Exposed (Let Me Love You #3)

Chapter 33

33

I SEE YOU

PEPPER

I t’s been a couple of days since Matt’s friends went back to Colorado, and I’m laying low until we find out who framed me.

Matt’s been busy working, so Simon and I are chilling at the house. When I get his formula for his afternoon feeding, I use all that we have left. I thought we had another container, but I was wrong. With Matt shooting a wedding today, I’ll have to go buy more.

You’d think it’d be easy to make a quick trip to the grocery store.

Nope.

The first grocery store I go to is out of Simon’s formula. As I drive to the second store, I notice a car following me. Unless another person is hitting up multiple grocery stores, Simon and I are being followed by a grey sedan with dark tinted windows.

Turning right three times to drive in a circle, the hair on the back of my neck stands up when the car stays glued to my tail. I need to be somewhere public with lots of people around, so I park as close as I can to the entrance of the second grocery store.

I check that my pepper spray can is tucked into my shorts pocket and take a deep breath. “Okay, Simon, let’s go.” I run with him, not taking a breath until I’m safely in the doors of the grocery store.

Thankfully, this second store has his formula, so I stock up. Simon is cooing happily as I wear him on my chest in his carrier, and I’m not leaving the refuge of this public space.

Looking out the large windows at the front of the store reveals the sedan parked in the back of the lot with the windows rolled up. I can’t go to the police and tell them someone is following me, and there’s no way I’m going home. With my cart stocked with formula, I walk around and stay near other shoppers for safety. Whoever was in the sedan could be in the store now.

I wrap an arm protectively around Simon’s back in the carrier. “I’ll do whatever I need to protect you, Simon.” He looks up at me and happily gurgles as drool dribbles out of the corner of his mouth. “Good boy, little buddy.”

Is the stalker someone from Titan Securities? Surely, they would’ve called the police by now to come and arrest me. Maybe it’s the person who actually framed me, and they’ve found where I’m hiding. They could be here to take me out, and I’ve got Simon with me. My mind runs wild with possibilities, and my heart is heavy that I’ve got precious, innocent Simon in the middle of this chaos.

I hate to bother Matt at work, and he gave me his dad’s number in case I need anything while he’s working. Dialing Henry’s number, he picks up after the first ring.

“Hey, Pepper. How are you? Everything alright?” He asks.

“Someone is following me,” I whisper as I pass by the bananas on my second loop through the produce section.

“Have you called Matt?” Henry asks.

“No. He’s working.”

“He’ll want to know. You should call him.”

“Yeah, okay,” I take a deep breath, worrying I’ve bothered Henry while he’s in the middle of something.

“Send me the address. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll go to the police station. Can you get the license plate number to report?” I hear keys jingle in the background.

He’s dropping what he’s doing to help me? Emotion pulls at my heart that he’s acting like a father to me, more than my real father ever did.

“I have his license plate number, but I can’t go to the police.” My voice trembles as I speak.

“It’s okay, Pepper. We need to know who’s following you,” he urges.

“I can’t. I’m sorry,” I reply.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “How about I bring you to one of my gyms. We’ve got a tight check in, and you can come upstairs to my office with Simon while you wait for Matt.”

“I appreciate it,” I say.

“No problem. Glad you called me,” he replies.

This is what it’s like to have a family who cares. I could get used to the warm, fuzzy feeling settling in my heart. While I wait for Henry, I call Matt.

“What’s up, Pepper?” He asks, and I can hear people talking in the background.

“Someone is following me and Simon,” I confess, embarrassed that I’m in this situation.

“Pepper, where are you? I’ll come get you.”

“No. I’m okay.” I can’t help the shakiness in my voice. I rock back and forth and rub Simon’s back, but it’s to calm myself more than him. He looks up at me with his big blue eyes, and I swear his sweet, relaxed expression calms me. Like he’s telling me it’s going to be okay. He yawns and wrinkles his nose, then rests his head against my chest.

“I’m at the grocery store, and your dad is coming to take me to one of his gyms to wait for you,” I explain.

“You have the license plate number?” He asks.

“Yeah. Your dad doesn’t understand why I don’t want to call the police.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m coming to get you. My dad can call the police and report the car himself. He can tell them the car was following him for all I care, but we need to know who’s stalking you,” Matt says.

“You’re right,” I acquiesce, and we disconnect the call.

Damn, we really need that new hacker to contact us. I’m tired of living in fear.

I text Matt my address, then move to the front of the store to spy on the car that’s stalking me.

It’s disappeared from the parking spot it was in. My eyes scan the parking lot, but it’s nowhere to be found.

Crap.

I dial Matt and let him know.

“My dad can still file a report at the police station. I told him not to mention you,” Matt responds. “Text my dad the license number, and I’m coming to get you.”

“Stay and finish your job, Matt. You made a commitment to that couple to capture their wedding day.”

“Are you sure? You and Simon are my priority.”

My heart beats double time at his words. “Yeah, Matt. I’m sure.”

“You and Simon can’t go home alone,” he asserts. “Have my dad take you to his gym. Lock yourself and Simon in his office while he goes to the police station.”

“What should we do after that?” I ask.

“Hopefully this wraps up around 10 or 11 tonight,” he takes a deep breath like he’s thinking. “I’ll have my dad arrange for someone to follow you home and watch our house until we figure out what’s going on.”

I don’t know what exactly he means, but if his dad knows of a bodyguard available tonight, I don’t have a problem with it. I have his son, and I want to make sure I do everything possible to keep Simon protected.

“Okay. Thanks, Matt.”

“Don’t worry, Pepper. We’ll fix this.” He’s quiet for a beat before he adds. “I care about you Pepper. A lot. Hug and kiss Simon for me.”

After living most of my life devoid of love, his affection is like a healing balm soothing my heart. Plus, he said our house . He considers his house to be mine too.

I bend my head to kiss Simon’s head and whisper, “I really like your dad, Simon. You’re one lucky dude to have him.”