Free Waiting For Wren (Book Five In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) by Cate Beauman

pallets, and furniture magazines.”
    He grinned. “Shut her up for awhile.”
    “It was either that or kill her.” She chuckled. “I didn’t think I could laugh at a time like this.” She touched his hand. “Thank you.”
    He reversed his palm to hold hers. “Laughing is better than crying.”
    “I agree one hundred percent. I hate crying. It makes me feel weak and foolish.”
    “Nah.” He imagined Wren rarely gave into her tears.
    She squeezed his hand, then put hers back in her lap. “I went by the Cartwrights to drop off Lenora’s stuff. JT met me at the door and saved my life.”
    He frowned. “How’s that?”
    “First he offered me dinner, but my stomach was upset from the turbulence, then he said he would head his mother off so I could go home and rest.”
    “A real night in shining armor.” Wren’s blatant admiration for JT rubbed him the wrong way.
    “He really is. We’re having lunch on Tuesday—my treat—for saving me undue hours of pain and suffering.”
    He didn’t want to hear about Wren’s lunch date, especially when she refused to have a simple meal with him. “So JT came to your rescue. Take the story from there.”
    She stared at him for several seconds, then kept going. “I started home through the insane traffic and decided I should check in with Patrick.”
    “Who’s Patrick?”
    “My assistant.”
    “What’s his last name?”
    “Stone. Why?”
    He shrugged. “Curious. That’s all.”
    “Patrick is not my stalker. Trust me. He’d find you more attractive than he does me—promise.”
    “Stalking isn’t about sex. It’s a need for control over another person.”
    “It’s Rex, not Patrick.”
    “I like to keep my options open.”
    “Do what you think you need to, but you’re wasting your time on one of the people I know and love best.”
    Tucker had never been so envious of another man. What would it be like to rate Wren’s absolute adoration and trust? At most, he and Wren were tiptoeing around a cautious friendship. “Better to look and eliminate than wish you had all along.”
    “I’ll let you be the cynic.”
    He shrugged again. “Keep going.”
    “Patrick and I ran through my schedule for the day. While we were talking a delivery arrived—blood-red roses and a note that said, ‘Welcome Home’. There was a number twenty-five on the card as well.”
    “What does it mean? The twenty-five?”
    “Today’s the twenty-fifth day since my first and only date with Rex.”
    “What did Patrick do with the flowers?”
    “I told him to throw them away. I didn’t want them.”
    “He should’ve called the cops.”
    “He doesn’t know. I haven’t said anything to anyone.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Yes, it does. If you get anything else, you call the cops right away.”
    “I know that now. I had no idea one bad date would end up like this.” She plucked at the leg of her pants.
    “We’re going to figure this out.”
    “I hope so.”
    “We will.” Though he knew it was bound to take awhile, especially with the DA’s family potentially involved. “Tell me the rest.”
    “Patrick and I hung up as I pulled in the drive. It was dark and I was afraid.” She looked up from her jerky tugging movements, meeting his gaze. “I was terrified he was waiting for me. He seems to be watching my every move. I got out of my car and hurried toward the door. The security lights flashed on and I saw the cat.” She laced her fingers, clenching them together. “I knew it was a cat right away. He had a black body, but something looked funny about him, and then I realized he was missing his head. There was blood everywhere.” Her breathing came faster, and she closed her eyes.
    “Take your time.”
    “I wanted to run and scream, but I kept staring. My cellphone started ringing. I don’t remember answering. Somehow the phone was up to my ear, and he was whispering. He asked me if I liked it. Then he stared whining like a spoiled child. He