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  “The hot . . . his name is Neal. I just met Stevens, the trooper, yesterday.”

  “He’s heavenly,” Sherry whispered, stealing another glance before she turned and pouted at the water. “This place is heaven, too. I’m a single woman again, Liv. You wouldn’t mind putting up with me for a while, would you? I can’t go home just yet. He’ll find me too quickly, and I threw away my phone just to keep from having to hear his voice again. Give me a few days to sort this thing out, huh?”

  “Of course,” Liv said and then gasped. “Wait. You can’t.” She frowned at the two men still talking in the livingroom, and then pouted at her puzzled friend. “I have to leave, and it wouldn’t be safe for you to be alone here right now.”

  “What? Why not? I’m not a child, Liv. If you have to go somewhere, then just go. I can watch the house while you’re away. You trust me, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do,” Liv assured her. “It’s just that . . . well, it’s a lot to explain, and I don’t know if any of what I say will even make sense to you.”

  “Try me,” Sherry said and sniffed. “Say anything to help get my mind off my own problem.”

  Liv explained about Neal’s notoriety, the stalker who discovered them together, and the reason for Trooper Stevens being inside her house. Sherry gaped at the two men, and when Liv finished, Sherry stared at her in amazement.

  “So, that whack job might be on her way back here right now? With a gun?”

  Liv shook her head, frowning at the beach below them. “I doubt the cops let her keep the weapon. I thought I saw Stevens take it from her yesterday. Whatever,” she said, shaking the memory from her mind and gripping the railing. “My life as I’ve known it is over now, just like yours. Neal and Stevens don’t think we should stay here, and Neal still insists he’s responsible for me until this woman is finally captured for real.”

  “Stalking is no joke,” Sherry offered, standing beside Liv and frowning at the water. “Gosh, I’d like to go sailing right now. Have you got anything to eat? I’m starved. I was so upset I didn’t eat or drink anything since yesterday.”

  Liv gestured to the kitchen and Sherry smiled, patting her on the arm before going inside the house. Neal and Stevens joined Liv a few minutes later, and Neal seemed reluctant to ask about Sherry. Still frowning at the beach and her dark thoughts about being uprooted from her relaxing and safe routine, Liv told them about Sherry’s disastrous date with her ex-boyfriend.

  Neal and Stevens shared a knowing glance just before Sherry returned holding a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of milk. She bit into the sandwich and held it at her mouth after her eyes met those of the handsome trooper.

  Liv introduced her to the two men and after Neal nodded to her, Officer Stevens smiled.

  “Ma’am,” he said, making her blush. Looking away, Sherry chewed as she walked over to the table and sat down.

  “Don’t mind me,” she said and sipped some milk. “If I can’t stay here, I can always check into the hotel where Noelle works.”

  “She’s homeless now?” Neal whispered near Liv’s ear while he stared with concern at Sherry.

  “They’ve been living together for more than a year,” Liv whispered before seating herself across the table from her friend. She reached out to touch Sherry’s wrist. “Give me a minute to think, dear. I’ll figure out something that will help us both.”

  “I’m not going to make you stay here with a psycho on the loose,” Sherry grumbled, taking another bite of the sandwich.

  Liv didn’t like to see renewed tears fill her upset friend’s vacuous eyes any more than she liked being backed into a corner. She wasn’t skilled in the art of thinking on her feet, and any kind of pressure usually sent her into a tailspin; shutting down until the crisis was averted or at least calmed in some way. Right now, she felt like going up to her room and crawling beneath the bed covers, eyes closed until the storm passed. It certainly wasn’t the mature thing to do though, and especially not in front of other adults. Living with the scars of a conditioned past was a pain.

  Turning aside, Liv squinted up at Neal. “I think letting her show up here is the best thing. It’ll save Trooper Stevens a lot of time, and once she’s recaptured, we’ll know, again, that the coast is clear for the time being.”

