Crazy for You Page 18

  Sitting up, she stretched her fingers to the keyboard and quickly typed it out: Mom, Jake, Melanie, and Tiana. She sighed. “Doubt any of them would be behind this. But what if my phone was bugged?”

  She shook her head. Keep it simple, Harriett the Spy. “Okay, after I told my friends and family, Jake told his family and Shawn.”

  Jake had given his family specific instructions to keep the news to themselves. He’d even made his mom promise to keep it from her prayer circle.

  Charlotte had also grilled her family this afternoon, asking if they had mentioned it to any friends or in public. They’d all vehemently denied spreading the news.

  She then typed out notes to accompany each person. After Jake had told his family, he’d also called Gina.

  Did she let the news leak? Charlotte shook her head. No, the agent was a little rough around the edges, but she was a consummate professional when it came to the media. Still, Charlotte added Gina’s name and then Mark, Jake’s publicist, to the list. And Threx. The board and entire company could know.

  She stared at her screen until her eyes crossed. “Someone had to have told someone, whether or not they meant well.” Saving the document, she then emailed it to Melanie per her friend’s specific instructions.

  Rubbing her belly, Charlotte looked out the window. “Now it’s time to tell your grandparents about what’s happening.”

  • • •

  Charlotte had waited until after dinner to show the text.

  Her mother jumped from the couch. “We have to give this to the police! Vance, you know the chief. Can you call him?”

  “Of course, baby. We’ll get this taken care of, you’ll see.” Her father grabbed his phone.

  “I can’t believe someone is scaring my baby.” Mama’s voice was shrill as she paced the living room. She pointed to Dad. “Where are the keys to the rifle?”

  Charlotte’s father cupped the receiver on the phone. “Not a good question to ask while I’m calling the sheriff, sweets.”

  “Fine, fine. You’re right.” Her mother moved to sit beside her. The cushions to the cream couch dipped slightly. “We’ll take care of everything, baby. Just let me and Daddy handle it.”

  Nodding, Charlotte swallowed a hot ball of emotion, overwhelmed by the love and solidarity her parents were showing.

  “Thank you, Mama. I’m sorry for bringing this to your doorstep. I don’t want to put you and Dad in danger.”

  “Nonsense. Family sticks together, and it’s our job to protect you.”

  “But I’m twenty-six.”

  “So what? You’ll always be my baby, and nobody hurts my baby or my grandbaby.” She nodded to Charlotte’s stomach.

  Charlotte’s heart swelled so much and so quickly that she felt like she was floating. “I love you, Mama. I know I don’t say it often, but I do.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.

  “I know you do, baby. And we love you, too. Just sit tight and let us take care of you.”

  “Okay.” The lie tasted like soot on her tongue. She hated to fib, but she was done sitting tight. And she missed Jake. She needed to see him. Each day she grew bigger and bigger. Bean needed his father, and Jake was all alone. She could tell from their conversations that he missed her. Her phone vibrated in a pocket. Grabbing it, she peered at the screen. A text message from Jake. She must have thought him up.

  “Have you talked to Jake?” Her mother pointed to the phone in Charlotte’s hand.

  “No, not yet. Let’s see what the sheriff says, and I’ll catch him up.”

  The sheriff’s office visit was surprisingly easy. Jake had already alerted the local authorities to what was going on and had asked them to occasionally drive by her parents’ house.

  Jake’s thoughtfulness made her nose tingle and her eyes water. These days, it didn’t take much to make her cry. Her dad had learned the hard way when they’d watched a Hallmark movie the other night. “Your daddy was looking out for us,” she whispered to Bean.

  After saying goodnight to her parents, she texted Jake to let him know she was sleepy and would talk to him tomorrow. No need to risk him hearing the worry in her voice.

  Melanie knew about the latest threat, which meant Charlotte had to hurry to New York before her friend told Jake about it. She’d purchased a ticket and would fly out early in the morning. Soon, she’d be back home in New York, safe and sound in Jake’s arms.

