Page 78 of Free to Run
He grabs his cell to make a quick outbound call. “I need the VIN on Keene’s car, and I don’t want to go through the analysts.” He holds the phone up to his shoulder as he types. “Got it.” A pause before he smiles. “Yeah, Charlie. Cassidy and the babies are fine.” Looking over at me, he smirks. “Ali’s doing okay too. I’ll have the girls call you. Thanks.” He sits back and laces his hands over his stomach. “It’s not your car.”
“How do you—” My question is interrupted by a knock at the door. Caleb clears the screens in front of him before calling out, “Enter.”
Alison comes in with a bouquet of roses and a huge smile on her face. Placing them on one of the smaller conference room tables, she moves directly to me. “They’re beautiful, and I love them.” Her arms move around my neck, still holding the card. Before I can say a word, she continues. “Of course, I’d love to spend the weekend at the inn with you.” Without a thought that Caleb is also in the room, she brushes her lips against mine and murmurs, “I didn’t know you had that in you.”
I didn’t. Because I never sent them.
“Let me see if they got the card right,” I cajole her. Giving me one of her dazzling smiles, she hands it over.
You’re looking so stressed. How about we work on us this weekend? Let’s stop playing games and meet at the inn?
Flipping the card over, I see the seal on the back. MD. Melody. She sent the flowers. But they were meant for me, not Alison.
Fuck.
I have to think fast.
“There’s only one thing they got wrong about the card, baby,” I say softly. Her smile dims.
“What’s that?”
“I wanted to take you next weekend. I was waffling about it over the phone because I couldn’t remember if you had a wedding. The florist probably got sick of uncertainty and put the wrong date down,” I bluff.
“I could get out of it,” she whispers.
“Don’t, baby. Things are starting to get back on track for you and the family. I already have the reservation for next weekend anyway.” The lie keeps expanding.
Then again, what are a few lies going to cost me when it means protecting this woman from danger?
“Okay. I’ll put it on the planner so everyone knows we’re out of town,” she breathes. Her eyes are still sparkling. “Can I have my card back?”
No. “Right after I call the florist. I want to talk with them about the mistake. This could have caused an issue, and they need to be aware of it.”
She grins. “Of course you do.” After one more quick kiss, she turns to walk to the door. She opens it and reaches for her flowers.
Shit. The flowers.
“Babe. Let me bring them down once I have a chance to talk with the florist.” And after I make sure my crazy stalker didn’t put any hidden cameras inside. “This way, I can see where they are in your office.”
Alison’s smile could light the darkest corner of my soul if I didn’t have such foul things running through my mind.
The door closes, and Caleb springs up from behind the conference room table. “Shit. You don’t think…”
I hand him the card. “I know. They weren’t meant for her.”
He reads the card, flips it over, and sees the embossed MD on the back. “You have to tell Ali, Keene.”
“I will once I’m certain she’s not still traumatized by the way we started or how her family treated her.” I shoot Caleb a look. “Do you think she can take much more right now?”
He lets out a deep sigh. “She’s stronger than you’re giving her credit for.”
“I know that. I also know her fears about me run deep,” I admit. I inhale sharply. “I can’t lose her again, Caleb.” My hands skim over the delicate roses in the vase. I’m cursing, as I know this will kill them faster. I make a mental note to send Alison flowers after our trip to the inn to make up for this.
It’s on the fourth bloom that I find the first camera.
The seventh, I find the second.
Amid the greenery, I find the third.
