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PROLOGUE

Los Angeles, California

One year ago…

“Nice job tonight, Miss Cahill. That risotto you made looked out of this world.”

Scottie Cahill smiled at her studio-assigned bodyguard as the sweet man opened the car’s back passenger door. Six-four, late forties. Kind eyes and a body built like a prize fighter.

The former police officer-turned-bodyguard to the stars offered a sense of safety when she’d needed it most. Not that Scottie saw herself as a star. Far from it. She was simply a small-town girl trying to enjoy her ten minutes of fame.

Recent events, however, had taught her that life in front of a million-plus viewers wasn’t always what it was cracked up to be.

“Thanks, Mitch.” She stepped past the muscular man on her way into the awaiting vehicle. “I’m just glad the judges thought so, too. And I’ve told you a million times, you can call me Scottie.”

“And I told you, as long as I’m on the clock, I’ll address you with the respect you deserve. Now. As for as the judges go…are you kidding?” His deep voice held a hint of playful rasp. “I saw their faces when they sampled your dish. Even Chapman’s eyes lit up when he got his first taste.”

Scottie chuckled, recalling the panel and the toughest judge’s reaction to her dish. “They did, didn’t they?”

“Mark my words...” Mitch stood with his jacketed arm resting on the door’s metal frame as she ducked into the car. “You’re going to win this thing, lock, stock, and barrel.”

“From your lips to God’s ears.”

She settled herself back against the flawless black leather, pretending not to notice the gun strapped to her bodyguard’s right hip. If she noticed it—if she acknowledged its existence—she’d also be forced to acknowledge why Mitch had been hired in the first place.

And she was too damn tired to think about that.

Scottie waited until he shut the door beside her to release a tired breath. Who knew being a contestant on a live reality cooking show would take so much out of a person?

Your exhaustion is about more than just working your ass off to prove yourself to the judges…and you know it.

Her head fell back, resting against the cushioned seat. Looking out into the night through the window’s tinted glass, Scottie watched the city of Los Angeles pass by in a blur.

It was the first time all day that she felt like she could truly relax. But when Scottie allowed the tension in her muscles to ease and her mind to accept the fact that she was safe, true exhaustion began to set in.

“Why don’t you close your eyes for a spell?” Mitch asked, his knowing gaze meeting hers from the rearview mirror. “This time of night, the traffic’s going to be brutal. It’s gonna be at least another thirty, forty-five minutes before we make it back to the hotel. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

“I appreciate that, Mitch.” She really did. “But if I take a cat nap now, I’ll be up half the night. So as much as I’d love nothing more than to fall blissfully asleep, I think I’ll wait until after I get back and take a ridiculously long, hot shower.”

A deep chuckle left the middle-aged man’s broad shoulders shaking behind the wheel. “You’re the boss, Miss Cahill.”

He reached down and turned on her favorite station.

Scottie smiled, resuming her previous task of staring blindly out the back passenger window. The next thing she knew, Mitch was waking her up to tell her they’d arrived back at the hotel…

“Sorry again for falling asleep on the ride here.” They approached her room. “I hope I didn’t snore.”

Her bodyguard’s lips curved into a grin. “Your secret is safe with me.”

She giggled, standing to the side so he could open the door. As per her newly implemented protocol, Scottie waited just inside the room as Mitch cleared the small suite to ensure it was safe to enter.

“Looks good.” He gave a friendly smile as he let his hand fall away from his holstered weapon. “You need anything before I go?”

Now that you mention it, would you mind standing outside my door all night while I sleep? I’d really appreciate it.

“I’m good.” She shook her head. “But thanks.”

“Okay, then. Have a good rest of your night, Miss Cahill.” His brown gaze softened. “Try to get some rest, yeah?”

Her heart warmed, knowing there was someone looking out for her. Even if it was a man she’d only known a few weeks who was only here because it was his job.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she assured him. “I’ll be out the second my head hits the pillow.” As long as the nameless, faceless monster stays out of my head, that is.