  • • •

  At six a.m., the morning was silent. Not even the birds were chirping, and the neighbor’s dog Bruno—who Charlotte swore thought of himself as the unofficial neighborhood watch—wasn’t barking. As she stuffed the last of her clothes into a rollaway bag, she felt like a twelve-year-old running away from home.

  A pang of guilt seized her chest, freezing her quick and quiet movements. She didn’t want to worry her parents so, like any good twelve-year-old runaway, she left a note to explain her actions. She couldn’t stay here and risk the lives of her family.

  Yesterday, she told her mother that she’d planned to meet Jake’s mom and grandmother for breakfast so that Mama wouldn’t be surprised by her absence. By the time her mother caught on, Charlotte would be halfway home. I’ll call Mama after I land.

  No turning back now. She would no longer put her family in danger. If the stalker could find her in Pensacola, she’d rather hide in plain sight with Jake’s security around her. Hopefully, Melanie or the police would find the stalker sooner rather than later.

  Charlotte had already scheduled a cab to pick her up since a car app service was unavailable in rural Florida this early in the morning. Creeping quietly out the door, she caught her ride and was headed to the airport.

  • • •

  Sweat beaded on Jake’s forehead and poured from his temples. Taking the pocket square from his suit jacket, he wiped away the perspiration.

  His brother D’Mario turned to say something, but Jake couldn’t make out the words. D’Mario shook his head and then grabbed Jake’s shoulders, pushing him out the door.

  Now they were in a church. Everyone turned and whispered. But unlike most wedding days, no one smiled. Instead, they sneered, jabbed accusing fingers at him. Jake continued to walk down the aisle. Not that he had a choice with his brother pushing him like a warden escorting a prisoner to death row. At the altar, he turned to face the bloodthirsty crowd. With military precision, the congregation swung their attention to the bride. A fuzzy light surrounded her, and he couldn’t see her face. She walked slowly toward him, but the closeness still did not make her image clear.

  When she finally made it to Jake, his shaky fingers lifted her veil, and he released the breath he’d been holding. My angel. She was as beautiful as ever. Bending down, he gave her a kiss, and the suppleness of her skin peeled away, down to the bone.

  Charlotte reached for him and screamed.

  “Shit!” Jake’s legs tangled in the sheets. He looked around his bedroom and sighed. “Just a nightmare.” Nothing had been real, except for the sweat.

  Pushing himself out of bed, he walked to the bathroom and started the shower. As the water heated, he stripped the sweat-soaked covers. He’d have his cleaning company change the sheets before tonight.

  Returning to the shower, he stood under the stinging spray. The rain-head shower soothed his tense muscles. Closing his eyes, he relaxed against the tiled walls. He didn’t need a psych degree to figure out his problem. Stress. Stressed and worried about Charlotte. The woman he loved was in danger from a psycho. All Jake could do was wait the stalker out and hope the creep outgrew her misguided feelings.

  Yeah, right. He didn’t take the stalker’s silence as a good thing. Deep in his bones, he knew this was the calm before the storm.

  Turning off the shower, he hurriedly dried himself. He was determined to hear Charlotte’s voice and make sure she was doing well. It was seven in the morning, but he knew she’d be awake. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he picked up his cell and called.

  “Hey, Jake.” Her
voice was chipper. “I was just thinking about you.”

  “Good thoughts, I hope.”

  “The best . . . I miss you.”

  “You do?” Surprise and eagerness covered his voice. Damn, I sound pathetic.

  “Of course, Jake.” She sounded wounded with a note of surprise. “I do miss you. In fact, I want to come home soon.”

  Warmth his expensive shower couldn’t provide invaded his body. “And I want you to come home soon, too, angel.”

  He thought of the skeletal-bride dream. Charlotte was safe and happy. In New York, she was still in danger. Despite his personal desires, she needed to stay put.

  “But maybe it’s a good thing you’re down there, angel. You seem happy, and you and Bean are safe. My mom was talking my ear off about meeting your family for dinner last week.”

