Travis makes a disgusted sound in the back of his throat and, dammit, it’s sexy.
“Not right now, Josh. We are in the height of tourist season. Lots of new people in these parts.”
“He’s right,” I say, hating that I’m agreeing with him once again.
Josh nods. “Yes, and that is an issue. But here in the neighborhood, it would look odd if someone one of the LOLs don’t know is skulking around. And I know that Grady probably has guards and a fantastic security system, you will need security if you go out in San Antonio.”
“Dammit, you’re right. But, I’m sure At Home will handle that.”
“I don’t work for them anymore.”
Josh shows no signs of surprise, so I figure that Travis told him. “Grady says you’re still part of the family.”
It takes a second, but then it hits me what he just said. I turn to him, my eyes narrowing. “So, you told Grady, but not me? Poor little woman can’t handle the big bad stuff?”
He rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath that I don’t quite get.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Just, Syd agreed.”
“You told Syd?” Why does that hurt? It shouldn’t. She’s his sister, and they are close. They tell each other a lot more than other male/female siblings do, and they are in each other’s lives more than others. Still.
Again, he rolls his eyes. “I called Grady because I thought he should know about it and she got suspicious. She called me.”
That doesn’t make me feel better, well, maybe just a little. I turn my attention to Josh. “You think that I should stay here? I mean…”
“Listen, right now, we have a theory that this is someone who is stalking you. Like I said, I could be wrong.” But he doesn’t think so. Most people look at the lanky sheriff with the almost ever-present smile and think he’s affable, and maybe even a little slow. But he was a member of the Texas Rangers at one time, and I know he also did undercover work. His instincts are probably pretty good about things like this.
“Staying here makes her a target. I don’t like it.” Travis crosses his arms over his massive chest.
“If she has a stalker, she’s a target no matter where she goes. We might be able to control it here. San Antonio, it’s all faces in the crowd. I do have a suggestion though.”
“What’s that?” I ask, not liking the way he’s looking at me. From the apology I see in his eyes, I know I am not going to want to hear his suggestion.
“Travis should stay with you.”
I don’t look at the man in question. Still, I sense his stillness. I have a feeling he didn’t know Josh was going to suggest that.
“Listen, guys, I know you’re having…issues. But, with another person here in the house with you, it makes it harder for someone to bother you while you’re at home.”
“I have a first-rate security system.”
“Which you don’t always set,” Travis growls.
I glance at him. He’s frowning, his expression dark, and it sends another beat of arousal humming through my blood. I really, really need help. Like world class help. He’s glowering at me and my panties are growing damper by the minute.
I tear my gaze from Travis and try my best to concentrate on Josh, who is nodding.
“We all know that, Nancy. And if we know that, your stalker could know it too. He could be watching your every move and notice if you don’t set the alarm.”
There is something there in his voice, something that leaves me even more worried than before. “You think this person knows me that well?”
Josh’s jaw ticks as he nods. “He, at least, has a passing acquaintance. We’re going to need to know if either of you have had any threats in the last year or so.”
“I’ll contact my agent. He handles all of that and has kept all the info.”
Josh nods as he pulls out a card. “Have him email me here. Also, we’re going to have to know if anything has been sent to At Home.”
“Texting Grady and Syd right now,” Travis says. His phone starts ringing a couple seconds later, and he takes the call, walking away from us.
“You’re going to let him stay here, right?”
I want to argue with him, but I know better. It makes sense to have him here, even if we are...having issues. “Yeah.”
“Listen, I know this is hard on you, especially since you two are going through… something, but I think it’s best. It’s better him than the security detail that the Hawthornes would want to have on you.”
“You don’t think that they would do that, do you?”
“Syd would do anything to keep you safe, so I’m pretty sure they would. That would draw attention to you in town. You know the LOLs won’t pay attention to Travis staying here.”
The rumble of Travis voice reaches us, and I can tell he’s talking to Syd. Or at least Syd is one of the people he’s talking to at the moment.
“I need you to agree to this Nancy. It’s…well, I really don’t want to put a car specifically on your house night and day.”
I study him and know he would do it. Worse, the LOLs will pay attention, it would be in the Express, and then my family would show up. They don’t give a shit about me, but they do worry about appearances. In fact, they would go overboard in protection. They would suffocate me.
“I said okay.”
I hate this. Not just because of the issues we are facing in our professional relationship, but from an early age, I had my life planned out by other people. It feels as if it’s happening all over again, some asshole doing things that make it difficult for me to just live.
“No, we don’t need y’all here,” Travis says, his voice rising.
“Is there anyone outside of emails I’ll get from your agent and At Home that could have something against you?”
“How about that Reggie dude?” Travis asks as he walks back in the kitchen. He’s off the phone and he’s frowning at me. I frown right back. Then his words register.
“Oh, yeah, hmm, it could be him, but I don’t know if he was in town by then.”
“Reggie Andrews is back in town?” Josh asks, grimness deepening his voice. It says a lot that he knows Reggie even though the creep has never lived here.
I nod. “He’s visiting his grandfather.”
“And, her grandmother was trying to set them up.”
Ugh, Travis can’t keep his trap shut. Josh looks at me. “Is that true?”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. Not getting anywhere near that trash.”
He nods. “Good. We’ve never had a problem with him in town, but that’s because I tend to have someone assigned to keeping up with him when he’s here.”
“He accosted her at the diner.”
I roll my eyes. “He didn’t accost me, but he did show up there this morning. I didn’t know he was in town.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure I get someone to check out when he got here and what he’s been up to. I really wish he wouldn’t visit his grandfather.”
“You know about him?”
“Yeah, there was a complaint against him stalking a tourist, so he will be on our list.”