“Has she always lived in Queen City?” Stump could use his connection to Henry, who knew everyone in the large city. While the owner of the Purple Pussycat might not know Zoey personally, he would be able to find out who did.
“I don’t know.” Penni raised her hands in bewilderment.
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
“I wouldn’t normally want you to snoop into one of my friend’s lives, but I don’t want to turn on the news one morning to find out she was a victim of a stalker and I could have stopped it.”
“I won’t let that happen.” Stump straightened in his chair to go open the door.
“Why? Because Ice ordered you to keep Grace happy, or because you are starting to like her?”
“I’ll find out if there is anything in Zoey’s life jeopardizing her safety. Zoey and I have one thing in common: I don’t like to share shit about mine either.”
“Zoey isn’t like the women you normally hook up with. She’s… special.”
Stump didn’t know what his relationship with Zoey was going to be. He only knew it was going somewhere. Until then, he wasn’t going to have Penni and Grace already imagining them married before he was able to get the woman in his bed. Even if he did, marriage wasn’t on the horizon. He had no intention of ever being tied to a particular woman.
“Penni, it was barely a kiss. Don’t read more into it than there was,” he cautioned. Stump didn’t want Penni building hopes for Zoey that weren’t going to come true. He might be attracted to her now, but few of his attractions lasted longer than a couple of months.
“I’m just saying—”
“I know what you’re saying…” He started to tell her to mind her own business, but then relented at Penni’s obvious concern. “I agree she is special,” Stump reluctantly admitted.
Pleased, Penni went into the back office as he sat back down at his desk, cursing to himself that he opened his mouth to allay her fears, despite his intention to keep his life private.
Texting Henry, he asked the man to find out any information he could. Then he finished the computer searches that Kaden wanted before Grace arrived.
When she did, he gave her the folder of the pictures and the data he researched to make the singer’s decision easier.
“You’re already finished?”
Taking the file from him, they both went into Penni’s office. She looked up from her computer as they entered.
“If you’re finished with that, I have another tour I need scheduled. It’s for a children’s production. I never booked this type of tour before. Use the schedule of cities that I booked for Mouth2Mouth, but find smaller venues in that area. It’s an adventure play for autistic children, so smaller venues would more suitable so the children won’t be overwhelmed.”
Grace took a seat at her desk. “I’ll email you Mouth2Mouth’s schedule.”
Stump returned to his desk, knowing he would be undisturbed until lunchtime.
As he worked, he kept a constant eye on Zoey’s door and on his cell phone, waiting for Henry’s reply.
When Penni and Grace entered his office to leave for lunch, he asked them if the restaurant they were going to had oatmeal.
They stopped at his question, both with big grins on their faces.
“Have you become one of Zoey’s followers?” Grace leaned over his computer. Switching the screen, she googled the restaurant’s menu. “You’re in luck. You want blueberries on it, too?”
“No, get me the donut-flavored one.”
“You’re taking away the health benefits from it by adding all that sugar.”
“You’re right. Get me the Coney dog with extra cheese and onion rings.”
“Zoey will smell your breath from across the hall,” Penni warned.
“Make it fries.”
“Good choice. Grace and I both thank you.”
“What for?”
“Zoey wouldn’t have been the only one treated to your bad breath for the rest of the day.”
Stump missed the days when he didn’t have to work with women. Men never commented on what he ate or his breath.
A ping from his phone alerted him to the incoming text as they left. Picking it up, he read the message twice before scrolling through his numbers to call Henry.
Stump could hear background music in the strip club when Henry answered.
“What do you mean Zoey doesn’t exist?” He was irritated that he waited all morning just to find out Henry came up emptyhanded.
“It means she’s not from Queen City. The first known address for her is at the address you gave me. Creed couldn’t find her anywhere out of the state either.”
“Why in the fuck did you ask Creed?” Stump could hear the belligerence in his own voice and wasn’t surprised when Henry called him on it.
“Watch how you talk to me. You asked me for a favor. I did it. Next time, ask someone else.”
“Sorry.” Stump ran a hand through his hair. Ice wouldn’t be happy that he pissed Henry off. He was responsible for filling the Predators’ coffers.