was unzipping a clothing bag, exposing the dress within.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“I’m not joking.” Taking the bag away from Kimmy, Ginny hung it back on the rack. “Let’s get my makeup done, unless you want to be the one responsible for delaying the show?”
At least he wasn’t the only one coming up short against Ginny’s refusal to be swayed from something she decided upon.
Giving up the pretense of not tuning into their conversation, Reaper put his phone away to calculatingly observe Ginny. To find her stalker, he had to find out just how close the person was to her. Unless the person was fucking invisible, he had to be within her circle of acquaintances, if not someone she considered a friend. They were too familiar with her life, finding access where no bystander would be granted without standing out. They had slid past Alec’s, Shade’s, and Rider’s notice. That skill alone exhibited how dangerous they were.
Giving Ginny the chair, Reaper moved to stand against the wall, out of their way.
“If you want to wait outside, I’ll let you know when Kimmy’s finished.”
Reaper leaned his shoulder against the wall, making himself more comfortable. “I’m good where I am.” Meeting Ginny’s gaze in the mirror, he refused her suggestion. If he wanted to be a gentleman, he would stand outside the door, leaving a small crack to check on her safety. Concern about her welfare wasn’t what kept him rooted in the spot, however, wanting to change the pattern of her behavior to throw her stalker off his game did.
The stylist wasn’t happy he’d rejected her suggestions, and it showed as Kimmy started brushing her hair back. His lips tightened when Kimmy laid the brush down on the table and he saw several fine hairs clinging to the bristles.
“Do you pay Kimmy for her services or is she doing it for free?”
Kimmy spun of her high heels. “Excuse me?”
“Even I could brush her hair out without hurting her.”
Flustered, Kimmy looked at Ginny’s embarrassed features.
“I’m not tenderheaded,” Ginny said, trying to excuse the treatment she was getting from the woman.
He wasn’t having that bullshit.
His own expression became inflexible. “Be gentler or start walking.”
Kimmy’s movements were slower and more careful as she pulled Ginny’s hair back, pinning it with hairclips. Every so often, Reaper caught her gauging his reaction as she put on Ginny’s makeup. The awkwardness as they worked didn’t bother him, but he could tell it did Ginny.
“I really like the blue dress, Kimmy. I appreciate the effort you put into finding it for me. I just … I wouldn’t ….”
“She doesn’t want to wear it because it was the only one that wasn’t destroyed,” Reaper explained when Ginny couldn’t.
Kimmy’s paused as she moved a small fan closer to Ginny’s face. “I should have thought of that myself,” Kimmy’s berated herself. “I can return that one.”
Ginny shook her head. “I was planning to pay for the dress and the clothes that were destroyed.”
“I’m a terrible person.” Latching her makeup carrier closed, Kimmy started to leave.
Ginny caught her by the arm. “Don’t say that. I should have told you. I just assumed you knew I would pay for them. This my fault. Don’t blame yourself when it was because of me the clothes were destroyed in the first place.”
“You can’t blame yourself for other people’s actions.” Kimmy flushed when she looked toward Reaper. “I should have known why you didn’t want to wear the dress. I would be freaking out if it had happened to me.” Her lips twisted wryly in self-disgust. “I was more worried about my pocketbook than understanding how scary this must be for you. You are always there for me, and when you needed me, I tried to pull your hair out. Your boyfriend was right to call me out.”
Hearing himself being referred to as Ginny’s boyfriend had a jarring effect on him, particularly because of Ginny’s reaction. A thirteen-year-old girl would be more blasé than she, as a wide range of emotions filled her face. The shy, innocent glance she gave him was mixed with a flood of embarrassment that colored her cheeks.
The only thing that kept his ass in the room and not heading back to Treepoint was Viper.
Leaving would put Viper on the frontline just when Ginny’s stalker was escalating. The killing of the bird escalated his threats, making him more likely to strike out at the person keeping him from getting Ginny. And right now, it was him. If he left, Viper would be the