Nowhere Safe

CHAPTER 39



Pacing the living area of the suite, Josh straightened his tux, glad he’d had the forethought to pack for any situation. And equally thankful that Sunday was practically done. Trish just had a cocktail party in the hotel ballroom before they gave industry awards.

That phone call hadn’t broken her, but it had pushed her hard. And Josh’s team had gotten nothing from the tap on her cell phone. The only sound that had come through to them had been loud static and the call hadn’t lasted long enough to triangulate.

Chessmaster was a f*cking sophisticated traitor.

Trish sailed out of the bedroom draped in a shimmering-white gown, backless again. How did she expect him to protect her while she was dressed like a gift begging to be unwrapped?

“Would you mind hooking the clasp at my neck, Josh?”

Not as much as he minded her parading through a room full of men in that outfit. She swiveled around in front of him, holding the neckline in place with a hand at each shoulder.

He fingered the clips. His eyes roamed down her bare back to where the sparkling material hugged a choice derriere before falling to her ankles. He finished clipping the catch and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“You’re beautiful.” Josh forced his hands not to finger the black curls arranged with sparklies.

“Thanks.” She turned around, her eyes skittish and having a hard time landing on any one spot. “For last night, too.”

Something had shifted between them during the early hours of the morning. He felt the change and knew she did as well. Hell, he’d slept for the first time in two years without seeing Chelsea’s dead eyes. He’d had Trish in his arms.

He wasn’t going to analyze what that meant, exactly, but he wouldn’t try to pretend Trish wasn’t the reason.

Hopefully this meant she would listen to him when it came time for him to leave Miami, but Trish’s nerves were tapped out from dealing with the stalker. Josh wouldn’t load her emotional plate with anything else right now. When they returned home and the world no longer encroached on their privacy, they could discuss their relationship.

He could make this work with a woman whose brother had been in covert ops for years. Trish would understand if Josh explained there would always be parts of his life that he couldn’t share but that had nothing to do with how much he cared for her.

Josh traced her neck with a finger. “I want you to enjoy tonight, but be careful.”

“I will, but don’t panic if I step away from you.”

He wouldn’t panic, but he might hurt someone if they got between him and her. When they exited the elevator downstairs, Trish stopped and dug through her purse.

“What are you looking for?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She smiled, but her eyes told another story.

AA

Trish groused at herself for being so addle-brained. Josh had distracted her again. The last place she remembered seeing the pepper spray camouflaged as a lipstick holder had been on her vanity.

Josh threw her another speculative look. “Has anything else happened you want to tell me about?”

Other than the stalker now threatening to harm you? No.

“Nah, I’m just tired, Sugar.” She gave him her best life-is-perfect smile. If Josh knew about the whole conversation she’d had with the stalker last night, he’d have her bundled up and on the next airplane home.

Then Zane would get involved.

She’d end up living in some safe house for God knows how long. She’d had enough of living like a hunted animal. The stalker wanted her. Here was as good a place as any, especially with Zane and Angel out of the picture.

This way, Trish had only Josh to protect.

And she’d seen a bit of his warrior side already. He could hold his own. She was no slack either.

He took her arm and led her toward the party, parking her near one of the six hors d'oeuvre tables spread around the ballroom. “I’ll be right back.”

She watched Josh as he filled a plate of munchies only because she enjoyed the way his hands moved.

She could trust Josh with everything. Except her heart.

Gunter and Olivia swept up as Josh returned to Trish’s side. Actually, Gunter walked like a bag of potatoes with feet, but Olivia really did sweep through a room. She probably spent hours in front of a mirror perfecting her moves.

“My, my, you two are becoming quite a pair,” Gunter said with more sarcasm than normal.

“Gunter, don’t start on me,” Trish warned.

“Oh, I understand,” the German drawled. “He’s here to keep an eye on you, right? Custody and all that.”

“How would you know that?”

“The police interviewed me as well and when I inquired about your status, I was informed that the FBI had authority over you.”

Olivia was either oblivious to the conversation going on or didn’t care since it was not focused on her. “How chic to have a personal bodyguard, Trish. Does he rent out?” Olivia asked, wiggling her well-stacked little body in Josh’s direction.

Josh cringed. God love him.

