused when he grabbed her cell.
He reluctantly handed it over. She opened the message and couldn’t help releasing a disappointed sigh. The text wasn’t from Easton. “It’s from Kit Kat,” she told Ty. “Grayson just told her about Estelle’s audition. She thanked me for arranging it.”
“Okay, so say something like ‘I’ve got your back, sista.’”
Chloe pursed her lips and arched an eyebrow at him. When Cat texted her yesterday, Ty had insisted she let him help with her responses. He didn’t want her to blow her chance at a reconciliation. “I think I can take it from here, Ty,” she said and typed. I’ve got your back, sista!
“Oh, shoot,” she said when she realized what she’d done.
Ty leaned over and angled the screen. He smirked.
At the sound of another incoming message, they both leaned in to read the text. Tell Ty to quit hijacking your phone.
He laughed. “She knows me so well.”
For several minutes, Ty and Cat texted back and forth while Chloe sipped her wine, contemplating her disappointment that it wasn’t Easton texting her. Obviously she wasn’t ready to give up on him just yet. If he really was her one, they deserved a chance. Which she told Ty as soon as he put her phone down.
He clinked her wineglass with his. “Your fairy godfather is back on the job. Now here’s what I think you should do. Are you ready for it?” When she nodded, he said, “Convince the citizens of Christmas you’ve changed. Win them over. What do you think?”
“That your plan is doomed to fail. It’s a small town, Ty. Everyone knows everyone’s business, and they don’t forget a single thing. They don’t let you live down your past mistakes or let you change.”
“Okay, so you do something for the town. You’re rich, buy them, I don’t know, a new…Oh, wait, I do know. They’re up in arms because the school board plans to close Christmas High. Maddie’s been working day and night trying to save the school.”
“I’m not helping save Christmas High. Some of my worst memories are from my years attending that school.”
He nodded and topped up her wineglass. “I forgot. Don’t worry about it, we’ll think of something else. But the most important thing we need to do is come up with a plan to get Easton to call. Now don’t argue with Uncle Ty, he’s your one. He just needs to spend more time with you.”
“I think I know why Easton isn’t interested in me anymore.”
“Oh, please, that man is so hot for you he nearly—”
“Let me finish. You didn’t see him the other night, Ty. I did. We both agree that Easton’s a protector, right?”
“I didn’t name him the White Knight for no reason, Diva.”
“That’s what I mean. Everyone knows I needed protecting or at least I acted like I did. But that night at the bar, I didn’t. And now that I know my panic attacks don’t have anything to do with my heart, I’m not as, well, emotional or high-strung.” She caught Ty’s smirk and sighed. “Okay, so I’m a little emotional. But do you see what I’m getting at?”
“Umhm, and I need to ponder this a moment.” He tipped his head back and closed his eyes. After a couple of minutes of humming to himself—it sounded suspiciously like the theme song from the Princess Bride—he turned his head and smiled. “I’ve got it. The White Knight to the rescue.”
When he explained the plan, she said with a nervous hitch in her voice, “Ty, I don’t know about this. If Easton finds out—”
He waved her off. “You’re a brilliant actress. You’ll pull it off. And I’m going to help get you into the role.” He walked to the back of the salon and disappeared into his office. “Cross your fingers I don’t blow…” There was a pop and what looked like blue sparks shooting from behind the door, then the lights went out.
“Ty, are you all right?” she called out at the same time her cell phone rang. Searching the workstation, she found her phone and picked it up. “Hello.” There was nothing but heavy breathing coming over the line. Her pulse kicked up. “Who is this?”
“I’m watching you. I’m coming to get you,” someone said in a creepy falsetto. The line went dead. There was a loud crash to her right, followed by an eerie moan. “Ty!” she shrieked, jumping from the chair. Her heart pounding, she raced to the back of the salon and slammed into someone. She ran on the spot, screaming. Ty screamed, too.
She stopped screaming and running and swatted him. “That’s not funny! You scared me half to death.”
“I scared myself,” he panted. “Just let me sit for a minute.” He put out his hands and felt for a chair. She heard him taking long, steadying breaths, then he got up and moved away from her. “Okay, call Easton now.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea, Ty.”
“Do you want to see Easton and talk this over with him?”
“Well, yes, but can’t I just call him?”
“Diva, you’re the one who said he’s lost interest because he no longer has to protect—”
“All right, I’ll do it.” She quickly punched in his number before she changed her mind.
He answered on the second ring. “Chloe?”
“Hello, ah, East—” Something grabbed her leg, and she screamed. Ty looked up from where he lay on the floor with a ghoulish smile on his face. She screamed again.
“Chloe, what’s going on?” Easton shouted over the line.
“Stalker, deep breathing on the phone, and a really creepy voice saying he’s watching me…” The front door rattled. She looked down. Ty wasn’t there anymore. “I think he’s trying to break into the salon.” Even though she knew it was Ty, she was freaked out, her heart thumping against her ribs.
“Calm down. Where’s Ty?”
“I don’t know where—” The receptionist chair rolled across the floor with Ty in it. He looked like he was… “Dead!”
“I’m on my way. It’ll take me about fifteen minutes to get to you, but I’m calling Gage as soon as I get off—”
“No. No Gage. That’s not a good—”
He talked right over her. “Stay away from the windows and lock yourself in Ty’s office. Gage’ll call you on your cell to let you know when he gets there.”
He disconnected. Chloe stared at the phone. Ty rolled the chair to her feet. “He’s sending Gage, isn’t he?” She nodded. “We’re so screwed,” he said and fell back in the chair.
“I told you this was a bad idea!”
He threw up his arms. “It would have been fine if you hadn’t told him I was dead!