  “She’s capable of anything,” Neal reminded, leaning against the railing with both hands gripping it at his hips. “I won’t let another incident like the one you experienced yesterday happen again, either. Even if she isn’t armed, I can’t have you in the middle of this thing, Liv.”

  “I already am,” she grumbled, setting a fist against the side of her head and pouting at his feet. “Sherry needs me right now, too.”

  “No, I don’t,” Sherry mumbled with a mouthful of peanut butter and jelly. She then choked, and Stevens came up behind her, rubbing her back. That nearly caused her to choke on the milk she drank to wash down the food. Wide-eyed and blushing, she stared at Liv. Liv saw the whole thing but continued to pout and didn’t offer to help out.

  Suddenly, Neal pushed away from the railing and extended an arm, staring inside the house in a way that got the observant officer’s attention.

  Without a word, Stevens removed the weapon from his holster, startling Liv and Sherry. Liv felt her heart rate increase as Neal took her by the arm and kept a dark eye on the open French door as he quickly set her at the opposite end of the balcony.

  Sherry tried to ask what was going on as Stevens helped her from her chair and set her beside Liv. After waving Neal to the women, Stevens entered the house.

  “She’s here,” Neal grumbled, his jaw twitching against the tight clench of his teeth.

  Liv frowned at the place where she last saw Stevens. Knowing it was her house and there was nothing she could do to prevent what was going on inside, she became frustrated and angry. She worried about Stevens; hoping there wouldn’t be another gun shot like the one that still rang in her ears even now. Stevens was a good guy and didn’t deserve to get hurt any more than she felt she deserved to have to be put through so much chaos.

  Realizing how selfish she was behaving, Liv glanced up at Neal, pitying him since he was the actual victim and not her.

  There was a brief scuffle inside the house, making Sherry whimper. After warning them not to move, Neal left the balcony and hurried inside. Liv held her trembling friend, but after a few minutes passed, they decided to ignore Neal’s warning and cautiously made their way inside; both curious to see what was going on.

  The handcuffed stalker’s short, pudgy body was draped against the staircase balustrade, and she wept while begging Neal to be with her forever. Liv tore away her angry gaze from the older woman’s distorted expression and glanced at Neal, noting the outraged look in his hardened eyes. It would have been a terrifying look had it been meant for her, but then she felt like she knew him well enough to believe he wasn’t capable of hatred or malice toward anyone, not even the stalker.

  “Don’t be angry,” she offered, jumping in her skin when the stalker screamed at her to get away from Neal. Setting a hand against her pounding heart, Liv gawked and then glared at the deranged woman.

  “Shut your mouth,” she warned. “This is my house you broke into, you psychotic fool. You need help. Where is your dignity? Your pride? What makes you think any man would have you this way? Who taught you that this is how to win a man’s heart, anyway?”

  Liv started to pry Stevens tightened fingers from her arm, but then lowered her hand, turning away from the woman she wished she’d never met and didn’t want inside her head anymore. Frowning, she let the officer gently pull her aside. The tight smile he offered, along with a slow shake of his head made her blush and feel stupid for having lost her temper.

  “That would work on a normal person,” he quietly explained, swirling a finger at the side of his head. “She’s too far gone upstairs for common sense to sink in, though.”

  “Bull,” Liv grumbled, frowning over her shoulder at the sobbi
ng woman who continued to beg Neal for a chance at love. “She has zero self respect, like the woman who claimed to be my mother. She’s just too caught up in her own world to realize what an ass she’s making of herself.”

  Neal turned away from the stalker and slid a hand through the side of his hair while frowning at the hardwood floor. “Get her the hell away from me,” he hissed, brushing past Stevens and Liv to go back out onto the balcony.

  Sherry followed with her eyes before deciding to go after Neal. Despite everything going on at the moment, she was overly curious to learn more about him and his intentions with her best friend.

  Chapter 7

  Stevens had offered to drive Sherry to the Traverse City hotel, and for the rest of that day, Liv and Neal remained separated by the invisible elephant that had entered the room. The authorities had taken the stalker into their custody, but this time FBI agents escorted her to the airport. They flew with her back to Chicago, where she would be sent directly to a larger, well-armed jail cell.

