Page 23 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)

Ashley

I wanted to say yes when Nathan asked if I’d give him a second chance. But how could I? My life was a disaster, and I was fucking pregnant.

The drive back to Grannie’s was eerily quiet. Like graveyard-at-night quiet. Like I’d just laid to rest the last chance I had with Nathan.

“Thanks,” I said when he parked near my car.

“Wait.” He got out and walked around to open my door. “Careful,” he said, helping me down. His big black truck suited him, but wasn’t so big that I couldn’t get in and out on my own.

Usually I’d have a snarky comment about being able to open my door but, not wanting to add to the tension between us, I held it back.

I wasn’t sure we could be friends, given our history, but maybe we could manage a friendly acquaintanceship. My best friends’ husbands were his bosses, so it was inevitable we’d see each other. We’d need to co-exist, tolerate the awkwardness, or skip group events.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He shut the door, walked me to my car, and waited until I pulled away before he got back in his truck.

So this is what it’s like for Meg, Emily, and Blake . I had only experienced it a few times when AJ and I went out. Which wasn’t often. Usually we’d meet up, hang out for a few minutes, then rip each other’s clothes off.

I wondered if Jay acted the same way with Cate.

That girl was seriously badass and didn’t need a guy taking care of her.

Thinking back to the times they’d hung out with us, I knew he did.

He didn’t always open her door or pull out her chair.

His support and protection were more subtle, but they were there.

Jay was at his most gentlemanly when Cate, who wasn’t used to our boisterous group, felt overwhelmed.

He’d simply walk up beside her and put his hand on her back.

It was such a simple, sweet way of supporting her.

When I got home, there was a package on the front porch.

No return address. No stamp. Just my name scrawled in big capital letters in thick black marker. I wrapped my arms around my waist as a chill ran down my spine.

I spun, searching up and down the street. Did I really expect whoever had hand-delivered it to be standing on the sidewalk watching?

Thinking back to Jamie and Jack’s reaction to the black flowers, I left the package on the porch and went inside.

Shit. I’d forgotten to tell them about Red Flag Finn’s texts.

Gran was napping in her room with Prince, who glared at me for daring to disturb him when I opened the door to check on her. Hopefully, she’d stay asleep long enough for me to call Nathan.

Nathan? Why’d I even think that? I couldn’t call him. I meant to think, call Jamie.

A soft knock at the door interrupted me.

I ran to open it before the noise woke Gran. As I reached for the handle, I remembered getting blindsided by Finn.

Check the peephole .

What the fuck was Nathan doing here?

“Ashley, I know you’re there. Please open the door.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried through the closed door loud and clear.

Opening the door, I hissed, “What are you doing here?”

“The same thing I was doing last night.”

“I told you, you don’t need to watch my house.”

“The mystery package indicates otherwise.” He nudged it with his foot. “Unless you know who it’s from?”

“I don’t. That’s why I didn’t touch it. I was getting ready to call Jamie when you knocked and scared the crap out of me.”

“Right, sorry. Go inside, lock the door, and call him. I’ll deal with the box.” He scanned the street, searching the same way I had.

Nathan’s tone scared me, so I did what he asked. I watched him snap several photos before running to his truck. He slid blue rubber gloves on before picking up the box and examining the outside.

Holding my phone to my ear, I opened the door to watch him.

Nathan opened his mouth and then slammed it shut. He ground his teeth and exhaled before asking, “Can I take this out back?”

“Go around the side.” I didn’t want him waking up Gran, and I sure as hell didn’t want to give her a reason to worry. “I’ll meet you back there.”

“Lock the door,” he ordered before walking off the porch, holding the box at arm’s length. I locked the door, checked on Gran again, and then went to the patio.

Jamie answered as I slid the patio door closed. “Hey Ashley, is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure. There was a box on the front porch when I got home. No return sender or stamp.”

“Did you touch it?”

“No, but Nathan did. He took it out back.”

“Good. Tell him not to open it.”

Holding my phone to my chest, I said to Nathan, “Jamie said not to open the box.”

“Copy that. Do they have a bomb specialist at SSI?” Nathan stepped away from the box he’d set on the edge of Gran’s brick patio. Her tall wooden privacy fence would serve its purpose today. But would it protect our neighbors from an explosion?

“How the hell would I know?” I asked.

“You could ask Jamie.” He pointed at my phone.

“Right. Sorry.” I pulled it up to my ear to hear Jamie ask if I was still here.

“Yeah, sorry, Nathan wants to know if anyone at SSI is a bomb specialist.” I felt like a poser for asking.

“Not really. The closest we have is Jay, but he’s out of town.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him.” When had my life become a fucking action movie? And how the hell do I opt out?

“We’ll be there soon. Don’t touch the box.”

“Yes, sir.” Jamie told me not to call him sir before hanging up.

“What’d he say?” Nathan asked.

“Jay is the closest they have, but he’s out of town.” I quoted Jamie.