“I know. I know. Now we have to figure a way to get ourselves out of this.” She paced in front of him, chewing on her thumbnail. “All right, I have an idea.” She ran to the front of the salon and peeked out the closed blinds. She saw movement outside the police station and turned. “Do you have a back door or window?”
“Both. Good idea, I’ll hide in the alley until I see Easton arrive. Then I’ll—”
Chloe’s cell phone rang. “Go, go,” she whispered. Ty ran to the back of the salon. She took a second to get into character, then answered in a tremulous voice, “H-hello.”
“Hang tight, Chloe. I’ll be there in a minute. Have you had another call?” Gage asked.
“No, no—”
“Diva, the painters sealed the door shut,” Ty called out in a panicked whisper.
Chloe threw her arms up to silently say what am I supposed to do about it? then responded to Gage, “No, no calls.”
“Okay, just calm down. I’m here now; you can let me in.” The front door rattled.
As Ty stood there staring at her, Chloe disconnected from Gage. “Go out the window.”
* * *
Easton’s tires squealed as he turned onto Main Street. He’d broken every posted speed limit to get there. When he pulled in front of Ty’s salon, the lights of his truck shone on Gage’s pissed-off face. The tension in Easton’s shoulders eased slightly. At least it wasn’t panic. His brother in his sheriff’s uniform stood outside Diva yelling into his phone.
Easton jumped from his truck. “Where’s Chloe?”
Gage disconnected. “Inside. She won’t open the door because she says I could be the stalker impersonating a sheriff. Do I look like a stalker?” his brother gritted out from between clenched teeth.
No, but he did look kind of scary. “I’ll call her. Any sign of Ty?” he asked as he pulled out his cell phone.
“Cat said she was texting with them about an hour ago, and everything seemed fine. Although she thought they might have been drinking. She’s on her way. And Estelle hasn’t seen them for a few hours. They were here setting up for tomorrow’s grand opening.”
Chloe’s cell rang five times before going to voice mail. He pounded on the door. “Chloe, it’s Easton. Open up.”
His brother’s eyes narrowed. “Where were you?”
“Out for a drink with a…friend. Why?”
“Did Chloe happen to know you had a date tonight?”
“No, and it wasn’t a date.” At least he hadn’t thought it was. Nell had asked him to do her a favor and meet with a friend who needed computer advice. Easton hadn’t realized he’d been set up until he arrived at the restaurant. But there’s no way Chloe could have known about it.
“Good jeans, button-down shirt, and a jacket…It was a date. Keep trying to get Chloe to open the door while I check around back.”
He tried Chloe once more. Disconnecting when her cell went to voice mail again, he fought back a wave of panic. If he hadn’t known how much he cared about her before, he did now. The last twenty minutes had been hell.
Easton once again pounded on the door. It swung open to reveal his brother, who had one hand wrapped around the back of Chloe’s neck, the other wrapped around Ty’s. Gage was furious.
Easton frowned. “What’s going on?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. I caught them trying to sneak out the window.” Gage steered them into the dark shop. His brother switched on a flashlight and aimed it at the stylist chairs. “Sit,” he snapped. “Easton, open up the blinds.”
He did a quick scan of Chloe before he did as his brother directed. She looked cover-model perfect in a peach wrap dress and matching heels. More importantly, she didn’t look like she’d been hurt. Though she did look nervous. But just as he registered the hint of nerves, her expression smoothed over.
She lifted her chin. “The only reason we were sneaking out the window was because we thought you were the stalker, and you were trying to break down the front door. Right, Ty?”
Ty nodded. “Right.”
Gage crossed his arms over his chest. “I thought Ty wasn’t with you. You told Easton—”
“Well, that’s the funny part of the story. I mean, it wasn’t funny at the time. But I was in the loo, and Ty told me he was going to grab us a bite to eat. And then the lights went out, and I couldn’t see a thing. Not even the hand in front of my face.” She gave them a quick demonstration before continuing. “Then I heard a crash, and someone moaning. I didn’t realize it at the time, but Ty had fallen over…the chair. And then when I walked by, he grabbed me by the leg. That’s when I called Easton.”
“Really, so did he also tell you he was watching you?” Gage said in an exasperated voice.
Easton raised an eyebrow at her, wondering how she was going to get around that one. He probably should be pissed at her, but oddly enough, he wasn’t. Indirectly this was his fault. He’d been avoiding her, and he imagined this was her way of getting his attention. Most people would just pick up the phone, but not Chloe. He supposed that was one of the reasons he was attracted to her. Life with Chloe would never be boring. And, he was beginning to think, worth the effort he’d have to put into a long-distance relationship.
“Well, as you know, I have a vivid imagination. And Ty and I had been talking about our favorite stalker movies. Mine was Wait Until Dark. You may not have heard of it—the movie came out in the sixties—but Audrey Hepburn’s performance was brilliant.” She turned to Ty. “What was your favorite again?”
“Okay, I’ve heard enough. I don’t believe any of your story. And if your mother wasn’t married to my father, I’d throw you in jail right now for public mischief. This is serious, Chloe. While you were wasting my time playing games, someone could have—” He broke off when Chloe raised her finger.
“I don’t mean to interrupt you, Gage, or would you prefer Sherriff McBride? Anyhow, just so we’re clear on this, you have no grounds to arrest me.” His brother looked like he wanted to strangle her. “Easton called you, not me.”
“Consider this your last warning, Chloe. Next time you pull a stunt, any stunt at all, I’m throwing you in jail.” As Gage pivoted and strode for the door, his cell rang. “Hey, Liz, no, she’s fine. It was just Chloe being Chloe. She probably found out about Easton’s date tonight.”
Chloe stared up at him. “You had a date tonight?”