In profile, she looked defiant and a little wounded.
Not touching her was hard. In a million different ways, he wanted to comfort her, to tell her they’d work it out. But he was afraid if he gave in even a little, he’d end up rushing her to bed, and nothing would ever get settled. She needed to understand that lying wouldn’t be tolerated, and he needed the rest of the night to sort through his disappointment.
Did she really love him?
Tomorrow, after he finished up at the gym, they’d get together and talk.
Accepting that plan as the most reasonable, Stack turned her to face him.
Still she said nothing.
“You should stay inside the rest of the night. Tomorrow, if you go out, be careful.”
For an answer, Vanity opened the door. “Don’t worry about me, Stack. I can take care of myself.”
Didn’t he know it? She was smart, resourceful, with an amazing inner strength and unrelenting energy. Add in her disposable cash, and she could certainly handle her own protection. Still, he needed her to know, so as he stepped out to her porch, he turned and said, “One of the guys who came after me at Tabby’s apartment said you’d be next.”
That perked her up. She didn’t look fearful as much as curious. “It was someone I know?”
Stack shook his head. “He threatened me, and said my girlfriend would be next.”
Expression flat, Vanity said, “Then he probably meant Whitney.” And with that she closed the door in his face. Immediately Stack heard the lock click into place, then the dead bolt.
He knew Vanity would set the alarm system, too. He’d meant to ask her about that, if Phil’s visit had inspired the extra security. Probably. The woman wasn’t a dummy. Just the opposite, she was cagey enough to fool him.
And yet, damn it, he knew she was different from Whitney. As different as night from day.
Tomorrow they’d get everything worked out.
Tonight he needed to regroup. He wasn’t willing to end things with her, so that meant he needed to come to grips with the fact that...what? She wasn’t perfect?
He laughed at himself as he went down the walkway into the cold, quiet night. Vanity Baker might look perfect, but she was as human and fallible as he was.
Maybe, despite everything, that made her absolutely perfect...for him.
* * *
AFTER A NIGHT spent painting, binge eating, and stupidly crying, Vanity canceled everything except her shift at Yvette’s secondhand store. Wanting uninterrupted time alone, she’d shut off her phone, and now, when she turned it back on, she saw a lot of messages.
All from Stack’s friends.
New tears welled up. Throughout the long night, she’d wondered if losing Stack would also mean losing everyone else she held dear.
Determined to face the day stronger, to stop being an emotional wimp, she listened first to Armie’s message. He wanted her to call him before she left the house today. Instead she texted her thanks to him, and told him she was fine. Then she listened to a message from Leese saying he was there if she needed to talk. She sent another text, thanking him.
Next was a message from Merissa that said, Rissy was here. It made her smile. Rissy seldom left lengthy messages. Her feeling was that people would either reply or not, but she didn’t want to be a bother.
When she saw the note from Yvette, she hit the phone icon and called her friend.
“Hey,” Yvette said before the phone had even finished one ring. “Are you okay?”
For a second there, Vanity choked on her reassurances, but she cleared her throat, nodded and managed a credible, “Sure.”
“Vanity.” Yvette’s tone chided. “What can I do?”
“There’s nothing to do. It’s over.” Maybe, Vanity thought, if she said it enough, it’d get easier.
“No! That can’t be. Surely—”
“It’s okay. I’m okay,” Vanity stressed. She hoped that would get easier, too, because right now she felt totally shattered, as if pieces of herself were missing. “In fact, I’ll be leaving in a few minutes for the shop.”
“No way! Take the day off. I’ll work the shift.”
“Honestly, Yvette, I’d rather do it. Moping around is for the birds.”
Yvette hesitated, but she knew Vanity well, so she conceded. “Okay. I get that you want to stay busy. But count on lots of calls. Knowing the guys the way I do, they’re going to take turns checking on you.”
Vanity groaned. The last thing she wanted was sympathy. “Thanks for the warning.”
Ready for some fresh air, she set the alarm, locked up the empty house on her way to the garage, and braved the cold to drive to the shop. On the way she replied to Merissa’s text with a call.