Broken Pasts Read Online Free PDF Page B

reputation. After that, there's
nowhere to go but down.” Gary closed Rhea's door and started
down the hallway. “Are these two doors bedrooms?” he
asked as he checked the two hallway closets.
    “ Yeah,”
I said and before I could form another question, Nathaniel was
talking again.
    “ Most
stalking cases last less than two years,” he said as he opened
another door and swept my office with me behind him. “Do you
know why that is?” I shook my head as Nathaniel tested the
locks on the windows.
    “ No,”
I said and despite my instant attraction, I was almost annoyed with
him. He's acting like he knows more about my situation than I do. I crossed my arms over my chest and realized for the first time
since meeting Nathaniel that I had forgotten to put on a bra. I was
not wearing a bra. I tried not to blush. How would that
look? A thirty-two year old double divorcée blushing like a kid?
    “ Because,”
he said and his voice dropped from dark, almost sensual, to sad,
morose even. “Once they're worked up enough, something's got
to give and it's either you or them.”

 
    CHAPTER 5
    After
Nathaniel had swept the entire house and checked all of the locks, he
had retrieved a briefcase and a laptop bag from his car (with me in
tow) and had us both sit down at my dining table.
    “ You
need to record every incident,” he told me as he handed me a
packet of papers, all identical copies of a form with a place for
date, time, witness information, and a detailed account of my
encounters with Gary. “If you have time today, I think it
would be advantageous for us to go down to the police station and
file a report. That way, if it comes to a trial or violence of any
kind, they'll have you on record.” I stared down at the
documents in front of me and hoped, wished and prayed that things
would not go that far. “If you can afford it, I'd also
recommend a security system.”
    “ This
is so overwhelming,” I said, my breath escaping in a rush. For
just a moment there, I forgot how sexy Nathaniel was and got lost in
the stupidity of it all. If Gary could just sign the divorce papers
and leave me alone, I could go on with my life. Instead, here I was
on the second day of the New Year worrying about a problem that I
should've been done with several months ago. I pulled my phone out
of the pocket on my sweats and saw fourteen missed calls and half as
many voice mails. With a sigh, I turned the phone over to my new
bodyguard. “What do I do about these?” I asked. When
our fingers touched, I saw his chest expand with a massive breath, as
if he could feel my attraction to him. He couldn't possibly be
attracted to me, though, I thought as I examined my clothes and
felt suddenly vulnerable. I wanted to change, put on makeup, and don
my best dress. Even if he was unavailable, I wanted to be attractive
for him. I don't know why, but I just felt this need to match up to
him. It wasn't just the simple matter of wanting to be desirable; it
was as if Nathaniel's appearance suggested a sense of organization
that I just did not have. If I could put myself together like that,
maybe I could bring some sense of order to my life.
    We'd
known each other for the better part of an hour and already I was
making strange psychological connections that would never hold up.
Not good.
    “ When
you get calls from him, record each and every one on this sheet and
don't delete anything from your phone. It may need to be used as
evidence later. Listen to all of the voice mails and if he threatens
you, even once, call the police and report it.” I nodded and
took a big, calming breath.
    “ Is
it okay if I shower?” I asked and he nodded. When I rose to my
feet, Nathaniel followed. This time, he let me take the lead down
the hallway. I paused at the bedroom door and he nodded again.
    “ I've
cleared the house,” he said. “Unless we have reason to
suspect a break in, I'll maintain my position behind you.” I
swallowed hard and tried not to read