“Goodnight, Miss Cahill. And remember…you need anything, I’m right next door. All you have to do is call.”

“Thanks, Mitch. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As was their routine, she locked the door behind him the second it snicked shut. Turning around, Scottie blew out a breath, relieved the day had finally come to an end.

Only three more episodes left to go before the season finale. After the last few weeks, three felt like thirty. But she hadn’t come this far to give up on her dream when it was almost within her reach.

You can do this, Scottie. Just three more weeks to go.

Three weeks, countless interviews, and who knows how many public appearances? But who was counting?

Pretending she wasn’t, Scottie went to the bed and plopped herself onto its foot. She didn’t bother to untie her sneakers before toeing them off her tired, aching feet.

The temptation to let herself fall back onto the plush mattress was profound. But the combinations of savory aromas from tonight’s main dish—along with the other remaining contestants’ entrees—reminded her a shower was a definite must.

With a groan, she pushed herself back onto her socked feet, padding heavily across the carpeted floor toward the room’s provided dresser. Scottie quickly retrieved a clean pair of panties and her favorite pajamas, tossing them onto the bed as she passed before making her way to the bathroom.

Several long, glorious minutes later, she was clean, relaxed, and almost ready to fall under the Sandman’s spell. Almost because she was still only dressed in the hotel’s thick, white, monogrammed robe.

Scottie squeezed the remaining drops of water from her long, damp hair as her tired legs carried her back into the bedroom. She was so focused on the bed in front of her—and her desire to crawl beneath its covers—she didn’t notice the man standing a few feet away, hiding in the shadows.

“I knew you’d win tonight.”

Scottie yelped in surprise, every muscle in her body jumping at the sound of the unfamiliar male voice. She spun around on the balls of her bare feet, the movement so hurried that several strands of wet hair stuck to her cheek.

A man she’d never seen before stood less than ten feet away. Not super tall.

“W-Who are y?—”

“You know who I am, Scottie.” His voice was thick and slightly slurred. “It’s me. Dustin.”

The man said this as if it should mean something to her. But his uninvited introduction only meant that she needed to get Mitch…and fast.

“I don’t know who you are or how you got into my room, but you need to leave. Now, before I call the police.”

“The police?” Dustin continued, taking slow, methodical steps toward her. A look of confusion spread across his almost boyish face.

In a twisted dance of fear and pursuit, Scottie moved when he moved. Stepping backward as he brought himself closer.

“Don’t be afraid of me, Scottie.” The deranged man lifted his hands palms-up. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’d never hurt you. I…I love you.” He moved in closer. “Just like I said in all those letters and notes I sent to you. And the notes I left on your car and at that other hotel before they forced you to move here.”

They didn’t force me to do anything, asshole. All they did was try to keep me safe from you.

“Dustin, I know you think you love me, but you don’t.” Another step back. “You don’t even know me.”

His gaze became almost wild with an unsettling excitement.

“You’re wrong, Scottie.” Another step toward her. “I know all about you. Where you grew up. That your grandparents raised you after your mother died and then left you everything they had when they died, too. I also know no other man has ever been good enough for you.”

He was wrong about that.

Once upon a time, there had been a man who was good enough for her. Too good, if she was being completely honest with herself.

Though it was a lifetime ago, Scottie had never forgotten about her high school sweetheart. The boy who’d taught her to see the positives in life when it seemed as if none existed.

Chase had been so funny and sweet. Smart and sexy. And to this day, she’d never seen eyes as piercingly blue as his.

Yep, for a minute there, Scottie had been stupid enough to believe she could have everything she wanted in life. Love. Marriage. Kids.

Happiness.

Then the realities of her decidedly uncharmed life had hit yet again, and she’d lost him. Just like she’d lost everything else that had been good in her world.

You’re about to lose your entire damn life if you don’t focus on getting past this guy and out of this room!