  “But what about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Are you happy? You’ve mentioned me, Bean, your parents, and my family, but what about your happiness?”

  He searched for the closest form of the truth he could muster. He was in a shit mood without her. If she knew just how much her leaving had ripped his heart out, she’d try to return. “I’m happy that you’re safe. That’s my top priority.”

  “But do you . . . ” She cleared her throat, and her voice wobbled. “Do you miss me?”

  Jake groaned. “Of course I do, angel, but I—”

  “Doesn’t seem like it.” Her soft words pierced the white-knight armor he wasn’t sure he was all that worthy to wear.

  “Trust me, I miss you. Every damn second of every minute and every hour of the day. I miss your cold feet and the way you snuggle against me. The way you sigh when you find just the right spot on my chest to lay your head. The way you laugh and make me laugh. Trust me, baby, when I say that I miss you.”

  “Okay. I believe you.”

  He sighed. At least he could reassure her of one thing. “Good. I know sometimes I do and say things that don’t match up, and it seems like I don’t care, but I do. Never, ever doubt my feelings for you.”

  “I won’t, Jake. Not ever.”

  “Good. I gotta get to pitching practice but I . . . take care, angel.”

  You can’t tell her. Not yet.

  Charlotte took a deep breath. “You too, Jake. See you soon.” Her voice was soft and determined. A vow that made the hope in his heart soar.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The surround-sound speakers were jammed on full blast. After an hour of fruitless channel surfing, Jake selected a recording and caught up on his favorite ESPN show he’d miss while at practice.

  He grimaced. The regular host was out on vacation and Dan Rudy was filling in. A few years ago, when Jake had gone through a pitching slump, Rudy’s rhetoric fueled a movement to have Jake kicked out of the Yankees organization. He loathed the pot-bellied bastard, who still didn’t have anything nice to say about him or the Yankees, and was itching to turn the TV off altogether.

  The ringing phone, connected by Bluetooth to the speakers, interrupted the commentator’s rant about a losing basketball team. Glancing at the screen, he saw his agent was calling yet again. He rolled his eyes and answered his phone.

  “You can tell Threx to fuck off, Gina. I’m not getting married just to please their casting-the-first-stone-ass-crazy board members.”

  “I’m not calling about that.” Her loud voice blasted from the speakers.

  Wincing at the volume, he lowered it.

  “I’ve already told them our position, and we’re at a stalemate. John is trying to work his magic.”

  “Then why are you calling? Because I can’t take another lecture from you about impregnating my girlfriend. I won’t apologize for Bean.”

  A deep sigh played over the phone, followed by a string of Italian curse words. He’d learned quite a few being Gina’s black-sheep client.

  “I’m not here to give you shit, Jake. I know you’re tired and stressed. And you’re right, we don’t need Threx. Something else will come along.”

  Some anger and stress seeped from his shoulders. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

  “We are, Jakey. We are so on the same page, all right?” she cooed from the speakers. “I’m just checking on you to see how things are going? And to check on Charlotte and the baby.”

  Jake began to pace. “I’m fine. Charlotte’s fine. The baby’s fine.” He was being short, but with Charlotte away, some of his basic manners had disappeared.

  “Jakey. I’m on your side. No need to be rude, my goodness.”

  “Sorry. We’re doing well. Charlotte is still down south with her parents, and I’m up here.” By myself.

  “I know it’s tough, but it’s good she’s safe. Have you received any more threats?”

  Jake stopped moving. He’d thought about telling Gina about his threat but decided against saying anything. Knowing her, she’ll get Mark to spin a sob story about me being a victim and right now the media is on a need-to-know basis. “No. Nothing since the initial one.”

  She sighed. “Good. In the meantime, why don’t you go out with some friends and blow off steam? I know I’m just your lowly agent, but if you need me, I’m here.”

  “Thanks, Gina. I’m glad you have my back. And I’m sorry if I’m a grumpy—”

  The locks on the door twisted. “What in the hell?”

  “What is it? Are you okay?” Gina asked.

