Gabe’s point with a nod.
“He’s right,” Natalie said, turning to address Gabe. “You should come with us.”
“Hello, since it’s my money we’re using, do I not get a say in this?” Reggie couldn’t believe them—planning her life like she had nothing to say about it. “Gabe already put in my security system, and now his work is done.” She smiled up at Gabe to find him frowning down at her. Big surprise. “Not that our little reunion hasn’t been enjoyable, but I don’t think a phone call merits my own personal bodyguard.” Simply having Gabe in the same city with her was driving her to distraction. The sooner she got away from him, the sooner she could regain her sanity.
Natalie continued as though Reggie hadn’t spoken. “Reggie has to be at Whole Foods on California Street at six. Can you give her a ride?”
“Didn’t anyone hear what I said?” Reggie snapped.
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Reggie, don’t blow this off just because…” Her gaze darted to Gabe.
Reggie stared hard at Natalie. For once in her life, Natalie got the clue and didn’t elaborate. “Besides,” Natalie continued, “maybe we can spin this to your advantage. Stalkers always generate publicity.”
Reggie fully expected Tyler to tell Natalie she didn’t know what she was talking about. Instead, he looked impressed. “Natalie’s right. If we let the word get out that you’re having enough trouble to hire a bodyguard, it could generate additional buzz.”
Gabe shook his head, his face showing mild disgust as he looked at the three of them. “Any publicity is good publicity?” he asked snidely.
Fine. Let him be judgmental. “Okay, I give in—for now. Tyler, you do whatever you think is best. Nat, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She headed for the corner where she’d left her coat, Gabe hot on her heels.
When they got to her car he took her keys out of her hand without a word, his disapproval palpable as he drove in complete silence.
“I don’t see what’s wrong with trying to see the good in this situation,” Reggie said, compelled beyond reason to defend herself to this man who obviously didn’t care about her personal motivations.
“It just seems a little sick, using a guy who’s threatening you to try to get your name out there.”
“He hasn’t exactly threatened me yet. And you make it sound so sleazy. It’s just business.”
“But the way you’re acting, it’s almost like you think it’s a good thing this pervert is bugging you.” Even in the dim light of the car, Reggie could tell he was white knuckling the steering wheel.
“Of course it’s not a good thing. But if some creep is going to bother me, why not make the best of it?”
“As long as it gets your name out there, right?” There was no mistaking the snide tone now.
Reggie sniffed and looked out the window. “I prefer to think of it as making lemons into lemonade.”
On the way to Whole Foods, Gabe called the police, who said they would send someone to question the crew first thing in the morning. As expected, though, the chances of identifying her stalker from a brief phone call weren’t good.
As they navigated rush hour traffic, Reggie made a valiant attempt at civil conversation.
“Have you seen your sister since you’ve been here?” Reggie knew from Natalie that Gabe’s sister Adrienne and her husband had a place not too far from hers in Pacific Heights.
“Yeah, I’ve been staying at her place.”
“Is she your only sister?”
“Nope.”
Nothing. No further elaboration.
Was this really the same guy she’d met in Maui? Whereas there he’d been quiet but charismatic, now he seemed determined to come off as an unfriendly, emotionless shell.
She had a sudden, vivid flashback to him sitting across from her in that bar. His easy smile, the way he’d looked at her like everything she said was fascinating. Sure, he was kind of quiet, but at least he’d been engaged in the conversation.
And
“He’s right,” Natalie said, turning to address Gabe. “You should come with us.”
“Hello, since it’s my money we’re using, do I not get a say in this?” Reggie couldn’t believe them—planning her life like she had nothing to say about it. “Gabe already put in my security system, and now his work is done.” She smiled up at Gabe to find him frowning down at her. Big surprise. “Not that our little reunion hasn’t been enjoyable, but I don’t think a phone call merits my own personal bodyguard.” Simply having Gabe in the same city with her was driving her to distraction. The sooner she got away from him, the sooner she could regain her sanity.
Natalie continued as though Reggie hadn’t spoken. “Reggie has to be at Whole Foods on California Street at six. Can you give her a ride?”
“Didn’t anyone hear what I said?” Reggie snapped.
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Reggie, don’t blow this off just because…” Her gaze darted to Gabe.
Reggie stared hard at Natalie. For once in her life, Natalie got the clue and didn’t elaborate. “Besides,” Natalie continued, “maybe we can spin this to your advantage. Stalkers always generate publicity.”
Reggie fully expected Tyler to tell Natalie she didn’t know what she was talking about. Instead, he looked impressed. “Natalie’s right. If we let the word get out that you’re having enough trouble to hire a bodyguard, it could generate additional buzz.”
Gabe shook his head, his face showing mild disgust as he looked at the three of them. “Any publicity is good publicity?” he asked snidely.
Fine. Let him be judgmental. “Okay, I give in—for now. Tyler, you do whatever you think is best. Nat, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She headed for the corner where she’d left her coat, Gabe hot on her heels.
When they got to her car he took her keys out of her hand without a word, his disapproval palpable as he drove in complete silence.
“I don’t see what’s wrong with trying to see the good in this situation,” Reggie said, compelled beyond reason to defend herself to this man who obviously didn’t care about her personal motivations.
“It just seems a little sick, using a guy who’s threatening you to try to get your name out there.”
“He hasn’t exactly threatened me yet. And you make it sound so sleazy. It’s just business.”
“But the way you’re acting, it’s almost like you think it’s a good thing this pervert is bugging you.” Even in the dim light of the car, Reggie could tell he was white knuckling the steering wheel.
“Of course it’s not a good thing. But if some creep is going to bother me, why not make the best of it?”
“As long as it gets your name out there, right?” There was no mistaking the snide tone now.
Reggie sniffed and looked out the window. “I prefer to think of it as making lemons into lemonade.”
On the way to Whole Foods, Gabe called the police, who said they would send someone to question the crew first thing in the morning. As expected, though, the chances of identifying her stalker from a brief phone call weren’t good.
As they navigated rush hour traffic, Reggie made a valiant attempt at civil conversation.
“Have you seen your sister since you’ve been here?” Reggie knew from Natalie that Gabe’s sister Adrienne and her husband had a place not too far from hers in Pacific Heights.
“Yeah, I’ve been staying at her place.”
“Is she your only sister?”
“Nope.”
Nothing. No further elaboration.
Was this really the same guy she’d met in Maui? Whereas there he’d been quiet but charismatic, now he seemed determined to come off as an unfriendly, emotionless shell.
She had a sudden, vivid flashback to him sitting across from her in that bar. His easy smile, the way he’d looked at her like everything she said was fascinating. Sure, he was kind of quiet, but at least he’d been engaged in the conversation.
And
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