“You’re right. I’m sure I match his type perfectly then.”
She squints her eyes and furrows her brows causing squiggly lines to form on her forehead. “You better keep him in arm’s reach. There are others who want him and can give him more.”
“He was out of my arm’s reach earlier when you threw yourself at him and he didn’t stray too far off, now did he?”
“It might be a different story when you’re not in the same room,” she answers quickly.
As I laugh at her assertion, her expression darkens. “I assure you, Kayla, if you can take him from me, then you can have him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have friends waiting.” I don’t wait for her to reply. I step past her leaving her with her mouth gaped. I can’t help but smile at Tanner’s composure thing rubbing off on me. I could’ve easily ripped her ass in half, but I remained cool and collected. Go me!
When I arrive at the table, I down Jess’ drink to ease my nerves.
“What was that about?” Jess asks.
“Oh, nothing. Jealousy, that’s all.” I shrug.
“There you are!” Tanner grabs my hand, “Come on, I have to give a speech for dad, and we have to be at his table.” Petrified, I glance up at him. I don’t do well in front of everyone. “Samantha, I’m his son. I have to be up there.”
Tanner looks nervous as we take our seats, taking slow breaths and wiping his palms on his pants. “Mr. Cool, Collected, Composed Tanner Weston nervous? The one who can talk in a meeting and make his girlfriend melt in her skirt is nervous?” I tease.
“Ha. I’m not good at making speeches, only quick thoughts.”
His dad rises and begins to give his own speech about how the company came about, how his father encouraged him to be successful, and how he’s passed the encouragement down to Tanner. I clutch Tanner’s hand when his dad begins to express how proud he is of him for stepping up the way he has. Tanner gives me a quick glance, beaming from his compliments and melting my heart in the process. His dad goes on cracking jokes about his age although never revealing the true number, and when he turns his attention to Lynn, the love they have for each other is unmistakable.
Tanner kisses my cheek before standing to give his speech, and it fills me with confidence and makes me forget we had a past full of lies.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. First off, I want to thank everyone for joining us for this event. It means more than you know seeing our family, our colleagues, and our faithful customers here. I want to thank my father. Not only for displaying the utmost humbleness in a position such as his, but for the guidance and lessons he’s taught me throughout my life. I would not be the man I am today if not for my father. So, on this day I want to thank God for granting me the privilege of having him in my life for another year. I pray when I’m his age, I will have become half the man he is. Happy Birthday, old man.”
The speeches and banters come to an end and Tanner decides he wants to take me home. I have no objections since my feet are on fire from these damned heels. We make our way around, telling some of the company goodnight and finding his parents. Tanner leans down and kisses his mother’s cheek and shakes his dad’s hand.
Lynn reaches and gives me a tight hug, “You two look so in love. Take care of my baby boy, and he’ll take care of you. Just remember what I said earlier, dear,” she whispers in my ear.
“He’s in good hands,” I say.
“Samantha, I’m glad to see my boy has found a great girl. Don’t go running out on him,” Mr. Weston says grabbing my shoulders.
“Dad,” Tanner interjects, “we’ve already figured out she can’t run faster than me.” He winks giving me a playful smile.
Chapter 35
On my way from my coffee refill, Dana hands me a small package without much small talk. She is one exception to everyone treating me the same. She doesn’t talk to me much anymore and when she does it’s very professional. Not that I care, we were never close.
Adam has had me busy this morning working on a presentation and a few charts. He and Tanner have been actively pursuing an overseas client and it’s causing me to lose alone time with Tanner. Either he’s working late or I am. I’m beginning to miss him, but I cherish the moments when we are finally together. Sometimes they’re sweet and sometimes it’s a race to rip the clothes off each other.
Returning to my desk, I open the package expecting some paperwork for Adam. Instead, I choke, terrorized at the sight. There are pictures of my apartment and one of my front door. The loud hum of my heartbeat is taking over the air around me. Somehow I continue to flip through them. Windows, my car, and then I freeze, panic sets in, and terror forces bile to rise as I stare at myself sleeping in
my
bed. Different nights, different clothes. Weeks and weeks of me sleeping.
I shove out of the chair running toward Tanner’s office, not really knowing if he’s there or not. I’m turning corners and zigzagging through people walking the halls who give me concerned looks as I pass them. The elevator, of course, seems to slow time, slow to a snail’s pace if not slower, but when the doors begin to open, I bolt out. This floor is mainly empty and it takes me no time to fly past his assistant’s desk and burst through his doors, surprising him at my not so graceful entrance.
“The sick bastard was in my house!” I toss the box down on his desk in front of him.
Tanner pauses for a moment. I can’t tell what the hell he’s thinking. He stands, looking behind me, repressed. I follow his gaze still trying to catch my breath.
“Mr. Aker. Mr. Trice, could you excuse us for a moment, please?” The men nearly bump into each other trying to get out of the office.
“Tanner, the sick bastard was in my fucking house!” I repeat still breathless.
He begins looking through the pictures, his eyes darkening with each turn. He picks up his phone and pushes a few buttons. “Dana, sorry to bother you, but please forward all my calls to voicemail. Yes…I need you to get Adam out of his meeting and tell him to finish talking with Mr. Aker and Mr. Trice…Thank you.” I blink utterly confused how he could be handling this situation so well. There’s no way, business or not, I could stay that calm. He picks up the phone again and begins dialing, “I’m calling the detective. Samantha, we’re going to figure this out.”
“Seriously? You’re going to try to calm me down right now?” I snap.
He ignores me, and summons the detective to his office, then calls Dana back telling her to allow him and Jess in.
_________________________
“Miss Beckman, who has access to your apartment other than Miss Lindell?” the detective asks from the chair across from me.
“No one.”