  Charlotte stepped through the doorway, roller tote in tow.

  “Angel, what are you doing here?”

  Pushing the bag to the side, she rushed into his arms. “I missed you. I missed you so much, and I don’t want to be away from you anymore.” She kissed his forehead, cheeks, nose, and lips.

  He gripped his arms around her waist, still in shock that she was back in his arms.

  “Baby, I thought you were home.”

  “I am home.” She stepped away from his arms. Her eyes, now soft and shy, peered into his. “Wherever you are is home.”

  Her declaration sucked the air out of his lungs. Fuck if this woman isn’t trying to own me.

  “Call you back, Gina.” Dropping his phone on the couch, he scooped Charlotte into his arms.

  “Fine, Jake,” blared through the speakers, followed by a click.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “I had to see you. I love you,” Charlotte murmured into his chest.

  “Angel, you make it hard for a brotha to be strong.”

  She lifted her head to look at him. “What do you mean?”

  He walked them to the couch and maneuvered her to sit on his lap. His hands spread across her stomach. The pictures she’d sent over the past month hadn’t done her justice. She was round and glowing with his child.

  He wanted to kneel and pray to thank God for the miracle that was Charlotte and his son. No way would he ever let them go again. She would forever be embedded in his soul. He stared into her eyes so she could see, so she could feel his truth. “I love you.”

  “Y-you love me?”

  “Yes. I do. I want to be the man that wakes up to your sweetness every morning and not just because of Bean, but because I love you. I love you from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. And I’ve been scared, so damn scared, of placing you in danger. I . . . I—”

  “You . . . what?”

  “I hadn’t realized the depth of my feelings for you until you left. You seemed so happy, and you were safe.”

  She cupped his face. “Jacob, I’m . . . we’re not all that safe.”

  Like an emergency brake, his heart slammed against his chest and froze in place. “No?”

  “No, I . . . ” She licked her lips. “I received another threat yesterday. That’s why I left Pensacola. If I’m not safe anywhere, I want to be with you.”

  He placed her on the seat beside him. “I can’t believe you’re just telling me this.” He rubbed a hand over his head. “Did you call the police? What did your parents say about you leaving? H
ell, where are your parents?”

  “My parents are home, and they know I’m here. I flew by myself.”

  By herself? He gathered his patience by taking a long, deep breath.

  She rushed on to finish. “Yes, I called the police, and they were already circling the neighborhood because a little birdie told the sheriff about my troubles.”

  “You’re damn right I told him. Not that it did any good.” His blood pressure increased at their incompetency. “I’ll be giving them a call.” He grabbed his phone.

  “Relax, Jake. I’m here safe and sound and in your arms. Let’s just relax. We can watch a few episodes of Daredevil.”

  He sighed. “Fine. But tomorrow morning, bright and early, we are going to the police station.”

  Charlotte nodded. “Okay, Jacob.”

  He jumped from the couch. “Are you hungry?”

  “Bean and I are starving!”

  “Okay, I’ll make some turkey burgers and sweet potato fries for lunch.”

  She stood and rubbed her belly. “Yum. And I think I’ll take a shower.”

  • • •

  Charlotte moaned under the shower spray, enjoying the soothing water and being home.

  He loves me! Hearing that from the mouth of a supportive friend is one thing, but listening to it from the lips of the man you loved was another entirely.

  “We’re going to be okay, Bean. Promise.”

  “Yes, we are.” A velvet-smooth voice from behind her did all kinds of damage to her girl parts.

  “Jake,” she moaned and moved away from the water. Hands covering her stomach, she tried to hide her baby bump, but he pushed her hands away.

  “All of this,” he touched her breast and then moved his calloused hands to her stomach and behind, “is mine. Don’t hide from me, baby.”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. “Jake . . . ” Her voice purred, nearly breathless. She wanted him with every fiber of her being. She lifted up onto her toes to kiss his lips. He was still at first, and her heart dropped. But then, he wrapped his arms around her waist and walked backward until he slammed into the tiled wall.