Picture Perfect Read Online Free PDF Page B

bustle when you came over. There’s a package, an envelope, on my foyer table for you. Some nasty delivery woman brought it to my house since you weren’t home. Creepy lady. Anyhoo, when we get back, don’t forget to take it with you.”
    “What the heck is a delivery service giving my mail to a neighbor? No offense to you given our current state of involvement.”
    “None taken. I thought the same thing, but she said you allowed this all the time with your packages.”
    “All the time? I don’t even get mail delivered to my house. I have a post office box.”
    The evening took a disturbing left turn. “Let’s go home, Jamie. I’m not liking the sound of this at all. You need to check out what’s inside that envelope.” He grumbled under his breath and agreed, scuffing his boots against the dirt like a disappointed schoolboy.
    ***
    The ride home had taken on a more somber tone. Hope prayed that whatever was inside the envelope would be legitimate and not another harassing tool of Brittany’s, but she didn’t hold out much faith. Going over the scene for the millionth time, she could kick herself. What a load of crap the woman handed her. Anyone could have seen right through it. Anyone but a love-crazed woman. Well, back down to earth now, she remembered every little detail of her interaction with the abrasive bitch.
    When she described her to Jamie, as he walked them up to her front door, he confirmed that Brittany hadn’t delivered the envelope, but maybe a friend willing to do the vengeful deed did. He opened the front door, and there it lay, deceivingly innocent, on the foyer table. “That had to have been the longest ride in history. Put me down, would you, please? Go ahead and open it. I can’t take the suspense much longer.”
    “All right.” He felt the package, first around the edges and along the sides. “It feels like photographs to me. Let’s see what we’ve got here.” He tore through the top and looked inside. “Uh, they’re a stack of photos all right. I think I’ll take these back to my place and call the police. I’ll call you when this mess is cl….”
     “Jamie, you’re not going anywhere. Come, let’s sit down, the police can come here. I’m the one who can describe the delivery woman anyway.” He shook his head and used both hands to cup her face, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. Bright amber orbs glowed before her and his jaw twitched with controlled rage.
    “I don’t want you involved in this mess any more than you are already, Hope. It’s turned ugly, scary, and I refuse to have you tangled up in it as well. I’m just gonna go home, and deal with it on my own. When the police and I have things under control, I’ll call you.”
     “Listen to me. You’ve been here for me. Let me be here for you. I can handle things, and I can help you handle things. You’re not alone, Jamie. Come on.” She eased his hands off her face, and as she hopped, guided him toward the sofa. “Now, let’s take a look, together. And we’ll take care of this, together.”
    “You’re amazing, you know that?” He shook his head and took the wad of photos out of the envelope.
    He placed them, one by one, on the coffee table. The first six were various stock solo shots of Jamie, altered. Red marker slashed through his chest like a dagger on each.
    “Oh, my God, Jamie,” she murmured through trembling fingers as he put the next few photos down. “She’s taken photos of you, us.” She scooted forward to get a better look. “Through my windows!” They were amateur shots and poorly taken. She saw her image had been marked over with red and Jamie had devil horns drawn on his head.
    “She’s really sick, this Brittany.” He swiped the photos from the table and put his head in his hands. She rubbed his back and held him in her arms. “I’m so sorry.”
    “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. She’s got you as a target now, too. Shit. All right, I’m calling the cops.” He took