Page 11 of Bad For A Weekend

I sigh dramatically. “You’re a hard one to get over, Corey Giles.”

“You know it.” He takes a few steps before turning back around. “You didn’t answer. Are you good?”

I wave him off. “I’m fine. Go save your heartthrob status.”

His dimples show through his megawatt smile. “Your new mom is out there somewhere.”

I point a finger into my open mouth. “Gag me.”

He winks and takes off toward his office, leaving me laughing. God, I love my dad. Even when he drives me crazy.

I’m building the energy to grab a snack and struggle bus my way to my room when my phone vibrates. It’s probably Ziggy wondering how my first practice back went. But when I glance at my phone, I see the text is from an unknown number. Ice water runs through my veins as I read.

Unknown: You were supposed to bring us together but all you’ve done is tear us apart. I won’t stop until he’s mine.

Owen

“It doesn’t make sense,” Corey roars, Baylor’s phone in his hand as he reads the text message again.

“And you’re certain it’s not Veronica?” Hudson asks.

After Baylor showed Corey the cryptic message, he called my brother and me to his office for a meeting. In my opinion, it reads like a jealous ex-girlfriend. While there are plenty from his past, it would make more sense for it to be his latest breakup.

“When it comes to Baylor’s safety, I’m not ruling anyone out, but I can’t see a successful actress hiring someone to take my kid because I told her I wouldn’t go to Bali with her over graduation weekend.”

“But not going to Bali was enough to cause you to break up?” I ask, crossing my ankle over my knee.

“It was more than that.” Corey slumps in his chair, rolling up his sleeves. “She was mad that I’d invite Baylor to dinner when we went out or cancel a date if Bay was sick. She’s not a parent, so she doesn’t understand. And if it were her who sent the text, then it wouldn’t say Baylor was supposed to bring us together. I didn’t even introduce the two until we’d been dating for six months.” Corey sets the phone down on his desk, but his eyes remain glued to the text on the screen.

“I don’t think we should discredit her quite yet,” I say.

“What about the detectives working the case? Have they gotten anywhere with the guy who took Baylor?” Corey asks.

“Will Story claims to be a transient hired to abduct Baylor for ten thousand dollars. He was supposed to get paid when the guy picked her up. But he never showed,” Hudson says.

I lift my brows. “The guy?”

“Yeah. He said it was a man who approached him.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything. That guy could’ve been hired to facilitate,” Hudson says. “Do you mind if I take the phone so my IT guys can look into it?”

“You don’t think I should turn it over to the detectives?”

“If you want to, go right ahead. But they have caseloads by the hundreds, whereas you have a security firm with just as many resources as they do and can make this a top priority.”

Corey sighs and pushes the phone across his desk. “Take it.”

Hudson stands and pockets it. “I recommend calling the detective and telling him you think they should interview Veronica because of her erratic behavior.”

“Fine. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll let you know what we find out.” Hudson gives Corey a nod and punches my shoulder before walking out.

“Dad?” Baylor hobbles in.

“Yeah, honey?”

“I’m gonna run over to Ziggy’s for a while. Things here are getting too tense.” She’s changed from her plaid skirt into a coral sports bra and biker shorts. I quickly look away when I find myself appreciating the fullness of her breasts and the way her shorts conform to her hips and muscular thighs. She has the body of an athlete.

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