  Every time that Neal’s phone rang, Liv tried to eavesdrop for something to do. The silence between them was driving her to distraction. She was desperate to be with him again; talking, laughing, and getting to know him better. If only she could think of the right way to break through whatever barrier he’d wedged between them shortly after the morning’s unfortunate events had unfolded.

  After a quiet afternoon, Neal managed a smile when he asked if she wanted to go shopping with him. Smiling back, Liv nodded in agreement and hurried up to her room to change.

  They drove down to the big city and pulled into a shopping mall. It was fairly large and with five well-known anchor stores to choose from. Having never shopped for a man before, Liv didn’t know where to begin, but Neal seemed to know what he was doing so she simply followed his lead.

  He remained quiet and distant the whole time, but watching him study racks of clothing and try on a few things delighted her enough to let his mood go unnoticed for the most part.

  She held underwear, socks, shirts, and several pairs of jeans in her arms while Neal studied a selection of shoes. He was going to buy everything he would need at Macy’s. Liv pouted, having wanted to spend a couple hours roaming through the entire mall and look at stuff for herself as well. It seemed Neal had other plans, though.

  As they stood at the register, she glanced his way a few times. He appeared more calm than he’d been earlier in the day, but they still weren’t speaking and it was starting to bug her.

  “I’m starved,” he said as they left the major chain with everything he needed.

  Liv stopped at the curb, forcing Neal to turn in the driveway and look at her. He looked cute and sophisticated holding four handle bags, but they were filled with clothing for him. He couldn’t possibly know that it bugged Liv enough to make her angry when he asked what was wrong.

  “What about me?” she whined. “I’ve never come here and not bought anything before.”

  Laughing beneath his breath, Neal set the four bags in one hand, hurried back to the curb, and he grabbed her by the wrist. Without saying anything, he led her to his SUV.

  “We’ll eat now.”

  “No, we won’t.” Liv pulled her hand free and stopped a few feet from the SUV. “I already told you how I feel about restaurant food, Neal. If you’re that hungry, grab a hot pretzel and cover it with melted cheese or mustard. They sell Coke, too.”

  He made a face and a funny noise as he tossed the bags inside the back of his vehicle. While the automatic door slowly lowered behind him, he turned to face Liv. He wore a tight smile and took a deep breath as he dusted his hands. She was too upset to care that he seemed exasperated by her bossy stance.

  “I’m a meat and potatoes guy. A pretzel on a stick isn’t my idea of satisfy.”

  “You mean like leaving a shopping mall empty-handed?”

  He laughed, and then he sighed. With his arms folded at his chest, he stared at her in a way that made her realize he was capable of losing his temper, but she still didn’t care. That he was so nice to look at even when he made her angry made her doubly irritated.

  “Go,” she said and turned in the direction of the mall. “I can take a taxi back home.”

  Neal hurried forward and latched onto her hand, squeezing it as he walked with her back inside the store. Liv squealed in pain and tried to free her hand, but Neal refused to let go and refused to look at her angry expression.

  Wanting him to know she was still upset, she attempted to kick him, but he was walking too fast and she almost tripped.

  “I think there’s a McDonald’s in here somewhere,” she said and swatted his arm. “Is that meaty enough for you?”

  Neal leaned forward with a laugh that made her blush. Realizing too late about the connotations of such a remark, she frowned at him for being made to look like a fool.

  “No,” he said in a singsong tone and turned to smile at her. “But, I know someone who is.”

  “Very funny,” she grumbled. The grip on her hand had already relaxed enough to ease the pain, but she didn’t think she should let him get away with touching her when she was angry. As if reading her mind, he pulled her hand behind him, setting it against his waist before putting his arm around her shoulder.

  Liv was ready to protest, but then he apologized for not taking her feelings into consideration, forcing her to swallow the objection.

