Page 39 of Under My Skin

I smiled. I already liked this woman. She was like a younger version of my mom.

“I can imagine. This job probably gets scary sometimes.”

“You can say that again,” she half-laughed, half-groaned. “Now go ahead and make yourself comfortable and tell me what’s been going on.”

I took a seat in an armchair, and she rolled her padded computer chair out from behind the screens. And I proceeded to tell her everything about what had been happening for the last several months. All the emails, how it had escalated over the past few weeks, the sudden shift in tone after I’d been photographed with Dani on Friday night, and the email Dani had gotten.

“So, yeah. I’m not going to lie, I’m officially creeped out,” I admitted. “This isn’t just a harmless fan with too much time on her hands anymore.”

“No, it’s not,” she agreed. “You did the right thing calling me. So, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to give Glenn a call first thing in the morning and tell him to make time in his schedule, and the three of us are going to go to the police together and file a report. If you show up with the both of usin tow, they’ll know we mean business, and then I’ll work with them to get to the bottom of this.”

I sighed and buried my face in my palms. How had my life become such a clusterfuck? What had I done to make this woman so obsessed with me? Andwhothe hell was she?

Was it someone I’d slept with in the past who had gotten jealous when she saw me with other women? Someone Ihadn’tslept with who was jealous that I’d picked someone else over her? Or was it someone I’d never even met who was fantasizing a relationship with me?

“Will the police even do anything?” I asked as I raised my eyes back to her. “I don’t know who this is, so it’s not like I can file a restraining order.”

“Honey, I’ve seen things like this get ugly real fast,” she said softly as she put a hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “With the threats this woman has made to you and your girlfriend already, you can’t take chances. We need to get in front of this, and we’re already late in the game.”

I should have gotten annoyed with her for calling me “honey.” I did when most women called me by pet names because it implied a relationship that didn’t exist. But coming from Bobbi, it just felt different. Maybe because I could tell she was a true Southerner who called everyone that. Maybe because shewasn’ttrying to make a pass at me.

Or maybe it was because I was too focused on the fact that she’d called Dani my girlfriend. Too focused on how right that word felt. On how much I wanted what Dani and I had to be real, even though I knew it never would be.

But that wasn’t why I was here, so I just nodded and addressed the issue at hand.

“Okay. I’ll call Glenn’s office first thing tomorrow, but I’m meeting with a security company in the morning to get a detail started for Dani and Isaac. Does tomorrow afternoon work?”

“Tomorrow afternoon’s great,” she said with half a smile. “I know this is a lot to handle, but I promise I’ll help you put a stop to it.”

After saying my goodbyes and promising I’d tell Bobbi what time to meet me at the police station after I talked to Glenn, I headed back to my car and pulled my phone out.

Everything in me was telling me to call Dani and check on her. Make sure she really was okay. Maybe even tell her again that she didn’t have to go through with this, even though that was the last thing in the world I wanted to do. But I didn’t want to seem too overbearing, so I made myself settle for sending her a text.

Me

Just wanted to let you know I just left the PI’s office. She and my lawyer are going to go with me to file a police report tomorrow afternoon. They might need to talk to you since you’re involved now too. I’m so sorry you got dragged into this mess.

Dani

It’s not your fault. And let them know they’re welcome to call me if they need to. I just might end up having to call them back if they call while I’m in class.

Me

Are you really okay, sweetheart? I can only imagine what went through your head when you got that email.

Dani

I’m okay, but I’ll feel a lot better once Isaac and I have security. *gritting teeth emoji*

Me

I promise that’s my number one priority. Before I even set foot in that police station. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to either one of you. You know that, right?

Dani

I know.

And I also know I’m probably safer sticking it out with you and having this security detail than I would be if I backed out. So you don’t need to worry. I’m still in. *thumbs-up emoji*

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