Page 11 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

“Fine,” Stacey huffed, pushing out of her chair again.

“About seven months ago this guy sent me an email talking about how I would know pain, fear, blah, blah.

Walt and I kept copies, and they started coming every week, each one elaborating on the last. In June, he sent me a dozen roses spray painted black.

I came here to hopefully get away. Walt had offered me the position before, a few weeks after Jerry was.

.. but I couldn't take it then. I wasn't ready. When this all started, Walt offered again. I said no, but a month ago when I saw those damn roses waiting...” Stacey was pacing now as she tried to stamp down the anger and frustration, she felt about the whole mess.

She closed her eyes, breathed in, held it for a three count, released it and faced Krista again.

“I couldn't stay in New York anymore. I missed Gage, I hated how mad I was getting there. On top of missing Jerry and my parents, I needed to get out.”

“Oh Stace,” Krista sighed. She stood and moved to Stacey, pulling her into her arms. “Honey, why didn't you tell me when this started?”

“Because of the shit that Ingram put you through. Walt and I both didn't want to remind you of that.” Stacey answered.

“I appreciate that, but I'm your friend.

You shouldn't have had to go through this alone.” Krista stated.

“As for what happened before, that's different.

Ingram was making physical contact from the onset.

Sounds like this creep isn't, other than the flowers I mean. Did he ever send anything to your home?”

“No, just to my office. The emails only came through my work email.” Stacey replied.

“See, not the same. Look, we can talk about this later, or not, but just know I'm here for you and so is Gage.” Krista said.

“I know. He was pissed I didn't tell him at first. I shouldn't be surprised he called Walt though.

Gage and I agreed that we wouldn't do anything unless this guy finds out I'm in Austin. That happens, I agreed to go with Gage to those two feds that worked your case and then we would tell Ethan.” Stacey explained.

“Good. Well, I'm out. I promised mom and Mama Ruby, I'd meet them for lunch since Ethan's out on a job.”

“Tell them hi for me.” Stacey smiled, giving Krista one last hug.

She moved to retake her seat when the door opened and Gage walked in, nearly bumping into Krista. “Whoa, sorry Krista.”

“It's okay, I was just leaving. See you later Stace.” Krista giggled, waved, then left.

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G age stood in the center of Stacey's office and just drank her in.

She looked in her element here. Confident.

Strong. And sexy as hell. When she smiled at him, his feet began moving.

In three strides, he was around her desk and hauling her up into his arms. He stroked her cheek before kissing her.

He felt her sigh as she returned the kiss.

“Hi babe,”

“Hi yourself,”

“I came to see if my woman's free for lunch?” he winked, making her laugh.

“It just so happens I have an hour free. Aren't you lucky,” she teased.

“Well, let's go then. I'm starved.” He grinned.

Stacey rolled her eyes as she grabbed her purse, “Why doesn't that surprise me.”

About ten minutes later, Stacey and Gage sat across from each other at the bistro he took her to, promising she would love it. So far, he was right. She picked up her sweet tea and took a swallow, moaning in pleasure. “Wow, that's some delicious, sweet tea.”

“Isn't it? Ethan told me about this place so we all came here, and I eat lunch here at least once a week.” Gage grinned. “Besides it being delicious, it’s close to the office so that’s a bonus.”

“So, how's your Monday stacking up?” she inquired, biting back at the urge to bring up the call Krista overheard.

“It's a Monday. Spent most of the morning returning phone calls and doing paperwork.” He shrugged. He picked up his own tea, took a swallow, then began again, “I called Walt.”

Stacey sat back in slight surprise that he would tell her. “You did? What did you two talks about?”

“I told him he should have told me when this all started. Then I asked him if you had gotten more flowers and you were right, you received a dozen spray painted roses on the fifth. He gave me the contact information for the Detective in New York. I left him a message to call me back.”

Stacey sighed, “Gage I thought we agreed...”

“Hold on a sec babe. All I'm doing is gathering all the info I can.

If this asshole DOES find you here, I'm that much more prepared to help you and we have more info to give Fortner and Harker should it come to that.” Gage interrupted her, taking her hand in his.

“This is what I did with MARSOC. I gathered intel and strategized. I do that now with Blackout just in a different capacity. Not to mention we have better resources and funnier toys.”

“Okay, okay. I'm sorry I started to flip. The way you explained it makes sense. The more information we have, the better prepared we are should he make a move.” Stacey acquiesced, squeezing his hand.

Gage lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently just as the waitress brought their food. “All right, enough of the heavy stuff. Let's eat.”

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S tacey shut down her computer for the day, stood up from her chair and stretched.

For her first full day at the Austin office, she got a lot accomplished.

She managed to meet with all the staff in her department, sent off several acceptance letters on manuscripts, and spoke to a few of her clients she kept from New York.

All and all not a bad first day. She reached for her purse just as there was a knock on her door and Gage walked in.

“Hey babe.”

“You’re just in time. I just shut down my computer for the day.”

Gage moved to her and pulled her into his arms. “Lucky for me then.”

Stacy giggled as he kissed her. “Of course, my work isn’t finished. When I get home, I have several potential manuscripts to read over dinner.”

With his arm around her, Gage led her from the office toward the exit. “What exactly does that mean anyway? I’ve become a little curious as to what you do.”

“Well, before we accept or decline an author, they must send us a query letter, synopsis, and a sample. The query letter is basically a proposal for why we should choose them. It will have their author information, the plot of their piece. The synopsis is nothing more than the overall storyline. The samples can range from a few pages to sometimes a full chapter.” She explained as they exited the building.

“Sounds kind of boring.” He quipped.

“Sometimes it is. I really enjoy getting to help new pick authors to sign.”

“The romance kind, right?”

“Yes.” She nodded, while Gage opened the passenger door. “The hot kind.” She added with a wink before hoping in.

Gage just shook his head before closing her door and walking around his truck for the driver’s side. “Isn’t that what Krista writes?”

Stacey had just pulled out one of said query letters, “It was Krista that got me into that stuff in the first place. When she finished that first book, Jerry told me I had to read it. I was already working part time for Walt as a secretary while working on my degree. Of course, I had no idea that what I was reading was written by Krista. Even then she was using Kris James.”

Gage listened as he drove toward her house. He enjoyed reading but what Stacey did seem to fascinate him. “So, you get to dissect a book and decide whether it’s good enough to take a chance on or pure bullshit?”

“In a nutshell yes. Some of them are great and just need a few minor tweaks to make them great, like Krista’s stuff, and others are so horrible it’s a wonder the writer made it out of school.” She agreed.

“I don’t think I could ever do what you do.” He laughed.

“Just stick to security,” she teased as they pulled into her driveway. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“If you want me to.” He replied.

“I’d like that.” She spoke.

“Then what’s for dinner?” he asked with a smile.