Free The Christmas Stalking by Lillian Duncan

1
     
    Holly Stone needed a place to hide. Well, not Holly Stone, but the persona she had become—Destiny, Nashville’s brightest country music star. Her sultry voice and trademark long, blonde hair had made her famous—her only goal in life.
    Unfortunately, along with the notoriety came unwelcomed attention from a stalker. Not just any run of the mill crazy, but one who mailed her a dead cat. That had been enough for her. She skirted the security team’s suggestion, attended a charity concert in her blonde wig, and then two-stepped it out of town.
    Now, her car’s headlights flashed on the welcoming sign for the Village of Serenity and Peace, better known by the locals as plain old Serenity. Legend said a group of monks hid behind their cowls and founded the little town in the wilds of upstate New York.
    What better place was there than where she’d spent so many wonderful summers with her grandparents? She could ditch the wig, hide, and celebrate Christmas. Of course, she would spend this Christmas just the way she had last year—alone.
    Serenity still loved to celebrate Christmas in a big way. Strings of multi-colored lights wound their way through the garland that decorated old-time light poles like antique gas lanterns. Christmas bulbs framed every window in town, adding to the festive look.
    A few people scurried down the streets, braving the cold, probably on their way home.
    Home. She wished she had a real home with real family and friends. Not just business associates. Her choices had made her rich and famous, even if she was a bit lonely at times. Especially at the holidays.
    Her gaze focused on the snow-covered streets. Why had she thought coming to upstate New York in December was a good idea?
    She shivered.
    The stalker wouldn’t be able to find her here. Though she’d spent summers in Serenity with her grandparents, she had never listed the place in her official bio. No reason for anyone to look for her in this tiny Adirondack town.
    The sparkling lights dimmed as she drove to the outskirts. Slowly, she weaved her way through the darkness of the rural road.
    Lights from a following car glared.
    Her stomach lurched. Was it her stalker?
    Stop being ridiculous and paranoid.
    He couldn’t have followed her. She’d spent the past two days making sure of that. But the lights continued to shine in her rearview mirror even as she pressed her foot to the accelerator. She didn’t want to take the chance of leading a psychopath to her remote cabin .
    A blue and red light show flashed on the snow bank.
    Great. Just what she needed.
    But a ticket was better than being followed by a stalker.
    She squinted at the flashing police lights as she pulled the car beside piles of packed snow.
    She hit the button and the window moved down. A gust of icy wind froze her flirtatious smile into a grimace.
    “Ma’am, I need to see your license and registration.”
    She stared up at the officer. No expression. No smile. All business. Here came a ticket.
    “Why?”
    “Excuse me?”
    Yikes. That was Destiny talking, not Holly Stone. “ Oh, nothing, Officer. Sorry. Hold on.” She pulled out the rental agreement and her license and handed them to the officer, glad she’d taken the time to get a license in her real name, with her natural hair color.
    “Holly Stone?”
    “That’s me.” Sort of.
    He stared down at her for a moment—almost a glare. Then his blue eyes twinkled and a hint of a smile played across his lips. “My, my, my. It couldn’t really be the little Holly Stone I used to play tag with in the woods, but she did have red hair and a temper to match. Just like you.” The voice held a familiar taunt.
    Holly looked closely at the man.
    His vibrant blue eyes contrasted against his tanned skin and curly black locks.
    “There is no way you’re that bully, Robby Trenton. He was a short, fat thing.”
    “I was not fat. I was stout. I hadn’t hit my growth spurt yet.”
    “Well, you certainly seemed to have hit