“Nina!” I hear Jake, and I turn toward the door he comes running in immediately and lifts me so I’m standing in front of him. “Are you okay?” I shake my head, handing him the note and motioning my head toward the box. “What the fuck?”

A knock sounds on the door, and I turn to see two policemen standing there. I recount my actions this morning with them, also informing them of the previous box. They take my statement and place the box and note in bags to take with them. “Miss Mitchell, I suggest that you take this seriously. This type of behavior is a red flag. Try not to travel alone and make sure to be safe.” The detective says before he leaves.

“You need to stay with me until this is over.” I turn to Jake. “I’m not taking no for an answer, Nina. You heard what he said, and if you don’t stay with me, I’ll never be able to rest because I’ll worry. We can sleep in different rooms if you want, but you need to stay with me.”

I shake my head no, the note said to stay away from him. If he got hurt because of me I could never forgive myself. Maybe if I listen to what the note said I will be okay. My head is so jumbled and I have no clue what to do next.

“Hey, I know you’re confused and scared, but there is no way I am letting you tackle this alone.” His eyes are staring into my soul. I can feel how true his words are. He is here for me.

I look at him contemplating what he is asking me. I’m about to say no when I’m reminded of my sister’s words to me. Jake can save you. Trust him. “Okay.” He breathes a sigh of relief.

Kelly appears in the doorway. “Hey, I rescheduled all your stuff today. Why don’t you go home and get some rest.” I nod and thank her. Jake takes my hand, and we walk out of the spa.

“I’ll follow you,” I say to him. My voice is lifeless; I feel numb.

He bends his head so we are at eye level with each other. “I’m here. I won’t let anyone touch you.” He kisses me before opening my car door for me.

I get in and Jake closes the door, leaving me alone. I can’t help looking around constantly on the drive. Is someone following me? Could this person be watching me? My mind spins with different conspiracy theories. I pull into Jake’s driveway and once I get in the house I take out my phone to text Tina. I have to let her know what is going on and that I won’t be home for a little while. Whoever this is wants me not her and I don’t want to make her a target by being there. In reality I have no idea when this will be figured out. If it will be. A chill runs up my spine as I think about the note, the dead mouse, the unknown threat to me.

“Hey.” I jump at the sound of a Jake’s voice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He smiles at me as if he is trying to ease my nerves. “I didn’t know where you would want to sleep, so I put some sheets and blankets in the spare room.”

“Thanks.” I sit down on the couch completely numb and uncomfortable. I’ve been here a bunch of times with him over this past month, but now I feel like an intruder or a burden. That is the last thing that I wanted. I also don’t want him to be hurt because of me. I walk upstairs to the guest room and want nothing more than to pass out. It’s only mid-afternoon but I’m exhausted from everything that happened today. I just need a break, an escape from reality.

I need to breathe.

Chapter Eighteen

Nina

I hear clanging downstairs and am jolted out if my short-lived nap. I can hear Jake cursing and hurry down the steps to make sure that nothing is wrong. When I walk in he is completely covered in white powder.

“Oh my God. What happened to you?” My hand covers my mouth, hoping to hide the huge grin and to stifle the laughs trying to escape.

“Don’t you dare laugh.” He looks up at me and each time he blinks a small puff of white dust pillows around his eyes.

“I’m totally not laughing.” I try to bite the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep my composure. I take a look at the counter and see flour, sugar, and eggs.

“I was going to make you a cake to try to cheer you up. Unfortunately, my culinary skills are very limited. The stupid directions said to mix all the powder ingredients so I put them in here turned on the mixer, and it exploded.” He mimics an explosion with his hands, and I finally lose my composure. I am laughing so hard that I lean on the counter for support. “This is funny?” His voice is deeper and closer to me than it was before. When I open my eyes he is standing right next to me, his frame almost towering over me.

When his hands wrap around me, I try to run but he holds me to him. Then he proceeds to rub his face, all over mine even going down to my neck. I am screaming and squirming the entire time, but it does no good.

“Let me go!” His arms release me, and now he is the one laughing. “You suck.”

“Hey, you know what they say. Misery loves company.” His finger swipes some of the excess flour on the counter before dragging it down my nose.

“Really?” I spring toward him but he moves and when I go to chase him, I slip on all the flour. I land on my back and just decide to count my losses and lay there.

“You okay? You’re a real klutz.” I hear his footsteps coming close to me. Then a loud bang next to me. I look over and Jake is in the same position I am on the floor.

“You okay? You’re a real klutz.” I mock him, and he laughs. “You know there are these cool things they make called cake mixes.”

His head turns toward me with a smile. “Well, excuse me for trying to be creative.”

“Well, your creativeness has left us both covered in flour after busting our asses on the floor. I needed this laugh though so thank you.” I lean in and kiss him.

“I totally did this on purpose then.” We peel ourselves off the floor and spend the next hour cleaning up ourselves and the kitchen.

“What do you say we order dinner and dessert? That way there are no more casualties.”  I search through the drawer where I found his menus when I was cleaning earlier.

“Sounds good. Order whatever you want, I’m gonna go grab a shower.” He gives me a quick kiss before going upstairs.

I settle on pizza because it is something easy and I don’t have to worry about getting something he won’t like. The pizzeria even sells slices of cake so I can feed my now present craving. I head upstairs and grab some clothes that I left here last time I was so over so I can shower once Jake gets out. When I get to the second floor landing, the door to the bathroom opens, Jake comes out with a towel tied around his waist and I’m frozen in place. His chest is hard and I’m mesmerized by the drops of water slowly trailing down his muscular build. Each one carefully making its way over each ripple. My body heats as I look up to see his eyes on me.

I should say something, apologize for basically drooling like an idiot. Say anything! Even something awkward would work at this point. Just form words! Nothing comes out. He takes a few steps toward me and my heart starts to race. I have never had these feelings toward any guy. The kind of feelings that make me want to give myself to him. Unlike most girls, I really didn’t go through the stage where I wanted a guy’s physical attention, but I want his.

Jake’s hand grips my neck slowly bringing my lips to his. When we kiss, I decide to let go. I want to trust him, to not hold anything back and give into what I’m feeling. I pour myself into the kiss and wrap my arms around his neck pulling him toward me. Our bodies are pressed tightly together as I hold onto him for dear life. His muscles are pressed against me, and his strength is making me feel safe. He keeps me grounded. He’s my anchor right now in all of this craziness. He has been someone I can turn to no matter how hard I pushed him away.

“You gotta tell me what you want, babe. I don’t want to take this further than you are ready for.” Whenever we have kissed, I have always been the one to break it up and know he has sensed my reluctance. The fact that he wants me to be comfortable only makes me want him in more. Carly told me I could trust him. I believe it was her in that dream, she came to me for a reason. Maybe that reason was to tear my wall down and open my eyes. With the danger surrounding me and all the unknowns, I need to feel the comfort only Jake gives me. I need to feel wanted, cherished, protected.