Unforgettable Love (Journey of Love 3)

Keeping my eyes closed, I let the heat of the water and the smell of the lavender completely take all my troubles away as I listened to Stoney LaRue sing in my ears. My body slowly began to relax as images of Dodge popped into my mind. I wasn’t sure how long I was in the tub, but when my body started to chill, I knew I had been sitting in there long enough. Pulling the plug, I stepped out of my claw-foot tub and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around my body, I headed into my bedroom. Stopping dead in my tracks, I sucked in a breath as I looked at the red rose laying on my pillow. Spinning around, I quickly began going through my house. Walking up to the front door, I noticed it was still locked. Running into the kitchen, I checked the back door.

Locked.

My heart began pounding as I walked back to the bedroom; tears began streaming down my face as I stood and stared at the rose.

Someone had been in my house.

Wiping my tears away with my shaky hands, I walked to the side of my bed and grabbed the rose. Dropping the rose back onto the bed, Robert popped into my head.

Covering my mouth, I fell onto my bed and began sobbing. Oh my god. Oh my god, he was in my house! Robert was in my house.

Sitting up, I wiped my tears away shook my head and tried to calm myself down. “No. You will not make me afraid to be in my own home. I will not let you.”

Quickly getting up, I made my way to the dresser and grabbed panties, a T-shirt, and sweatpants. Getting dressed as fast as I could, I grabbed the rose and headed to my car. I wasn’t sure if I should even be doing this, but he was the only person I knew to turn to.

Before heading over to my car, I lifted the lid to my trash can and threw the rose away. Getting in my car, I attempted to control my shaking hands. Reaching to turn my car on, I jumped when my phone started ringing. Picking it up, it was an unknown number.

Taking in a deep breath, I said, “Hello?”

“What are you doing, Sierra?”

My body tensed and I instantly began sweating as my heart dropped to my stomach.

“R-Robert? How in the hell did you get in my house?”

Robert let out a small chuckle. “Sierra, please. We both know I’m capable of getting to you if I want to. But, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Is this your latest tactic, Robert? Trying to scare me? It won’t work. You’re never going to win and you will never lay a hand on me again. I swear.”

“Is that a threat, Sierra? Are you threatening my life, sweetheart?”

Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “Why, darling, I would never threaten your life. Remember, if I wanted to, I’d have your ass sitting in jail for hitting me. Do you remember that night . . . sweetheart?”

Robert let out a laugh that ran through my body like a thousand pins were poking me.

“A moment of weakness on my part. I already told you I was drunk and not thinking straight. I didn’t call to talk about that unfortunate night.”

Letting out a gruff laugh, I said, “We have nothing to talk about, Robert. All communication will now be going through my lawyer.”

Robert let out a loud laugh. “Sierra, you do realize by changing lawyers, it’s not going to help your case. He isn’t going to be able to help you. At all.”

Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes. “He is going to be able to help me, Robert, and I promise you, he won’t let you near me ever again.”

Jumping when I heard something crashing in the background, I let out a small scream. “Fuck him, Sierra. You are mine, do you understand that? You think you can do better than me, you damn whore? I was the best thing that ever happened to you.”

Covering my mouth with my hand, I attempted to hold back my sobs. Why is he doing this? What happened to the man I fell in love with and married?

Taking the phone away from my ear, I dragged in a few breaths to calm myself down. Placing the phone back against my ear, I concentrated on speaking clearly.

“Robert, you bore me with your childish actions. The only person in this scenario who is a whore is my ex-friend who was shacking up with a married man. I suggest you stop calling me, and if you ever set foot in my house again . . . I will kill you. And Robert? That is not a threat . . . that’s a promise.”

Pulling my phone back, I hit End and let my tears fall as I looked for Dodge’s number. Oh. My. God. Robert is having me followed. He’s breaking into my house and having me followed. What in the hell is going on with him?

“Hello?”

All I could hear were people talking and what sounded like a band playing in the background. Then I heard a female voice, “Aaron, let’s dance again!”

My heart slammed against my chest as I realized Dodge must be out on a date. Shit. Attempting to keep my voice from cracking, I failed big time. “Dodge? Umm . . . sorry . . . is now a bad time to talk to you?”

“Sierra? No! Wait, give me two seconds to get outside so I can hear better.”

Smiling slightly, I liked the idea he would stop in the middle of a date to take my call.

Taking in a deep breath, I waited for Dodge to start talking again. Dropping my head back on the headrest, I let out a frustrated moan. This was stupid to be calling Dodge first. I should be calling my father. But Dodge did tell me if I got anything from Robert to send it his way. So I was doing the right thing . . . I think.

The moment the music stopped, Dodge started speaking again. “What’s wrong?”

You’ve got this, Sierra. You are not a pussy. Taking in a deep breath, I tried to talk. “You said . . . um . . . to call you if . . .”

“Sierra, did Robert do something? Did he call you or text you again?”

“He was . . . well, I mean I think he was in my house, Dodge.”

The line remained silent for a few seconds. “Where are you?”

“Sitting in my car in my driveway.”

Dodge covered up the phone and said something to someone in a muffled voice. “Sierra?”

“Yeah?” I hated how weak my voice sounded.

“Meet me at Hyde Park Bar and Grill in fifteen minutes.”

He’s leaving his date? For me? Holy hell, pull yourself together, Sierra. You’re his client for Christ’s sake and that’s it. It didn’t matter that I had fantasized many a lonely night about Dodge’s lips or his hands moving over my body.

“Dodge, are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt anything; I mean if you’re on a date or something. I can call my father and we can wait until tomorrow to talk.”

“No, Sierra. I want to talk to you now. If your ex is breaking into your house, it can’t wait until tomorrow to talk. Karen will understand.”

Karen? Who in the hell is Karen? Balling my fists, I fought the urge to pound this girl’s face into the ground.

“Sierra? Are you still there?”

Closing my eyes, I let out a small breath as I whispered, “Yes, I’ll meet you at Hyde Park Bar and Grill.”

Fifteen minutes later, I walked in the restaurant and looked around. Dodge wasn’t there yet so I made my way over to the bar.

Sitting down, I smiled as the bartender approached me. “Hey there, beautiful.”

“Flattery will for sure get you at least a smile,” I said with a purr. Laughing, he wiped the bar down in front of me.

“What will you have?”

“She’ll take a water, she’s driving.”

The hairs on my body rose as I slowly looked over my shoulder to see Robert standing there.

“W-what in the hell are you doing? Following me now, Robert? Is my life that interesting to you?”

I was stunned by how calm I sounded, when really my heart was beating so incredibly fast I was sure Robert would hear it.

Robert sat down as the bartender handed me a bottle of water. “Excuse me, I’ll take a lemon drop please.”

Glancing at Robert quickly, I looked back to the bartender, laughed, and said, “Hello? He’s not my father and the last I checked I was twenty-one and able to order my own drinks. I’ll have a lemon dr

op. Please.”

Smiling and giving me a wink, the bartender said, “Yes ma’am. One lemon drop coming up.”