Page 42 of More Than a Fling

“Calm the fuck down! I stopped here to fill my tank, just like you. I can’t help it that we had the same idea. You’re starting to sound like a nut case Annie,” Bradley said.

“Whatever. I’m not comfortable with you showing up at my workplace or my condo. And you just happen to be pulling in right behind me to fill up your tank? You need to back off.”

Bradly replied, “Is that a threat?”

Annie stopped pumping her gas before she had even filled the tank so she could get the hell out of there as fast as possible. Putting her gas cap back on she didn’t wait for a receipt before jumping back into her car.

As she closed her door Bradley called out to her, “It was great running into you.” Annie gunned her motor and sped away.

Bradley stood scowling as the car disappeared from his sight. Her sexy red lips and eye makeup hadn’t escaped his notice. In his mind that could only mean one thing, she had a date with the fucking cowboy.

20

Gabe was firing up the grill when Annie jumped out of her car and ran toward him, “Annie! What’s wrong?” As he gathered her into his arms, he could feel her whole-body trembling as she cried.

“He is never going to leave me alone,” Annie said between sobs.

“Whoa, slow down, it’s okay babe, I’m here, who is never going to leave you alone?” He held her tight against him as he tried to figure out what was going on.

“My ex. I am so afraid he is never going to let me go,” she said, then wiped her sleeve across her nose sniffling.

“What’s he doing?”

“He turns up everywhere.”

“Is he threatening you? We can call the police.”

Annie laughed derisively, “Heisthe police.”

“What? Your ex is a cop? Let’s go inside and talk this through. Get your nerves calmed down a little, and decide what, if anything, needs to be done,” Gabe said.

They sat in Gabe’s tiny living room, with Annie snuggled up on his lap. She gave him a summary of what had led up to the initial breakup, control, jealousy, anger issues, then the back and forth, breaking up and reconciling, then the final break which Bradley refused to accept.

“He has shown up at my salon, I’ve seen him patrolling by my neighborhood, he confronted me when I was house sitting for Darcy because I hadn’t been home and he didn’t know where I was…”

“This guy sounds obsessed,” Gabe said.

“The other night when I went to hear you play, his partner and bestie, Ike, was there, and I knew he would report back to Bradley immediately. Ike was asking me questions about you; he saw us together between sets. I’m sure that got Bradley fired up.”

“I don’t care if he’s a cop, he’s not above the law,” Gabe said.

“I just told him that he needed to back off.”

“Maybe I should pay him a visit myself. Man to man,” Gabe said hugging her tighter.

“No! That would be a terrible idea. I’m alright now. I feel much calmer.” Placing her palm on Gabe’s toned stomach she said, “I think I heard your stomach growling, let’s get supper started.”

“If you’re sure about this. Look I don’t know the guy, but he sounds like a real piece of work. I’m not trying to scare you but stay alert.”

“You know, it really isn’t anything new, but it’s so stressful running into him. Maybe he was telling me the truth and just happened to be getting gas at the same time. Coincidences do happen.”

“Maybe it was, but I seriously doubt it,” Gabe said.

“I’m ready to change the subject. Just hold me.”

“You sure do feel good in my arms.”

“Yeah.”

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