“Wel , I could’ve—”
“He’s your fiancé now, Cherry,” Wade interrupted, his voice gentling. “You don’t have to make excuses for wanting to spend time with him.”
He tossed Gracie a look over his shoulder. “Besides, it’s not real y a hardship to spend time wi
th your pretty receptionist.”
Cherry stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek, then leaned around him to look at Gracie. “You have my permission to drop-kick him if you want, hon. It would do him some good.”
Gracie laughed, but Wade could tel it was strained. She never seemed at ease around people. Not even Cherry, and everyone got along with her. “It’s fine. He was just leaving anyway. Right, Wade?”
Wade stood and stepped away from the desk. “Fine. My heart can only be stomped on so many times.”
The phone rang, and he watched Gracie fairly leap for it. While she took the cal , Wade said his good-byes to Cherry and moved toward the door. He was halfway to his truck when he remembered he’d forgotten to tel Cherry about the phone cal he’d received from her ex-husband.
The asshole suddenly had it in his head that he wanted Cherry back. The chance of that happening was about as good as finding Elvis alive and living it up in Graceland.
Wade sprinted back across the parking lot and pul ed open the door, expecting to see Gracie where he’d left her behind the receptionist desk, but her seat was empty. Figuring she was taking a break, Wade started down the short hal toward Cherry’s private office. A sound caught his attention, and he stopped. His gaze narrowed on the closed bathroom door at the end of the hal . He moved closer and listened harder. The noise came again, and it sounded suspiciously like a woman crying. Cherry or Gracie? Wade knocked softly. He didn’t want to intrude, but the thought of either woman in tears didn’t sit right with him.
“Y-Yes?”
Gracie’s trembling voice floated out to him. What the hel ? “Gracie, is everything al right?”
“F-Fine.”
Fine my ass. In the months Gracie had been working for Cherry he’d seen her spitting mad, shy as a butterfly, and sarcastic as hel . He’d never once heard that quiver in her voice. He didn’t like it one damn bit either. He wasn’t going anywhere until he got to the bottom of it. As he waited, a horrible thought struck, and he froze. Had he been the cause? His teasing? He’d thought their little cat and mouse thing was al part of the game, but maybe it made Gracie more uncomfortable than she’d let on.
The door swung open, and Wade stiffened. Gracie’s head was down, and she was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. She didn’t see him and smacked right into his chest, nearly knocking herself over backwards. Wade grabbed her shoulders to steady her before she had a chance to topple. Her head shot up, and her pretty green eyes fil ed with tears the instant their gazes clashed. Shit, that sure as hel wasn’t real promising.
“I think it’s time you tel me what’s wrong, Gracie. And don’t tel me it’s nothing.”
She shook her head and blew her nose as she tried to step around him. Wade blocked her path. He cupped her chin in his palm and forced her to look at him. “Is it me? Did I do this?”
She blinked a couple times, as if unsure what he meant, then she let out a hysterical laugh. “Wade, your ego is showing.”
The fact that she was laughing, even while tears continued to stream down her cheeks, was further proof that something was very wrong. For the first time, Wade looked beyond the soft red hair, curvy figure, and pouty lips. He saw the dark circles under Gracie’s eyes now, and they spoke volumes. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. “Gracie, I know we may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I can be a good listener if you want to talk.”
She squared her shoulders and gently wiped her eyes in an attempt to get a handle on her emotions. “It’s just a woman thing, Wade. I’m fine, real y.” The chimes over the door jangled, signaling a client’s arrival. “I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for the concern.”
She brushed past him, and Wade was left staring after her, dumbfounded. His instincts were screaming at him. There was more to that crying jag than PMS. He’d bet his new truck on it. Short of tying her to a chair and interrogating her, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do.
When he went out to the front, his gaze sought out hers. She smiled, and she looked as contained as ever. If it weren’t for the redness in her eyes, he never would’ve guessed she’d been so upset. Which made him wonder just how often she wore that mask. Layers and Gracie Baron were old friends. Wade was determined to get beneath a few and find out more about the intriguing woman.
Of course, it might help if she weren’t so damned stubborn.
Gracie watched through the large glass windows as Wade climbed into his truck and drove off. She let out a relieved sigh. She was smart enough to know that had Cherry’s next client not shown up when he did, she would have ended up pouring out al her problems to the big, intimidating man. It would be a horrible mistake to involve someone else in the mess her life had become. It was enough she had to live it; others shouldn’t be forced to as wel .
She looked back at her monitor and groaned. Another e-mail from her crazy stalker. This one had a more sinister feel to it somehow. He’d threatened her before, but now it seemed there was an edge of desperation to the words on the screen.
I watch you every day, my love. Every move you make is recorded in my soul. I love the way you move. Always in such a rush and yet so graceful. You should know, though, I’m not happy about your second job. I asked you to quit, and you ignored me. This can’t be allowed to continue. I’ve let you have your fun, but it’s time you understand obedience. It’s for your own good; remember that. I love you, Gracie Lynn.
Nevertheless, sometimes I will need to be tough to prove to you that our love can withstand all obstacles.
Forever,
Your Admirer
Gracie shivered even as she saved the e-mail to her flash drive. She’d started saving them when she realized the man wasn’t just a secret admirer; he was plain nuts. She now had over a hundred e-mails. At first it had seemed sweet. He’d been complimentary and always signed the e-mails with “your admirer.” She’d never replied, but she’d felt flattered. The attention had bolstered her self-esteem. Then he’d used her first and middle name together, and it had sent cold chil s down her spine.