And just like that, Scottie’s attention snapped back to the terrifying present. Back to the very imminent dilemma of what the hell she was going to do to get herself free.

How the hell, indeed?

She was in a standoff with her stalker, dressed in nothing but a robe, as she attempted to keep a safe distance between them. So far, it was working. But the room was only so big, and Dustin Whoeverhewas was still standing between Scottie and her only means of escape.

You need anything, I’m right next door. All you have to do is call.

Her pulse spiked when she thought of Mitch, who was right there on the other side of the wall. She wanted nothing more than to call out to him. To scream that her stalker was here and she was in immediate danger.

But the hotel’s landline on the nightstand behind her was out of her reach. And while the weight of her cell phone called out to her from the robe’s left pocket, Scottie didn’t think the maniac would be willing to wait while she made the lifesaving call.

You don’t have to pull the phone out of your pocket to call, remember?

Hope flourished as she recalled what Mitch had shown her during his first night on the job. The former cop had been going over his own safety protocol when he showed her an alternative—and hopefully unnoticeable—way to call for help.

“We’re meant to be together, Scottie.” Dustin inched closer. “You and me. We’re finally free to pursue the life we’ve both been wanting. You can move into my place. It’s not huge, but there’s more than enough room for the two of us. We should get married right away, so that everyone can share in the celebration of our love! And as soon as you’re ready, we can start trying for our first child. I’m hoping for a girl first. She’ll have pretty blonde hair and green eyes, just like yours…”

Dear God. This man truly is certifiable.

While Dustin continued rambling on about things that were never, ever going to happen, Scottie pretended to listen, holding onto his gaze as if she hung on his every word.

In reality, while the man who’d been terrorizing her for weeks stared back into her eyes, she was slowly sliding her left hand down into the robe’s slightly gaping pocket.

Her throat worked with a nervous swallow as her fingers searched for the right button. The phone’s slightly raised, circular lenses on the back let her know which way the device was facing.

Find the button on the left.

Thanks to Mitch’s overbearing insistence, she’d practiced this exact scenario a handful of times. After moving from her previous hotel to this one, he’d gone over several different potentially dangerous scenarios. And then…he gave her detailed instructions on the best ways to make it out of each and every one unharmed.

Unharmed is good. Let’s definitely go for unharmed.

Scottie found the button she needed on the phone’s outer left edge. As Dustin went on pleading his case as to why she should leave this room with him and never look back, she pressed her finger to the button, holding it down as she spoke.

“Dustin, please. If you don’t go now, I’ll have no other choice but to… call Mitch. ”

She made sure to emphasize those last two words, speaking a touch louder as she did with the hope her phone was listening and would follow the hidden command.

Dustin’s expression dropped, shifting from excited to almost angry when he heard the other man’s name fall from her lips.

“Who the hell is Mitch?”

“My bodyguard,” she answered truthfully. “And if you don’t leave my hotel room right now, I’m going to go to that phone behind me and call him. If that happens, you’ll be arrested and hauled off by the cops.” If he doesn’t beat your ass first, that is. “You don’t want to go to jail tonight, do you Dustin?”

“That’s not going to happen. You wanna know why?” He shook his head and smiled. The curve of his lips forming in a slow, almost sinister way as he slowly reached behind his back. “Because I won’t let it.”

When his hand came back into view, Scottie’s entire system locked down.

Oh, god!

“Dustin, why do you have a gun?” she spoke loudly, praying Mitch had picked up and could hear the conversation. Her eyes bounced back and forth between his unpredictable gaze and the black pistol held loosely in his fist.

A look of bemusement softened his unsettling expression. “Don’t worry, sweet Scottie. I’m not going to hurt you.” He took another step closer.

Like I’m about to believe a word this guy says.

In return, Scottie moved backward a few inches. Once. Twice. But when she tried the defensive move a third time, her bare heel struck the nightstand’s wooden base.

She was running out of room, and unless Mitch got here in the next few seconds…

I’m going to run out of time.

