17
The remainder of the week, although busy, was quiet and routine. Susan returned to work on Tuesday and though Emmet was more relaxed around me; his interactions were void of any of the intimacy he displayed on Sunday. It was what I needed. Dull and boring suited me just fine. The only break in routine was a new face on date night. Enter Judith. She was built like an Amazon, but still polished and refined. Josh had Eli convinced she was a man. That couldn’t have been far from the truth. Man or not, she was infinitely more pleasurable to be around than Elizabeth, although the bar was admittedly low. Her kindness evident in the little conversation we engaged in, and I was thrilled not to be called Hannah all evening long.
Every night Emmet and I visited quietly from 10 to 10:30 under the beautiful summer sky with Romulus. The serenity of our time was never spoiled with an ill word or intruder. It was just our time to share. It was comfortable, like an old slipper. No pretense or expectations; no painful questions; no worries. Many evenings we shared only the silence. At times we shared our day. This time and place was where I felt most at peace. A feeling I didn’t remember existing for years. It cleansed me and grounded me. Sometimes I would stare at the stars and count my blessings for each one I saw.
I was relaxing in my new life. Was I suppressing the latent fear of Lawrence’s search? Perhaps I was. For that, I was grateful for the chance to rejuvenate myself…mind, body, and spirit. Harold and I trained three times a week and I ran every day at the park. There was a beautiful path one mile around. Although I jogged at different times each day, I committed to myself to run at least three miles a day. I deserved to take care of me.
Friday was a beautiful morning to run. I was on my third mile when my world shifted once again seeing Michael. He was standing close to the woods leaning against a tree. How long had he been there? It was hard not to be frightened by the sight of him. He was massive, like a walking tree trunk. The scars and tattoos he had all over his arms added to his dangerous look. He looked like a mercenary, but spoke like a gentleman.
I could feel there was danger or he wouldn’t have been there. My guardian angel, as he called himself. Michael spoke first. “Good morning, lovely lady,” he said in his low gravelly voice. I still couldn’t pinpoint his accent.
“Michael, how did you find me?”
“I always know where you are.”
“How long have you been following me?”
“Always…to be sure Lawrence has not found you. For now you remain hidden.”
“You came here to tell me he hasn’t found me?”
“He expends considerable effort searching for you. He hunts you in Atlanta, New Orleans, and now Nashville.”
“H…H…Hunts me?”
“My apology; such a barbaric word. His search expands, but you must not run now. If you run, I cannot find you; if I cannot find you, I cannot protect you.”
“Why? Why is he so obsessed with finding me?”
“His obsession is not in finding you. His obsession is you.” Every word Michael spoke sent another chill of fear down my spine. Lawrence was controlling and possessive. My leaving only inflamed his outrageous obsession with me. Now his fury fueled his rage.
“Is he searching alone?”
“No, I fear there are a dozen more as well.”
“Michael, I met some men, attorneys at Emmet’s last weekend. They recognized my face. I told them my name was Annie Logan, but they persisted in finding out how they knew me. They are from Florida.”
“Share with me their names and I will silence them.”
“Oh, God, Michael…their names are Rich and Bob. That’s all I know. They work in the international distribution division of a company in Florida called Purdy Co. Is that enough?”
“Yes, yes, that will do.”
“What will you…do? Do you have to hurt them?”
“Silence can be bought, my lady. Your Lawrence is not popular among his equals. I will return to watch over you again. Tell no one your secrets; no one I say. Goodbye, lovely lady. Stay unharmed.”
Michael turned and walked into the woods. I continued on my run. I was safe in Indiana. Lawrence’s search had not reached me…yet. Four miles turned into five and five into eight then ten. I was running, striving to escape my past, struggling to clear my mind. I could have run one hundred miles and still not driven Michael’s words from my head, “He hunts you.”
18
Friday evening I was almost done for the day. Emmet was having some friends over later and I needed to have things set up for him before I curled up with a good book. If his friends were anything like Elizabeth or Judith, I’d pass on socializing. From the women he dated I was expecting two men with pocket protectors and overdeveloped vocabularies. Emmet came alive around his boys, but most of the time he was painfully formal. It was sad, actually. This smart, successful, attractive man didn’t know how to have fun.
My last duty of the day was to wait for his guests to arrive. I expected the doorbell to ring but they just let themselves in the back door. They were not at all what I had anticipated. Both were handsome and personable. With a tray of sandwiches in one hand and a bowl of chips and guacamole in the other, I led them down to the rec room where Emmet waited. I was intent on disengaging quickly.
I wasn’t sure why it was called the rec room…the basement was more like the man cave. It had three big screen televisions, a fully stocked bar, a pool table, and a sound system to die for. It lacked any decorator’s appeal, as if when Emmet was having the house furnished this floor was off limits. The furniture was worn, the lighting was poor, and it was just a little creepy. The boys and I played down there once, but I wouldn’t want to have been there alone.
They were all set with food and drink and I was on my way out. “Aren’t you going to properly introduce us?” One asked.
“Of course…how rude of me not to introduce my friends. Annie?”
Damn…I almost made it to the stairs.
“Annie Logan, meet Mitch Mucha and Chase Saunders. We went to college together, undergrad.”
I could only imagine how many hearts this trio broke in college. Each one of them more striking than the next. Chase had softer features than the other two. His blonde curly hair made him look more like he belonged in California than Indiana. He was actually more beautiful than handsome, almost cherub-like. He had big gray-blue eyes and a beautiful smile. He was the kind of guy that should come with a warning sign, “Beware of Charm.” He hit me as the smooth-talker of the three.
Mitch on the other hand reminded me of a cowboy—a big athletic cowboy; maybe a cross between John Wayne and Johnny Bravo. His hair was sandy brown and his eyes matched it almost perfectly. He was big like the other two, but heavier and a bit on the hairy side. He looked like the one who got the other two into mischief; definitely the most outgoing… the troublemaker.
“Nice to meet you both,” I said as I moved toward the stairs to make my escape for the second time.
“Have a seat, Annie,” Mitch said, patting his leg as he sat down. “What’s your story, beautiful?”
Mitch’s words caught me off guard. I couldn’t remember the last time a man motioned me to sit on his lap, especially a man I’d just met. I didn’t believe he was making an advance. He was just being friendly, and I had the feeling he called every woman beautiful. “Oh, no thank you…I don’t really have a story. Besides, I don’t want to…um…well, it’s boy’s night and all. Ahhh…do you need anything else before I call it a night?”
“Not so fast,” Mitch said, reaching out and grasping my hand. “You’re the only thing brightening up this room. Emmet, you didn’t tell us she was hot.”