Nathan nodded. “Do me a favor and keep your distance. Just because I don’t hear anything ticking doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, laying the sarcasm on thick. It wasn’t like they needed to keep reminding me; I was the one who left it on the porch untouched.

Nathan tapped his phone screen before holding it to his ear. “Hey man, how’s it hanging?”

He listened, never taking his eyes off me.

“Good to hear.”

Pause.

“Good so far, but it’s only been a week.”

Another pause while he listened.

“Sounds good. Listen, any chance you’re free to come to Weatherford? We’ve got a bit of a situation and could use Havoc’s nose.”

Who’s Havoc? And what kind of name was that?

“Thanks, man, we’ll wait.”

He hung up and tapped the screen before putting the phone back to his ear.

“Who was that?”

Nathan held up a finger, indicating I should wait. Normally, I’d be angry at getting shushed, but I recognized his demeanor. He was in full-blown work mode, and it scared me.

“Jamie, I’ve got a friend in the area with a SEAL-trained dog.”

He paused.

“He’s trained to sniff bombs, among other things.”

Nathan nodded as he listened.

“Yeah, that’s him. He’s on his way.”

As he ended the call, I asked, “You have a friend with a bomb-sniffing dog?”

“I was a SEAL; most of my friends have unique skill sets.” Nathan’s scar caused his soft smile to be lopsided.

“Like what?” I asked, needing to talk about something other than the box he thought required a bomb-sniffing dog.

Before Nathan could answer, his head snapped up as the familiar metallic sound of the patio door opening filled the air.

I was right behind him as he rushed to intercept Gran. “Good afternoon, Violet,” he greeted her.

“How lovely to see you again. Ashley, you didn’t tell me we were having company,” Gran scolded me as she patted her silver, sleep-disheveled hair.

“Sorry, it was a surprise visit.” And not a good one.

“Well, don’t just stand there; offer our guest something to drink.” Gran started towards the patio.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to stay inside for a—”

“Young man, don’t tell me what to do in my own home.”

Nathan’s eyes widened as she stood her ground. At five-foot-three, and hunched over her walker, Gran looked downright comical facing off against Nathan.

Nathan’s expression softened as he stared down at her.

I couldn’t wait to watch him try to charm his way out of this.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry. It was rude, and it won’t happen again.”

Damn him. He backed down too fast, and I wouldn’t get to see her tear him a new asshole.

“That’s better. Why do you think I need to stay inside?” Gran wasn’t stupid. She would’ve picked up on the tension and known there was a reason Nathan gave the order.

“Some of the guys from SSI are coming over to talk shop. It’s about a case, and it’ll be easier if we don’t have to worry about watching our language while we work.” His lie was smooth as silk.

Gran put a hand on her hip and stood a little taller. “You think I’m afraid of a few curse words?”

“No, ma’am.” He dug his hole deeper. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask before offering your backyard as a meeting place. I’ll call the guys and ask them to meet somewhere else.”

Well played. She loved having guests, especially tall, dark, and handsome men, and he knew it.

“That’s not necessary. I’ll make a pitcher of lemonade unless you’d rather have beer.”

“Lemonade sounds good. Thank you.”

Gran eyed the box, then looked at me.

Turning to Nathan, she looked him in the eyes, squinted. I knew that look. Gran was opening daring him to lie when she asked, “Is Ashley in danger?”

Nathan’s eyes flared before he looked at me, a question in his eyes. I appreciated him letting me control how much we’d tell her, so rather than letting him squirm, I put him out of his misery.

“We think Finn sent the flowers and that box.” I said, pointing to it, even though she’d seen it.

Nathan finished the explanation. “SSI is coming over in case he sent something the police need to handle.” He smiled, his scar wrinkling. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Gran asked. “I’ll go make the lemonade. Ashley, come help me.”

Nathan nodded when I made eye contact, answering my silent question.

“I’ll be right back,” I said.

While we made lemonade, I apologized for hiding things from her.

“Do you really think Finn wants to hurt you?”

“I wouldn’t have thought so, but he won’t accept that I broke up with him.

” At first, I figured he’d eventually get the message if I kept ignoring him, so I hadn’t told anyone he was still contacting me.

I meant to tell them when I got the stalker- ish texts, but then I saw the positive text result and forgot all about it.

I didn’t respond, and since I hadn’t heard from him, I’d forgotten all about it.

Until today.

At least I’d kept all the messages, knowing from Emily’s experience they’d be useful, and maybe even evidence.

After Nathan got in his face, I expected Finn to leave me alone.

And he did, but only for a day. His first text was polite, asking how I was, but they quickly escalated to claiming we were still a couple and asking me to return to Dallas.

The angriest messages came after I didn’t meet him where he’d told me to.

“Well, I’m just glad you have friends who can help you,” she said as she cut slices of lemon and put them in tall colorful glasses filled with ice.

Me too, Gran. Me too . I didn’t think Finn would escalate like Asshat Craig had, but glancing outside had me rethinking my previous evaluation.

I fought back the tears threatening to spill. Lucky me, I’m having his baby.