And since Mitch wasn’t here yet, chances were good he wasn’t coming at all. Which meant she’d have to find a way out of this frightening situation herself.

Think, Scottie. Think!

“Because you care about me.” She went with the only plan to come to mind.

Dustin stopped mid-stride and nodded. “You finally understand.”

“I do,” Scottie lied. “I see it now.”

“See what?”

“That we’re meant to be together.”

Just uttering the nauseating falsehood made her want to vomit all over the hotel’s fancy carpet.

Excitement flourished across his ever-changing face. “That’s right! We are meant to be together. That’s what I’ve been trying to say! You and I…Scottie, we’re?—”

“Soulmates,” she finished for him. “I know that, now.”

“That’s good, Scottie.” Dustin’s movements became slightly erratic as he switched gears to focus on the next step in his plan. “That’s really good. So…you’ll come with me, then?”

“Of course, I will, Dustin.” She lied through her fake-as-hell smile. “But I should probably get dressed, don’t you think?” Scottie looked down at her robe. “I mean, if I walk through the lobby looking like this, people are going to ask questions. And, I may be wrong in my assumption here, but I’m guessing you’d prefer we leave without a bunch of attention being drawn to us.”

Something akin to admiration lit up the man’s widening gaze. “I knew it.” His lips curved even higher. “I knew you loved me, too! That’s why you’re worried about the people in the lobby, isn’t it? You don’t want them to keep us from finally reaching our dream of being together. You’re…” He moved a bit closer. “You’re trying to protect me.”

“No, Dustin.” She stepped forward that time, playing to his delusional psyche. “I’m trying to protect us both. I mean…” She swallowed hard. “Now that we’re finally together, it would be a shame to let anyone come between us…right?”

“You mean that?”

Not even a little bit, you freak.

“Of course, I do.” Scottie let the curve of her lips grow. “I…I was only trying to push you away before because I know that’s what everyone else expects me to do. But?—”

“They don’t matter.” Dustin shook his head excitedly. “No one else matters but the two of us.”

“I know that, now.” She inched closer. “So I’ll change clothes, put a bag together with a few of my things, and then you and I can finally start that amazing life you just described.”

“You don’t need a bag. In fact, you don’t need anything at all. Because I already have everything you need waiting for you at home.”

Dear God.

With her heart feeling like it would leap straight out of her chest, she approached the man with the gun. Luckily, he was still holding it down, letting it hang loosely at his side. And—so far—he hadn’t made a move to point it in her direction.

“Great.” Scottie steadied her breathing and schooled her expression. “That’s…really great. Just give me like…two minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”

Taking a huge risk, she began moving in small, slow steps toward the bathroom door behind where Dustin stood. His spine stiffened at first, sending her heartbeat skyrocketing into an even more frantic rhythm.

But when she flashed him the most affectionate look she could muster, the man who’d been terrorizing her for weeks relaxed. His expression that of an almost timid and bashful man.

Timid, my ass.

Scottie held her breath as she passed by her stalker, her smile falling flat the second her face was no longer within his view. If she could get to the bathroom, she could lock herself inside, call the police.

A door isn’t going to stop a bullet.

True, Dustin could shoot his way in, if it came to that. But Scottie was already half-way there. If she called nine-one-one the second she shut the door, she could—hopefully—buy herself enough time for the cops to show up and put the psycho in cuffs.

“Scottie?”

She closed her eyes as her steps came to a stop. Looking over her shoulder, she found him staring straight at her. A look of pure joy lighting up the man’s entire face.

“I’m going to make you happy, you know.” It wasn’t a question. “I’ll make you so happy, you won’t ever want to leave.

“Can’t wait.” She forced the words to come.

A heartbeat later, all hell began to break loose.

Everything happened at once, and Scottie was so taken off guard by it all, she never had the chance to even try to react.

