Caiden (A MacLaughlin Family Novella Book 2) Read Free Page A

cookies. I remember the kitchen always smelling like gingersnaps.” She smiled. “They were her favorite.”
    “She sounds like a good mom.”
    “What about your mom? What’s she like?”
    He flashed a big grin. “Mom is great. She took Dad’s death hard. We lost him in a car accident. But, she was the glue that kept us all together. My brothers and I run the family business and Lizzy…well, Lizzy runs to the beat of her own drum. She graduated last year and now has sunk her teeth into obtaining a masters in English.”
    His face lit up when he talked about his family. It was nice to find someone who truly valued those relationships. In a world filled with broken homes and skyrocketing divorce rates, they were gems.
    “What about your brothers?”
    He relaxed and leaned back in the booth. “Trevor just proposed a month ago to a girl he’s been in love with since high school, probably since middle school.” He chuckled. “But, he’ll never admit it.”
    “That’s sweet.”
    “Yeah, she’s just as crazy about him, too. My other brother Harvey, is a ball of energy and has this obsessive need to entertain. Mom and Lizzy say his heart is fueled by other people’s laughter. I think he’s just a knucklehead.”
    “Awww,” she murmured. “You are lucky to have siblings. They sound like a fun bunch.”
    “They are.”
    “Are you the oldest? You sound like a proud older brother.”
    He laughed. “I am. You’ll have to come over and meet them while you are in town.” His eyes glazed for a moment. “How long will you be here?”
    “I’m just staying for a while to get the new stores up and running.”
    “But that could be months.”
    She nodded. “I know. But, I needed to get out of town for a while. Dad and Cole thought it would be sa—” Damn. Damn. Damn.
    “Safe from what and who is Cole?” Caiden’s demeanor hardened. He sat up straight and glanced at the door then back to her. “Lina?”
    “It’s just this guy back home…”
    “Cole? Are you with someone?”
    “No!” She took a deep breath and quashed the tears trying to well in her eyes. “Cole Nighthawk is a friend. I’ve known him since kindergarten. We grew up together. His mother was my mother’s best friend.”
    “He likes you doesn’t he?”
    “He a manager for my dad’s company. He left the reservation when he turned eighteen.”
    “You didn’t answer me.”
    “He has always liked me, but I don’t feel that way about him. He’s always been like a brother to me.”
    “Is there someone else? I don’t like being lied to.”
    “I’m not with anyone you big oaf! My dad sent me down here to oversee the contracts with you because I have an asshole stalker who won’t leave me alone. They thought distance would discourage him, but Cole thinks he’ll follow me here and wants to know where I am.”
    “That was the phone call you had earlier?”
    She nodded.
    “I told Cole not to come, that Luke would just follow him, but I don’t think the blockhead listened to me.”
    “You know the stalker?” he growled.
    “Yes,” she sighed, “I went on one date with him. It was weird. He was odd. And I refused to go out with him again. At first he just sent flowers and gifts once or twice a week. Then it was everyday. Then dead flowers started showing up on my dad’s porch. Dead animals.” She shuddered, remembering the strangled dog she’d found one morning going out for the newspaper.
    “The police won’t do anything?”
    “I was able to get a restraining order, but he rarely shows himself. He sends other people to drop things off. He arranges it so that they don’t know who he is, just where to leave the package. The police have questioned several of them.”
    “What about cameras?”
    “We tried that too. He found a way to knock the power out at the house before he got close enough to be seen.”
    “But he’s never hurt you physically?”
    “Not yet. But it feels like it could escalate there. That’s why I left.