  “I’m upset, Liv,” he finally explained as they walked at a slower pace toward the food court. “And I’m hungry. Lethal combination once you get to know me. I’m still pissed off about what happened in your house because of me, and I’m angry about not being able to do anything to stop it from ever happening again.”

  Liv already knew that, and about him and his chivalrous mentality, but it felt good to hear him admit to having faults. Especially when she had too many to count and he seemed so perfect and pulled together. And, it wasn’t exactly a fault to be so upset about what happened. Neal had a right to be angry, and now that she thought about it, she probably didn’t have a right to insist on getting her way. Not this time at least. He deserved her understanding and patience, so she said, “There’s a cute Japanese restaurant over there.”

  Neal stopped walking to frown at her, noting the shy look about her when she’d been angry with him just seconds ago. Upset to be reminded about her former love-interest from Japan, Neal turned to see what it was she pointed at and smiled inwardly. He liked the well-known steak house, too. They were known for preparing the food at the customer’s table, which was probably why Liv liked it.

  “We’ll eat dinner, and then I’d like to go to the hotel where Noelle works,” Liv said. “I feel bad about bailing on Sherry. She must be so upset about what Barry did to her, and I wasn’t in the right mood to be of any help.”

  Neal smirked. “Sherry and Barry, huh?” He wanted to ask about the cute, vacuous friend of Liv’s but decided it could wait until after they ordered their food. When Neal was this hungry, anything he said or did was liable to end up being misconstrued, and with a fight being eminent as a result. Arguing with Liv was the last thing he wanted to have happen. He’d done his best to avoid her all afternoon, trying and failing to calm down and let the situation go. Now that they were together again, he needed to switch gears and fast.

  After their meal, Neal drove Liv to the hotel and dropped her off; telling her that she was right and he didn’t need to be in her way now that the stalker situation was under control.

  “I’d like to go back to Chicago now and see this thing through,” he told her, giving Liv no chance for rebuttal.

  As he drove away, she stood at the curb in front of the hotel and pouted. So much for getting to know him better, and now that sex was out of the question, she wouldn’t need to worry about becoming more involved with him than she had anticipated.

  His unexpected about-face should have made her feel better, but it didn’t. Liv was more miserable now than she had been when Neal re-entered her life unannounced
. It would take more than just his absence for her to get over herself, too.

  ****

  Neal had contacted his attorney the night he arrived in northern Michigan and now sat inside the middle-age man’s downtown office. He was there to discuss the stalking case and any chance of his being rid of the woman once and for all.

  The attorney handed him a cup of coffee and rested a meaty thigh against the edge of a mahogany desk while his anxious client sat in a leather armchair frowning at the distant thoughts roaming through his muddled head. Half of it consisted of the stalking case. The other half was of Liv and about his having walked away before anything got started between them.

  “These are cut and dry cases now-days,” the attorney assured Neal. “You won’t even need to make an appearance, and because you’re a celebrity, it isn’t likely the judge will expect you to do anything other than file a complaint with your sworn statement against Miss Barton.”

  Neal grimaced at hearing the woman’s name. He would rather continue to think of her as a nameless mental case than a person with an identity to make her normal and therefore pitiable.

  “I can’t let it continue,” Neal said, frowning at the carpeted floor. “When it was just me, I was fine with giving her the benefit of the doubt, but it can’t be that way anymore.”

  “Officer Stevens filled me in on the Michigan events,” the attorney grumbled, raising a curious brow when mention of Liv being involved didn’t have the affect on Neal that it should have.

  The attorney sipped his coffee. “Attempted murder means she’s in for more than just violation of a restraining order, Neal. A longer jail term isn’t out of –.”

  “Counseling,” Neal interjected, eyeing the attorney now. “She’s got to receive an overdose of psychological counseling. Meds, too. I need to know she’ll be medicated when she’s finally released. The last thing I need is to have to face her again without change once she’s set free. It needs to end, Tom. Today. Right now.”