The door to her hotel room burst open. Mitch appeared suddenly. He held his gun steady, the deadly weapon up and ready to shoot. But by the time she realized what was going on, Dustin had already made his move.

A burning pain twisted in Scottie’s upper arm as Dustin gave her a rough pull.

Crying out, she stumbled over her bare feet as she was yanked against her attacker’s body. Her back flush with his front.

“Let her go!” Mitch roared, his deep voice booming off the room’s thin walls.

Rather than follow her bodyguard’s orders, Dustin wrapped one arm tightly around her neck while using his other to lift the gun to the side of her head.

“Take another step, and I’ll kill her!”

“No, you won’t.” Mitch shook his head. “You kill her, and you lose the only thing that matters to you.”

Somewhere in the back of her fearful mind, Scottie noticed Mitch was dressed in nothing but a pair of jeans. Water droplets balanced on the exposed skin of the man’s forehead and broad shoulders, and his hair was damp, as if he’d come straight here from the shower.

“P-Please,” she begged both men simultaneously.

She wasn’t sure which she was pleading for most. Dustin to put down his weapon and let her go…or Mitch to figure out a way to get her away from the maniac using her as a human shield.

“Tell him, Scottie!” Dustin’s panicked voice tore through the room. “Tell him what you said about the two of us leaving here together.”

“He’s right!” She eyed Mitch closely while praying he could read the true message she was trying to convey. “I-I was just about to get dressed and…put some things…together.”

The pressure being placed against her throat made speaking a struggle.

“And then what?” Her attacker demanded. “Tell him, Scottie. Tell him what happens next!”

With careful speech and a steady tone, Scottie relayed Dustin’s twisted plan for her to the man who’d been hired to keep her safe.

“A-And then Dustin is going to take me to his home.”

She pleaded silently with her eyes for Mitch to never let that happen.

“ Our home, Scottie,” Dustin corrected. “Remember? It’s ours , now.”

“R-Right.” She nodded as best she could despite the tear that had just fallen down her cheek. “Ours. You’re absolutely right…d-darling.”

Bile rushed to the base of her throat as she choked out the insincere endearment. This couldn’t be all there was. This couldn’t be how she died .

Please, God. Don’t let this be the end.

There was still so much left undone. Countless things she’d wanted to do with her life.

So many things left unsaid.

A face appeared in her frightened mind’s eye. Handsome. Smiling. A face that brought with it a sense of peace and safety unlike any other she’d ever known.

It was a ghost from her past, but one Scottie dreamed of often. Because that handsome, smiling face…it belonged to the only person to truly make Scottie’s heart feel whole. And now?—

The gun’s barrel pulled away from her temple.

“See?” Dustin taunted Mitch. “Told you she loved me. So why don’t you run along now and let us be?”

The lunatic was suddenly acting so casual. As if he were speaking to a used car salesman, rather than a former cop with a gun pointed at his heart.

“Is that really what you want, Scottie?” Mitch’s blue gaze turned her way.

Her expression turned incredulous as she met his stoic gaze. Did he seriously just ask if she wanted to leave with this deranged man?

Uh…hell no, that’s not what I ? —

She spotted something in Mitch’s dark eyes. A glimmer so slight she almost missed it.

Her bodyguard was doing his damnedest to relay a message of his own, and Scottie prayed she hadn’t misunderstood.

Playing along with what she hoped like hell was the plan, she gave the man she’d entrusted with her life a shaky nod and lied.

“Y-Yes.” Scottie swallowed past the fear still consuming her body’s every cell. “That’s exactly what I want.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Mitch dipped his chin and began walking backward toward the door. Wait…he was leaving?

No!

Oh, God! Did she get it all wrong? Did Mitch really believe she wanted to be with the maniac holding her against her will…at freaking gunpoint? Surely he wouldn’t…

Mitch brought his stare to her once more, and it was only then that she realized his true intent. He wasn’t leaving her. Not really. He just needed Dustin to think he was.

Play along, Scottie. Keep. Playing. Along.