Gunter sniffed at Olivia’s statement. “He’s a computer geek, Liv. Bodyguards don’t touch their clients unless they’re in danger.”

“Well then, as Trish’s bodyguard, I feel the need to pull her from the line of fire. Excuse us.” Josh smiled at the odd pair’s sour faces. He took Trish by the arm and guided her over to a small round-top table covered with black linen.

“I’m sorry you’re catching their abuse, Josh.” She sat in the chair he held out for her.

“Those two would have to do a lot more than that to bother me. But I won’t have them ragging on you.” Josh glanced around. “This is wide open. There’s Heidi across the room heading this way. You should be safe here. I’ll go get us a couple of club sodas and be right back.” He looked down at her. “If you’re okay with that.”

“Thanks. I’d like that.”

His smile of appreciation took her breath.

She kept him in sight as he crossed the room, unable to drag her eyes away. His long, elegant stride drew the eyes of every female he passed. She stretched her neck, trying to follow his form as he melted into the crowd. Olivia, the blonde half-pint cougar goddess, apparently had her hottie radar tuned to high, because Trish saw her whirl like she was on a spindle to watch Josh as he walked toward the food tables. Olivia set a beeline course to intercept him. Trish just shook her head.

Leanne and now Olivia. The man was a blonde magnet.

And so what if he was?

Trish had to give him up when she returned home. Fair enough. Just not right now. She had thrown all caution to the wind last night to have this little bit of heaven that would disappear soon.

A twenty-something, blonde, Meg Ryan type in an ultra-short, red spandex dress fell into step behind Josh, headed for the bar. Based on the way she was checking out his butt, Trish knew exactly what was on that blonde’s mind.

Across the room, she saw Heidi speaking to someone, but her gaze kept flitting away. Was she searching for where Trish had landed? Trish stood and waved until she caught Heidi’s attention, then sat down again.

Gunter appeared from nowhere. “Having a good time?”

She managed not to jump or snap at him, but she was on edge enough lately without people sneaking up on her. “It’s been a nice convention. What about you? I saw you across the room yesterday, but couldn’t get over to talk to you.”

He sniffed, a sound that matched the disgusted look on his face. “I’ve made a few worthy contacts, but nothing earth-shattering.”

Heidi showed up wearing silver spandex tights with a faux tiger skin sweater. “Hi Gunter.”

“Heidi.”

Trish detected irritation in Heidi’s voice. Why?

Fingers tapping on her hip, Heidi asked Trish, “Where’s Josh?”

“Getting some food and drinks.”

At the mention of Josh, the disgust on Gunter’s face dialed up another level. “He’s becoming a permanent fixture.”

Something in his tone pricked Trish’s temper. Or, maybe she was taking out her tiring weekend on the easiest target.

“Yes, he is,” Heidi said, smiling. She turned her head back and forth, searching the crowd. “Our men should be back soon. Bunko said he was getting drinks, too.”

Our men? Trish glanced between Heidi and Gunter, trying to figure out why Heidi seemed to be purposely poking at the older man.

“On that note, I’m off to find a drink for myself.” Gunter ambled away, blending into the crowd.

“Thought he’d never leave. He really gets on my nerves some days,” Heidi grumbled.

“He’s even getting on my nerves tonight, but what was with all that our men thing?”

Heidi’s entire body brightened with excitement. “I didn’t want to talk in front of him, because I checked our emails for ReSolution and I have news for you.”

“What?”

“Dixon’s campaign manager contacted you. He said the Senator is still on to film the segment for Treasured Past on Tuesday.”

“Are you serious?” Trish couldn’t believe she might finally be getting a break.

“Yes, I am. In fact, he said the Senator also agreed to allow the television producers to do some additional filming of the Senator’s private collection in Chicago. Dixon agreed as long as you flew up tomorrow to participate. His campaign manager apologized for any inconvenience, but he said they’re planning on it and the studio is booking your ticket tonight since they have the information from your application file.”

Trish rolled her eyes. “As if I wouldn’t cancel everything just to do that. Oh, my God! This is amazing!

It took a moment for Trish to realize her phone was buzzing in her purse. After a day of attendees grumbling over cellular calls not going through down here on the conference level she’d forgotten about her phone, but text messages came through on and off. Trish was so caught up in being excited over Heidi’s good news that she just stared at the phone display, not comprehending at first.

