“No more discussion necessary. I’ll see you out.” She swept up the baggie and slapped it against his chest. “A parting gift.”
Josh pinched the bag and followed her into the living room. He quietly gathered his tools and collected the green bag, hoisting it over his shoulder while she waited at the open front door. She couldn’t lift her damn face to look at him. Pride prevented her from letting him see how vulnerable she felt. This was her own fault. She’d allowed herself to lean on Josh emotionally. A mistake.
Sleep would be a welcome reprieve. If a crying jag was on the way, she’d do it in the privacy of her pillow. Tomorrow was a new day. That’s how she faced each one. With a new dawn, yesterday was just a bad memory.
He stepped onto the porch. “Dix,” he said quietly. “I know you’re holding something back. It might be the key that ends all of this.”
Her ex needed to leave her the hell alone.
Dix shook her head. “There’s no key. Text me the password and a link to the app for the security system, then torch your access. You’re relieved of duty, Commander Hunter.”
When his feet didn’t move, she glanced up, his image blurry from the salty tears quickly gathering. Reading his expression was impossible.
“When you’re ready to tell me the truth, I’ll listen. Until then, make sure your doors and windows are locked,” he stated coldly.
“They’re just notes, Josh. Besides, I know him better than I know you.” She paused. “And it’s clear that neither of you understand me.”
With a few words, he’d defiled her memories. All those beautiful moments turned into something dark. No wonder he’d never tried to look for her. He mistakenly thought she thrived on pain. It had been Josh’s touch that made her wild. No one since could light the flame because she’d never loved anyone but him.
She closed the door and rested her forehead against the warm wood. Her heart crumbled. “Bye, Josh.”
Lying in bed with the cool, crisp sheet up to her nose and her bedroom dark, she listened to the sounds of her neighborhood. Nearly two a.m. and sleep evaded her. A car alarm blasted until the owners turned it off seconds later. Someone’s dog barked in the distance.
A ding indicated a text and lit the face of her phone. Turning on her side, she slid the cell from her nightstand and read the message.
I’ve been fucking and tormenting this whore for hours, but I’d rather cum inside you.
Dix started to type a response, then deleted it and set down her phone.
Like all the other times, he used a burner phone. Untraceable according to the police. And for the umpteenth time, she would have to change her number.
Another text announced itself and she ignored it. For the next ten minutes the texts kept coming. She ignored them all, hugged her pillow, and closed her eyes until her stalker gave up.
Today was over, and so were any foolish thoughts about Josh Hunter.
Chapter Ten
After placing the bow on Rayne and Elijah’s housewarming gift, Dixie stepped back to assess her wrapping skills. Not bad. Pretty silver foil paper and a large red bow topped the box. She’d also picked up a wicker basket at lunch and added a few pounds of coffee beans and two cups with entwined hearts on each.
Slipping the purse strap over her head and hooking it on her right shoulder so she had two free hands, she gripped the bulky gift and muscled it out to the car.
Dix uttered an “oof” when she set down the heavy coffee machine in the trunk.
On her return trip to gather the basket, she saw the corner of a note poking from her mailbox hung next to the front door.
Dixie opened the folded sheet.
Have fun at the party. Maybe tonight will be our special night.
She turned a look over her shoulder and scanned the quiet neighborhood. No perverts perched in a palm tree. The security system Josh had installed was operating inside her house, but the exterior wasn’t finished. Amongst all the texts she’d received on Thursday night, one didn’t belong to the psychopath. It had been from Josh.
I’m sorry, Dix. Forgive me.
She hadn’t responded to either man.
Saturdays were always busy, and the Erotic Bean had a constant stream of customers. Sabrina had agreed to close the coffeehouse so Dix could duck away early for Rayne’s party.
Dropping the note on her second-hand coffee table, she collected the basket from the kitchen. On