Page 52 of Stalked

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The thought that she had one psychopathic stalker had been bad enough. Jon Hatton’s idea that it might actually be more than one person had been enough to put Rosalyn into a panic.

She hadn’t said anything, had just tried to keep it all together while all the discussion continued on around her. They’d sent someone out for pizza, and Rosalyn had done her best to eat, but it had been difficult.

Eventually she’d put a hand on Steve’s arm. Once he’d gotten a good look at her, he’d immediately announced he was taking her home.

Hishome.

He called Derek Waterman and another SWAT member she hadn’t met yet named Liam Goetz. They were tasked with making sure no one followed them to Steve’s house. Liam joked and flirted with her, when he wasn’t showing her pictures of his newborn twins, while Steve personally inspected the Omega vehicle they’d be using. Evidently it had already been swept thoroughly for bugs, but he wanted to double-check.

They drove around for more than an hour. Derek went to Steve’s house and checked it out for them. They even switched vehicles halfway through their journey. There was no way anyone could’ve followed them. Hell, Rosalyn was in the car and she hardly knew where they were.

“I couldn’t find my way back to your building now if my life depended on it.” She had long since closed her eyes, but having them open wouldn’t have helped anyway.

“Believe it or not, my house is only a few miles away from the office. We’re just taking the scenic route.”

“I don’t think anyone could’ve followed us.”

Steve grimaced. “I thought the same was true earlier today, but I was wrong. But both Derek and Liam have given us the all clear. So I’m certain no one has followed us now. Plus, we’ll have a guard in a car outside the house watching for anyone.”

“Derek?”

“No, someone else. Derek will want to get home to his wife and their daughter.”

“Yeah, Liam was showing me pictures of his twins and his daughter, Tallinn.”

Steve smiled. “Yes, he and his wife, Vanessa, adopted her after a human-trafficking case last year. And the twins...they’re just exhausting. Keeps Vanessa and Liam busy.”

Rosalyn realized how little she knew about the man she was about to have a baby with. She opened her eyes. “How about you? Do you have any kids? You were married once right?”

“Yes. Melanie. She died in a car accident twelve years ago. But no, we didn’t have any kids.”

“I’m sorry about your wife.” Rosalyn wondered if Steve still loved her.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you two would’ve liked each other. Both of you are smart and strong.” His smile was pensive, but not sad.

“Do you still love her?” The words were out before she could bite off her tongue. Damn it. “Never mind. You don’t have to answer that.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll always love Melanie—she was a huge part of my life.” He looked over at her before returning his gaze to the road. “But no, I’m not in love with her anymore. Not pining after her. As a matter of fact, she’d probably lay into me for taking this long to get serious about someone.”

Was that what they were? Serious?

“Do you mean us?”

“You’re the only person I’m having a baby with.”

“You arrested me earlier today, for heaven’s sake.”

He grimaced. “I was trying to do the right thing. To keep some perspective. My perspective has been blown to hell since the day you ran into that bar in Pensacola trying to get out of the rain.”

“Because I stole from you?”

“No. I couldn’t care less about the money. Because you got under my skin the way no one else has.”

He pulled the car into a driveway of a small house, then used his phone to activate a code that opened the garage door.

She turned to look at him more fully.

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