Leah sighed. “I guess I didn’t think you were going to take it this hard. I mean, so he’s escorting you to things and following you around. As long as he’s not getting angry with you or crossing some sort of line, I don’t see the problem.”
Words sat unspoken on Veronica’s tongue and silence stretched between them. She dead-bolted the door and put on a pair of flannel pj’s buttoned to the top. The mere thought of the stalker watching her while she was out cold the other night made her want to sleep in granny pajamas for the rest of her life.
“V?” Leah’s voice was soft. Questioning. “Did you…? Tell me you and Logan didn’t…”
Veronica nodded and smacked her hand against her forehead.
“Noooooo, Veronica!” Leah hadn’t even seen Veronica’s reaction, but she knew the truth. “You never do things like that! What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know!” Veronica jumped into bed and buried herself far beneath the covers. “I told you that you should’ve said something!”
“Well, I didn’t think you were going to hop in the sack with Logan! That’s so not like you!”
“Veronica and
“Jake!” Leah hollered.
“Okay, then tell him that he should be paying us!” he hollered back. “What the hell was your sister thinking?”
God, Veronica couldn’t disappear fast enough.
“My sister?” Leah turned on him, hollering over the line. “What the hell was your boy doing? Isn’t that what you call him? Your
“Leah, I’m hanging up,” Veronica said, barely repressing an embarrassed groan. “I can’t listen to this anymore. I’m in room 1312 if you need me.”
“We’ll talk more when I get back. Jake has been in touch with Logan every day about what’s been going on with the stalker business, but I’d like to talk to you about other things, too. My plane lands Friday, right before the rehearsal dinner, and that’s only five days from now. Just lie low until then. But don’t forget to pick up my wedding dress for the final fitting. You’re close enough to my size that I told the people at the salon to do the final check with you in the dress.”
Veronica was drained. Completely worn-out. “I’m not even close to your size. You’ve got way bigger boobs than me.”
“Boobs aside, we’re so close to that same size that it won’t really matter. The fitting is more to make sure the dress is seamed correctly with no showing threads or beads falling off. They know what they’re looking for and it’ll be fine. Like I was saying, lie low and get my dress, and the week will be over before we know it.”
“Uh-huh. Sure thing.” Veronica started as Cocoa jumped onto the bed and nestled into the crook behind her legs. “See you then.”
“V?” she said softly.
“Yeah?”
“Not all werewolves are bad. I was attacked by a bad one, and a bad one is following you, but Jake and Logan have a pack full of werewolves who are just the sweetest people if you’d get to know them.”
“Do you even hear yourself anymore?” Veronica mumbled.
“If you gave Logan a chance before you found out he was a wolf, what’s changed so much between then and now?”
“Everything,” Veronica said, and ended the call.
Chapter Fourteen
Bright and early Monday morning, Veronica waited in the lobby of the hotel for the valet to bring her car around. She was more nervous to be on her own than before. Since the attack, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the stalker was closer. Watching her at all times.
Maybe she was safe here. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to find her if Logan’s name was the one attached to the reservation. It was the only thing keeping her nerves in check.
As her Lexus pulled up in front of the hotel, Veronica walked out and met the valet at the hood.
“Thanks,” she said, and handed him a five-dollar tip.
“No problem, ma’am,” he said, but instead of taking the money, he handed her a small white envelope. “I found this beneath your windshield wiper. Didn’t want it flying away.”
He handed her the keys and walked inside to help another hotel guest, leaving Veronica on the sidewalk, struggling to catch her breath.
She knew what the envelope was and whom it was from before her fingers curled around the edges. Flipping it over, she read: “The future Mr. & Mrs.…”
“Oh my God…”
It was Leah and Jake’s wedding invitation. She recognized the red-ribbon decal lining the envelope right away. It was the same size. With the same rose bundle stamp that she’d ordered a month ago, specifically for Leah’s wedding.
Hands beginning to shake, Veronica bent the edges of the envelope and peered inside. No wolf hair. No red bloodstains. No emerald jewelry.
She sighed and pulled out the wedding invitation.
It was exactly how she remembered it. But there was another card inside. The RSVP card. Slowly, she pulled it out.
The will attend line was checked, and written at the bottom of the card was the word “soon…”
“Damn it all to hell.” Veronica hopped into her car and put it in gear.
Was the stalker watching her now? Waiting for her to leave so he could follow her to her next stop? She checked down the street, scanning both directions. Nothing. She glanced in the rearview. Everything was quiet.
Without thinking, she dug her cell phone out of her purse and started scrolling for Logan’s name.
What was she thinking? Were her instincts totally out of whack?
She’d have to take care of herself. Look over her shoulder everywhere she went. Maybe after the dress fitting she should buy a can of mace or a knife. Better yet, maybe she’d stop by an ammo shop and see if they stocked Tasers.
Thinking about her course of action, Veronica took off as fast as she could into town.
Once she pulled into the Bridal Beat parking lot, Veronica got her things ready before opening her door. She took a deep breath and darted inside the building. The place was located in west Seattle, and had a Victorian theme going on with its gold-tinseled marble columns and long swags of fabric draped in front of the windows. She pushed through the glass front door and let it close quickly behind her.
He was sitting on a puffy chair against the far wall. A rack of bridesmaid dresses stood to his right, towering well over his head, and a pedestal had been set up on his other side providing the perfect place for brides to spin and twirl in front of their entourage. He wore jeans and a mocha-colored sweater that really made his light eyes pop.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, repressing a sigh at the sight of him.
“My job.”
“Yeah, well, this was stuck to my windshield this morning. Looks like the guy knows how to sneak into parking garages.” She tossed him the invitation. “Should make your job a little easier.”
“Shit.” He read quickly, then met her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay.” She pushed out a laugh, but it came out tight and much too chipper. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
