7. Callie

I'm still shaking the next day and it doesn't help that weird things keep happening.

I went out to start my car this morning and found my tire slashed. It was obvious.

Then I got in to work and found out that my helper had to call off. She'd been up all night because someone kept going by on her street and honking wildly before accelerating and racing out of town.

Then my delivery guy called to say that somebody had blocked off the back delivery door with a mountain of trash and that he couldn't get in until it was cleaned up.

I had to shut down to go out and clean it up and by the time I got done, my heart was racing wildly. This didn't feel right. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I picture the last twenty-four hours. If I didn't know better, know that he couldn't have found me, I would think it was Max. But that's just not possible. I've been so careful since I uprooted my life and moved here to this little bitty town of so few people.

After going home and cleaning myself up before heading back for the truck to come back and deliver, I open the door and let my confused customers in.

Including a grumpy six foot plus cowboy in a tight pair of Wranglers that make me drool.

"Why weren't you open? Is there something wrong?" His big hand wraps around my elbow as he tries to drag me over to a quiet corner.

"I'm sorry, Rory. I've got to get these people taken care of and I've lost a lot of my day today to stupid accidents."

"What accidents?" His mouth tightens, eyes darkening to deep emerald fire.

"Just some strange stuff that's been happening. If I didn't know better," I hiss under my breath, "I'd think it was Max. But he doesn't know where I'm at so I don't see how that's possible."

His brow lifts. "Are you sure?"

My belly rolls and my skin ices over. I have to be sure. He can't be here.

I nod my head slowly, not wanting to lie to myself or him. But I can't do anything else right now.

I push the scary thoughts out of my head and smile. "Are you here to see me or just here to pick up your usual?"

His harsh face softens into a look that has my fists clenching, fingernails digging into my palms. Fuck, this guy is sex on a stick!

"Can't I do a little of both?"

Wicked, wicked man! If only I didn't like it so much.

"Absolutely you can." I reach up and caress his rough stubble, smirking when he turns his lips into my palm. I gulp, my breath stalling in my lungs. It's so hard to breathe.

Petal-soft, he kisses my palm and my heart pounds, my chest so tight it's a miracle any breath gets through. His breath is so warm that it's like an instant zing right to my pussy. Right where I need him so bad.

When did I decide that we couldn't be together? Why?

I can't be sure but one thing I'm sure of right now is that I'd gladly climb him like a fucking Wrangler-wearing tree but until I've got this figured out and he is as interested as I am, that's not happening.

I can't believe I'm standing here thinking about sleeping with any man after Max. He made my life a misery and I've just started to feel more settled and calm here.

"Let me get your twist," I whisper and duck away from him, hoping to get my body under control with some space.

But now that I've put it out there, I'm not liking how I'm feeling. My stomach is twisted, my heart pounding, my eyes darting back and forth. Surely I'm right and he's not out there. Not sitting somewhere watching me.

Not outside my house slashing my tires and waiting for the opportunity to strike.

I bag up Rory's twist and he grins, tipping his hat like the gentleman he is. "Thanks, darlin'. I'll talk to you later."

And he turns to go outside, leaving me with that view that always makes me quake.

His ass is a thing of beauty, I swear.

As the day wears on and I sell my wares and bake some more, I can't stop thinking about two very different things.

Rory's ass should be gold-plated in his Wranglers.

And I hope to hell that Max isn't anywhere near me. I hope that he's bugging some other poor girl, even if I shouldn't wish that on anybody.

Because nobody deserves the crazy that that man brings down on your head. I've seen it and I hope to never see it again.