Free Home Bound by Samantha Chase, Noelle Adams Page A

today?”
    “Just hang out here, if it’s all right with you. I’d rather you not go out, since you might be recognized, and then the news might get out about where you are.”
    “Okay,” I said, realizing he was right and it would be better to just catch this stalker as quickly as possible. I wasn’t thrilled about being cooped up, but at least I felt safe here—in this anonymous, impersonal hotel suite. With Cole.
    “They’ll be reporting to me about what happens on set and if this guy makes a mistake or reveals himself.”
    “Okay. You’ll let me know if you learn anything?”
    “Of course.”
    I nodded and let out a long breath. The stalker must be in Baltimore, which felt very far away from me now. If nothing else, at least I’d have a break from the constant fear for a few days.
    I’d take whatever I could get.
    On that thought, the phone rang. I reached for my phone, which I’d carried with me into the kitchen area, but it wasn’t my phone ringing. It was Cole’s.
    He glanced at it and picked up. “Yeah.” After a minute, he said, “Okay. Bring it up.”
    I gasped, startled by the words. “What is it?” I demanded, when he hung up.
    “Delivery.”
    “What?” I jumped to my feet. “No one knows I’m here. I shouldn’t be getting a delivery.”
    “It’s from—“
    I suddenly felt naked, completely vulnerable, as if there was nowhere in the world I could be safe. I kept reliving that sickening moment of finding the mouse in with the muffins. “How did he find me? How could he possibly find me here?” My voice grew shrill on the last words.
    Cole reached out to hold my upper arms. “Evangeline, calm down. Calm down.”
    I tried to shake off his strong hands. “I’m not going to calm down. How the hell did the stalker find me here? Who is doing this to me?”
    One little part of my mind recognized I was overreacting, but I simply couldn’t help it. I’d been feeling safe just a minute ago, but now it was all blown away.
    Cole wouldn’t let go of me. “Evangeline, stop,” he said, his voice low and slightly hoarse. “Stop. It’s from Sebastian. It’s from Sebastian .”
    The words finally broke through my panicked brain, and I froze, trying to process what he’d just said. “What?”
    “The delivery is from Sebastian. He was just trying to be nice. It’s not the stalker.”
    I was shaking helplessly as I finally understood what he was telling me.
    “It’s not the stalker,” he said again, as a knock sounded on the door.
    The noise made me jump, and Cole’s fingers were still wrapped around my upper-arms.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, looking tense and concerned.
    I nodded mutely.
    “Can I get the door?”
    I nodded again, unable to say anything.
    Shit, I was an idiot. A fool. A silly, embarrassing nervous wreck. There was no justification for my breakdown, and I couldn’t believe I’d actually reacted that way.
    I wasn’t normally so melodramatic and ridiculous.
    Cole let go of me at least and walked to the door, where he accepted a potted orchid from the hotel staff member who’d carried it up.
    It was a beautiful plant—a lovely, exotic violet color—but I stared at it suspiciously. “It’s really from Sebastian?” I managed to ask.
    Cole nodded. “He said he was sending it over.” He put the orchid down, carefully inspecting the plant and the card and even the soil it was planted in.
    “It’s okay?” I asked, forcing myself to step over, even though I was still shaking.
    “It’s fine, Evangeline,” Cole murmured. He put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him in a comforting gesture. “I promise it’s fine. The stalker hasn’t found you.”
    I nodded, staring down at the lovely, delicate blooms. It was really nice of Sebastian. He was trying to be a friend, make me feel better.
    And I jumped to the conclusion that it was an attack.
    What the hell was wrong with me?
    “Shit, princess,” Cole said hoarsely, pulling me into a full hug.