“We’re two women living alone. We don’t allow anyone into our apartment,” Jess adds holding my hand.
“I need you to do something for me. This might be tough, but I need you to look through these pictures and tell me if you recognize when they could have been taken.” His apologetic brown eyes actually show concern.
I don’t move, staring at the malicious photos in his hands.
“Sam, you have to try. I’ll help you.” Jess squeezes my hand and grabs the photos leaning them in between both of us.
“This one is from the night we had some drinks at the bar. I doubt you remember. You were so drunk. I put you in the bed,” she says. I do remember that night, and yes I was plastered.
“Do you know how long ago that was?” Bennell says.
“When Tanner and I split, I don’t know, a few months ago maybe.” Tanner squeezes my shoulder. We both hate talking about that time in our lives.
“Sam,” Jess’ voice falters for a second, “these are after you and Tanner took a break. I remember this green shirt. You went to bed crying that night,” she finishes in a whisper. I cringe at her words frustrated that Tanner has to know.
We flip through several more unable to pinpoint when they were taken when all of a sudden, Tanner rips one from our hands pulling it in closer. “Son of a bitch!” he hisses. Detective Bennell lines his sights on Tanner studying his expression. “This is the night I stayed with you.”
He lowers the picture. “The black box,” he points.
“I don’t understand. You’re not in the picture,” I say confused.
“We basically left at the same time around 7:45. The bastard had to have come after that,” Jess says panicky.
“I woke around 8:45 that morning. I remember, cause I called you for lunch,” I glance at Jess, “whoever it is had to be watching.” My mind races and then it clicks, sending me shooting out of my chair. “Oh my God, Jess. The thermostat! You said Marty took a look at it and it was fine. That’s the only explanation.” Air is starting to feel like it’s not filling my lungs, the room begins to turn dark, and Jess is moving at me slow motion, their voices far away.
“Samantha?” I hear his voice. He sounds scared, something’s wrong. “Samantha?”
My eyes flicker open, instantly I know I’m on the floor. “You fainted.” Tanner removes the cold washcloth from my forehead. “Slow, Samantha,” he tells me as I begin to sit up.
“I’m scared,” my voice quavers and tears engulf me. I sob into Tanner’s chest sitting on the floor, not caring who’s in the room with us.
“I’m sending a unit to your apartment now. They will fingerprint the whole place. Do you have a key?” Bennell asks Jess.
I hear her scrounging through her purse and keys begin to jingle. “Thank you,” he says to her.
Tanner looks up to Jess, “Can you take her to my house? Mack will be there. I’m going to go and get some of her things.” I look up to him puzzled but am greeted by his warm smile, “Do you think I’m going to let you stay there while this sicko is roaming the streets?”
“What about Jess?”
“Don’t worry about me, girl. I’ll get Marty to stay with me. We’re basically on the same schedule, so I won’t be alone.” She kisses the top of my hair, motherly hen style, and smiles at me. She always knows how to comfort me.
_________________________
My eyes jerk open and confusion sets in. I lie motionless, listening and soaking my surroundings in before realizing I’m at Tanner’s house. I must have been exhausted because I don’t remember falling asleep here on the couch. I begin to look around. The house is eerily quiet. Figuring I know where he is, I turn to the barn. Gut feelings are always right. Tanner is with Belle and Onyx and it’s a precious sight to see. He’s rubbing and speaking to Belle, and jealous Onyx nudges him for the attention. He looks cherished being pushed between both of them begging for his attention.
As much as I would love to stand here and watch the three of them be chummy with each other, a shower sounds great so I can wash away all these creepy ass feelings.
The hot water cascading around my body feels absolutely amazing. I rest my head against the white subway tiles and let the steam work its magic on my anxious body.
Tanner is sitting on the loveseat in front of the fireplace when I exit wrapped in a towel. His strong arms are spread out with his head resting on the back, his eyes taking in the sight of me.
“Uh, sorry. I really needed a shower.” I feel like I’m imposing and making myself too much at home.
He smiles wide. “No need to apologize, it’s yours too.”
“Are you going back to work?”
“No. I called Adam. He’s going to handle my business for a while.” His eyes are still attached to my body while I dress.
“He can do that?” I pull my shirt over my head.
He hikes up a brow, “Other than dad, Adam is my next best fill in. If I decided to take a month off, I know Adam could handle everything. He also knows to be on the lookout with your mail.”
I sit down beside him. “You told him?”
“Only told him that someone is sending you threatening letters and that someone broke into your apartment. I didn’t give him any other details, it’s not my place for that,” he smiles gently rubbing my thigh. “Can I ask you something?” His gentle smile fades into a tight line, worry forcing wrinkles to emerge on his forehead.
“Anything.”
“I…um,” he pauses trying to form the right words, “do you want to call your parents and tell them?”
“No.” My voice is dry. I wouldn’t call them to let them know I was on fire in a barrel, buried alive.
“I have never heard you speak of them.”
I close my eyes fending off the memories trying to intrude. “I’m not getting into details. I don’t want to talk about it in depth. I had a shitty childhood. My mother contributed to it, and I don’t know my father. I was removed from her house and thrown on my grandmother, who didn’t want me because…well I was mad at the world. I was a burden on everyone.” I wince at the disturbing memories. I’ve never told anyone before, never had to because I’ve never let myself get this close. I take a deep breath, “When I was seventeen, I got emancipated. Jess is the only one I consider family. If she ever leaves, I will have no one. That’s all I want to say, please don’t question me further. It’s something I don’t want to relive again.”
He studies me with aching eyes and shakes his head, “Are you hungry?”
“Can I cook?” He gives me an uncertain glance but I ignore it. Of course he doesn’t know I can cook, he’s full of money and refuses to dirty up dishes. “Do you mind if I invite Jess and Marty?”