Go to your room and wait for further instructions.

Don’t push me to make others pay.

The stalker was here?

Trish looked up, searching the room. What did she think? That the stalker would be standing nearby, holding a phone and staring at her? But the message didn’t have its usual taunting quality.

And the number was an Atlanta area code.

Was the stalker using a local disposable phone?

She couldn’t spend time on questions she couldn’t answer, not with Josh, Heidi and Bunko’s safety to worry about. If she told Heidi she was going to the room, then Heidi would call Josh immediately.

“What’s up?” Heidi asked, turning to follow Trish’s gaze.

Think fast. Trish shoved the phone back in her purse. “I’ve got to find a bathroom.”

Heidi turned back. “I’ll go with you. Josh wouldn’t want you to go alone.”

“No.” That had come out too harsh. “If you aren’t here he’ll panic that something has happened. I’m just going to the bathroom, Heidi.”

“Can you wait a sec until one of the boys gets here?”

Trish put her hand to her stomach and grimaced as if she had intestinal pain. “I have to go now. Security is everywhere. Just sit tight and I’ll probably be back before Josh gets here.”

Doubtful since she was headed to their suite.

“I’ll be there right behind you as soon as I find one of the guys.” Heidi pulled out her cell phone.

Now would be a good time for the poor cellular service to work in Trish’s favor.

She stood and took off toward the restrooms, then made a direction change as soon as she was out of Heidi’s sight and hurried to the elevator lobby. No one could enter that lobby without showing their key card to security, then they had to use the card to activate the elevator. With her suite six steps from the elevator, she felt competent enough from her workouts with Arnie to make it there unharmed.

Then she’d hunt for her pepper spray first thing.

But why did the stalker want her in her hotel room? Was this another game like the night she had to sit in the car for over an hour?

The minute she passed through security, her cell phone rang with the phone number blocked.

Worried the stalker would retaliate against Josh, Heidi or Bunko for Trish being slow to comply, she answered it with a breathless, “Hello?”

The call dropped before she heard a word.

When she stepped off the elevator onto her floor, her phone rang again with a blocked number. She was quick on the button. “I’m here.”

A robotic voice said, “Tick tock, tick...”

The call died again.

Damn! She rushed to the room and shut the door quickly behind her. Her hands were shaking so hard she almost dropped the phone.

She stood waiting, but it didn’t ring again.

For once, she begged silently for the stalker to call her back.

AA

Josh waited impatiently for the bartender to serve the two couples ahead of him. Heidi was with Trish in the middle of the room. She’d told him that Heidi and Bunko were also recovering alcoholics, which was why Trish had been adamant that night at her shop when she told police that her employees didn’t drink. He’d told Trish that she had good instincts, and after spending time with Heidi and Bunko, he’d figured out that Trish was also a good judge of character.

He’d been right to bring in friends she could trust. No one would bother her tonight with three of them watching out for her. Even knowing that, worry ate at him.

Olivia sidled up next to him. “Lookee here, lookee here. I’m glad to see you at this boring event even if Gunter isn’t.”

“Oh?” Just what was the platinum diva up to?

“Maybe with you in the picture, Gunter will give up on Trish. I sincerely hope you keep her.”

Keep Trish? Olivia finally said something Josh agreed with. “What have you got against Trish?” he asked, tired of the witch’s caustic digs.

“Of all women, I don’t get why Gunter is interested in her.”

Josh started to tell her it was because Trish epitomized everything a woman like Olivia would never come close to being. Instead he said, “Trish is a terrific woman. She’s attractive and witty, works hard and cares for the people important to her. I don’t see how any man wouldn’t want her.”

But those other men couldn’t have her.

Olivia fanned her hand, dismissing his remarks. “Regardless of all that, Trish looks just like Gunter’s ex-wife. You’d think he’d want someone different, like me.”

“Then why don’t you work harder to get him and leave Trish alone?”

“Am I bothering Trish? How lovely.” Olivia smiled and pranced away.

Josh picked up the two drinks and fought his way back through the crowd. Something about what Olivia said pricked a memory he couldn’t pull up but had a distinct feeling the information was important.