Obsession Falls(72)

Maybe the reality of the situation was sinking in. Someone really, really hated me, and they were willing to go to great lengths to show it.

Trying to pull myself together, I swiped away the tears that fell. In an instant, Josiah’s arms were around me. He held me tight against his solid body, sure and strong. I relaxed into him, taking comfort in his embrace. And something else sank in.

He really had followed me out here to keep me safe.

And in that moment, I fell a little bit more in love with Josiah Haven.





July 26th





I don’t know why it took me so long to figure it out. I blame her. She riles up my emotions, makes me too angry to think straight. It doesn’t help that she’s everywhere. Always running around with her camera, playing intrepid reporter.

Too bad the pretty little journalist can’t crack her own story.

Showing her that I can still get to her, no matter what the mountain man does, is only one piece of the puzzle. I need to sever the ties that bind her here. Cut off her connections. Take away her reasons to stay.

She thinks a little spray paint is bad? I’m going to dismantle her life, piece by piece. I’m going to ruin her.

And I’m just getting started.





CHAPTER 28





Audrey





No one in the office could see my laptop screen, but the urge to close it was there. It felt weird to be looking at an email from another company, especially when the purpose of the email was to invite me to interview for a position.

I wasn’t as excited as I thought I’d be. When I’d received a similar email from Lou, offering an interview for my current position, I’d celebrated like I’d just won the lottery.

This job was a better fit and it paid more. So why wasn’t I jumping out of my chair or rushing to answer as quickly as I could?

Probably because it was in Massachusetts.

It was just a request for an interview. It didn’t mean I’d get the job. And if I did get the job, I wouldn’t necessarily have to take it.

Who was I and what had happened to Audrey? A few months ago, I would have been salivating over this job, especially because it was in Massachusetts. Now I couldn’t imagine saying yes to a cross-country move.

I knew what had happened. Josiah Haven.

Was I really going to decline an interview for a good job?

Yes. Yes, I was.

Because I already knew I wouldn’t take it if they offered it to me. And I didn’t want to waste everyone’s time.

Was I crazy?

Yeah, maybe.

I typed a polite response and tried not to think about the implications of the decision I’d just made. Maybe I’d regret it. Maybe Josiah and I would fizzle out or he’d get tired of me or I’d realize I was nuts to think I could happily stay in this town.

But, at least for now, I was going to let my heart lead the way. And my heart wanted Josiah.

Sandra came in balancing a drink carrier filled with coffees and a bag in her other hand. Ledger didn’t seem to notice, so I got up to help her with the door.

“Thanks,” she said as I held the door for her. “In case you didn’t notice, the coffee maker broke. I figured that meant we needed muffins, too. They had blueberry.”

“I love blueberry muffins. Thank you.”

“Thanks for your help, Ledger,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

He took out one of his earbuds. “What?”

She put the drink carrier on her desk and picked up one of the coffee cups. “I got you a latte. Maybe the caffeine will motivate you to get some work done.”

He grinned, clearly ignoring her familiar insult, and grabbed his coffee like a happy toddler. “Thanks.”

She lifted another cup and handed it to me. “For you. Help yourself to a muffin. I’ll take Lou his coffee.”

Sandra placed her coffee on her desk, then took Lou’s to his office. I grabbed my cup and a muffin and took them to my desk.

Ledger held out a napkin toward me. “Here.”

“Thanks.”

Mayor Bill walked by the front window and peeked in. He was wearing a Squirrel Protection Squad t-shirt. They’d even put their names on the back, like sports jerseys. He spotted me and waved.

I waved back. Someone from the SPS walked by at least once a day. It was heartwarming to realize they weren’t just looking after the squirrels.

“So, has your stalker struck again?” Sandra asked on her way back to her desk.

“Not so far.”

It had been almost a week since the spray paint incident. Sometimes I wondered what was worse, finding the stalker had struck again, or the anticipation of what he might do next.

“It sucks that someone’s doing that to you,” Ledger said.

“Thanks. It’s so frustrating. I wish I knew why.”

“Have you considered that it might be a jealous ex? I don’t mean yours, I mean one of Josiah’s.”

“I’ve certainly thought about it. He doesn’t think he has anyone in his past who hates him that much.”

Sandra tilted her head, as if she were thinking about it. “He might be right.”

“How would you know?”

“It’s a small town. Not a lot happens here that we don’t all know about. Seems to me, Josiah has been burned a time or two. Women who thought they were too good for Tilikum.”