Free When The Runway Went South by Lois Kasznia Page B

the oversized leather recliner. "I could sleep right here, but I'd like it better with you in your bed."
"Get that out of your mind right now, buster." Ally shook her finger at him and then smiled. "You're just trying to get my goat."
"Maybe more than your goat." Caleb smiled back at her. "Now, go back to whatever you were doing. I'll just stay here."
"Fine." Ally walked back to the kitchen table and returned to the work she had been doing on her laptop. They sat in compatible silence until the landline phone rang. Ally went to answer it and heard no one on the other end. She placed the phone back in its cradle and shook her head.
"What's going on?"asked Caleb.
"I don't know. They didn't say anything. Probably just a wrong number," she replied. Ally took a sip of her wine and continued working.
"What are you doing?" Caleb had been watching her concentration on the laptop.
"I'm working on this business plan for Kat. We're getting together tomorrow and I want to make sure we're on the right track." The phone rang again and Ally picked it up. "Hello? Hello? Who is this?" Heavy breathing sounded on the other end and then they hung up.
"Well?" demanded Caleb as he rose from the chair.
"Somebody is messing with me," commented Ally. She checked Caller Id and the display read unavailable. She looked up at Caleb. "Next time, you answer it."
"You bet your ass I'm going to answer it." Caleb strode quickly and sat next to Ally. He grabbed the phone from her and leaned over to see her laptop. He read what she had written and smiled. "What's the name of the business?"
"Kat doesn't have one. I told her to think of one quickly so we can get business cards and brochures done. I'm ready to go ahead and name it myself."
"I got it. Ally Kat's Catering." Caleb grinned widely.
"Get serious." She glared at Caleb.
"No, it's the one. Something people will remember. Ally, I'm serious. People pay me for this advice and here y'all are getting it free."
"People pay you for advice?" admonished Ally.
"Ally, what did I tell y'all the last time? I'm president of the Chamber of Commerce." He looked at her smugly.
"Oh." She looked at Caleb dubiously. "Kat and I will talk about it tomorrow."
"For your business cards, use…" Caleb never finished his sentence since the phone rang. "Hello?" The caller hung up immediately and Caleb checked the number, which read  unavailable . "Yeah, they're all messing with you. I know what to do the next time they call."
"You do?"
"I'm Officer Wade, the constable of this town." Caleb smiled wickedly.
"Who is doing this?"
"Kids, I told you they know. I bet you didn't think to get your number blocked."
"I didn't think anyone would know me around here." Ally looked troubled.
"Ally, be realistic. You're a famous model. People are going to hunt you down. You just can't walk away and expect people not to notice."
"No?" asked Ally dejectedly. She looked up at Caleb with an angry expression. "Oh Caleb, why can't people leave me alone?"
"Now, don't start the waterworks," said Caleb gruffly. "I hate it when a gal cries.”
"I can't make it stop," cried Ally. "I-I'm sorry." She reached for a tissue and Caleb interrupted drawing her into a big bear hug. It felt too good and they stayed that way for a long time. Ally felt a slight shiver of sexual stirrings as she relaxed into Caleb's hard muscular body.
Caleb felt her soften and hoped she had not felt him harden. He pulled away slowly and cupped her chin in his right hand. Her skin felt so soft against his calloused hands. "Ally, when you're famous like you are, they're never going away. They are going to follow you for a very long time. The least you can do is to take some serious steps into security. People around here will give you your privacy, but be careful. You're a beautiful lady and, Ally? Things happen to you that don't normally happen to other people. Now, you understand why I'm staying tonight."
"You're right. I didn't think anyone would even try to track me down here in