“Th-Thank you,” Scottie offered softly as the retreating man reached the door leading to the hallway.

Her captor probably assumed she was thanking Mitch for leaving when, in reality, Scottie had just thanked him for whatever he was about to do next.

“No problem.” Mitch reached back and pushed the metal handle downward. Inching the door open, he slid his gaze to Dustin before bringing it back to her. “Have a wonderful life, Scottie,” her bodyguard wished her well.

A smile that appeared genuine lifted the corners of his lips.

“You, too, Mitch.” She gave the man her own watery smile in return.

A second later, Scottie watched in horror as her only means of protection disappeared out into the hall.

With her heart in her throat, she pulled upon every ounce of inner strength she had not to break down into a puddle of tears and sobs. Instead, she managed to stay in character while giving Dustin’s forearm a gentle pat.

“He’s gone, Dustin.” Her voice remained soft, her tone unthreatening. “Y-You can let me go now.”

Overwhelming relief blanketed her when he lifted his arm away from her neck.

“I’ll never let you go, sweet Scottie.” The man’s claim contradicted his most recent act. “But yes, you should get dressed. And hurry. Just in case your worthless bodyguard decides to change his mind and come back.”

That’s exactly what I’m counting on, you sick son of a bitch.

Knowing her situation was still far too volatile to risk exposing her true intentions to escape, Scottie forced herself to take a single step forward. Then another. And another.

By the time she’d almost reached the bathroom door, the fear that Mitch had misunderstood what she’d really wanted him to do was so great it was all she could do not to give into the overwhelming despair. But then?—

“Scottie, get down!”

Mitch’s imposing form appeared suddenly in the doorway. Without question, Scottie dropped down to the floor, her arms flying over her head in an attempt to protect herself as she curled into a tiny ball.

Two gunshots blasted through the tense air, the deafening sounds so close together they were nearly succinct. Half a heartbeat later, she heard the dull thud of two bodies hitting the carpet. First one. Then the other.

Scottie’s head flew up, her eyes frantically scanning the terrifying scene. She gasped with shock when she saw both Dustin and Mitch lying motionless on the floor. Their eyes were closed, and both men were bleeding from their chests.

A terrified scream filled the entire room, and it took her a moment to realize it was coming from her. The screaming stopped, and though shock ran rampant throughout her entire system, she had enough wherewithal to grab Dustin’s discarded weapon from the carpet nearby before rushing to Mitch’s side.

“Mitch!” She fell to her knees beside him, her attention split between her attacker and her savior as she slapped her palms against the fresh wound in his shoulder. “Oh, God! You’ve been shot!” she blurted out the obvious.

Scottie wasn’t sure if Dustin was still alive, but another quick glance his way confirmed he still wasn’t moving. So she had to at least try to help Mitch while she still could.

Mitch’s eyes fluttered open, pain filling his unfocused gaze. His lips parted, the man’s strained voice like music to her ears.

“Nothing…v-vital.” He spoke through a set of clenched teeth. “Pretty sure…bullet went…clean…th-through.”

Tears flooded her vision, distorting the man’s fallen image as his warm, sticky blood coated her fingers. “Oh, thank God!” Her chin quivered as she sent up a real, silent prayer of thanks.

“Need to…call...the cops.” Mitch instructed as he attempted to push himself into a seated position.

The door to her room flew open for the third time, and just like that, two security guards were there.

“I don’t think we have to worry about that,” a very relieved Scottie told the wounded man.

Within seconds, the entire hallway was filled with people. Guests and hotel staff alike had all rushed to the scene to see what had happened.

Chaos ensued as they stood in and around the propped-open doorway while staff rushed to where she and Mitch remained. The guests standing around outside—and even a couple of the hotel staff—had their phones in their hands, their cameras recording her every move.

And as Scottie lowered Dustin’s weapon, which was still clutched tightly in her hand, she realized…

I never want to be in the spotlight again.