Derek clenched his fists. “What did the note say?”
“Nothing important.”
“Gabrielle…”
“It said, You were warned. But—”
He shook his head. “But nothing. Did you tell the police about the first note on your windshield?”
She nodded.
“And your car?”
She nodded again. “But we can’t be certain those things are related.”
“No, they’re coincidence,” he said, his sarcasm making his frustration clear.
“Fine.” She splayed her hands in front of her. “I’m just trying to calm you down. You’re getting all worked up.”
He was. His heart was beating hard against his chest and his palms sweat at the thought of someone wanting to hurt her in any way.
“Gabby, you’re coming home with me.” Where he could keep an eye on her. “I won’t take no for an answer.”
“As much as I appreciate your concern, you need to think this through.” She propped her hands on her hips, obviously ready to chastise him. “Someone is obviously after me. I don’t want to bring trouble to your doorstep.”
“I can handle it,” he said.
“You can, but do you really want to put your daughter at risk?”
That took the wind out of his argument. He ran a hand through his hair and groaned. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of Holly first.”
Her gaze softened. “You’re worried about me and I appreciate your concern. I do. But it’s better for everyone if I go back to Boston.”
He took her words like a punch in the stomach. Having just found her again, he wasn’t ready to let her go. “How do you know you’ll be any safer at home?”
“Because leaving is exactly what my tormenter wants me to do.” She bit down on her lower lip. “I can’t say it’s what I want to do, but I don’t see that I have any choice.”
He racked his brain for an alternative, but he couldn’t come up with one, either. “Maybe you’re right.”
She stepped closer, tipping her head back and meeting his gaze. “Will you miss me?”
He pulled her close and planted a long, sizzling kiss on her lips. One that made her light-headed and dizzy.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said, when she’d finally come up for air. “It’s a good thing I’m only an hour away. I might sleep at home, but I’ll be in town during the day. I still have research to do.”
He frowned. “I’m guessing that’s going to make someone even more unhappy.”
She nodded, a pleased smile on her face. “Exactly what I’m hoping for. I want to push them into showing their hand. How else can I find out who’s behind this unless I keep doing what I’m doing?”
“Unless you bait them, you mean?” Derek was beginning to like this scenario less and less.
“You might call it that.” She clasped her hand behind her back and swung from side to side, apparently pleased with her idea.
“I don’t like it. You’re deliberately trying to provoke this person?”
“I’m going to do my job. In the meantime, if you’re nice and supportive, you can visit with me while I’m in town.”
And keep an eye on her while he was at it.