Saturday proved to be far better than the past two days, and she and Jenna decided that with the weather being so warm, they would make a day of it and take Liam out. They journeyed around the small rural town that was more village than anything else, and Eden showed Jenna around. Though she’d kept mostly to herself in the last year since moving to Amesbury, the openness of the locals had made it hard for Eden not to make a few acquaintances. Like Wendi from the bakery who’d been an accomplice in contributing to Eden’s extra weight gain with a tempting treat here and there when she’d been pregnant. Wendi was nice, a primary example of the sort of people that lived in Amesbury. They stopped by her bakery to pick up a few fruit tarts for desert later tonight before continuing on their way.
“That’s like the twentieth time you’ve done that since we’ve been out,” Jenna remarked quietly, pushing Liam’s stroller.
Eden kept pace although the slight faltering of her step did not go unnoticed by the other woman. “Done what?” she asked with a frown, tossing a cursory look over her shoulder.
“That, you just did it again!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jenna abruptly stopped and turned to her best friend. “You’ve been a little jumpy all day. And you probably don’t even realize you’re doing it, but you keep looking over your shoulder like you’re waiting for something to jump out at you.”
“Not something,” Eden murmured distractedly, peering over her shoulder again. That ominous feeling she’d had since earlier this morning continued to gnaw at her.
“What?”
Eden blinked and met Jenna’s gaze. “I said not something. I don’t know, maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I have this feeling we’re being watched.”
Jenna’s eyes widened as she too began to look around anxiously, blue eyes clouding over with fear. “Alex…?” Eden could hear the dread in her voice. Since having moved in a month ago, Jenna had been recuperating, thriving even, watching Liam had given her a sense of purpose. Eden refused to allow her scumbag boyfriend to come in and wreck it all. Besides, Alex wasn’t nearly so clever. There was no way he even knew where to begin looking for them.
Eden feared a far more sinister enemy: her husband.
Eden looped her arm through Jenna’s and encouraged her to continue walking. “It’s not, Alex, Jen.” No, not Alex. “I don’t want to draw further attention, let’s just keep walking.” Eden could swear the man walking a few paces behind them had been following them since they began their outing. She’d had the feeling of being watched but she hadn’t noticed him immediately. It wasn’t until they’d left Wendi’s Bakery that she’d seen him. He was a wiry man, small in stature, with a beige windbreaker, dark Dickies and a blue cap that concealed the upper half of his face. “Whatever you do, don’t turn around. Let’s get Liam in the car and drive.” If this were any other time she would realize how insane she was being right now, but something in Eden told her that this wasn’t just paranoia. Her gut was screaming at her to take flight. She needed to keep a level head, she needed to remain rational, and she had both Liam and Jenna to protect now. If Dominic really had found them, they needed to move fast because it would only be a matter of time before he caught up to her, and Eden would be damned if she allowed that to happen.
As a precautionary measure, they waited an extra half hour in the car to make sure they hadn’t been followed before hurrying inside the condo. Eden was at war with herself. She wanted so badly to pack, pack everything and run. But where would she run to with an infant in tow? How long would she continue to run from him? She’d built a life for herself in Amesbury. She had a job now, she had place of her own, and apart from Jenna she had friends here. She couldn’t allow her fear of Dominic be the reason to uproot herself. She’d dealt with him for three years, had endured his humiliation and enmity, and had not uttered a word. She needed to face him now, needed to ask for a divorce so she could finally be free of him. It all sounded good in theory, it all seemed so perfect in her head, including his acquiescence for a mutual separation. But Eden knew it wouldn’t be so simple in reality, not even close. She needed to prepare herself for the mudslinging she undoubtedly knew Dominic would toss at her.
“Do you really think he found you, Eden?” Jenna asked from her seated position at the window, her gaze looking out into the dark courtyard.
“It’s a feeling. I’ve always had this horrible ability to feel when he’s close. It’s like all the air’s being sucked out of the room, and I’m left gasping for breath.” She’d had that feeling on and off again, all day long. “Any sign of our friend?”
Jenna shook her head. “Not since we saw him in town. Do you think maybe you’re wrong?” she asked hopefully.
Eden sighed, drawing Liam gently away from her breast. She came to her feet and maneuvered him over her shoulder with all the expertise of a mother and soothingly rubbed his back to get him to burp. “I hope I am, but I’ve learned when it comes to Dominic, nothing is impossible.” He was as relentless as he was ruthless. Eden would put nothing pass him.
Chapter Five
Two weeks later, she felt relatively safe enough to lower her guard again, although it wasn’t without effort. Work had returned to normal, and she was back in her bosses’ good graces having just closed on a mansion in the Heights. She went home feeling happier than she had in a while, and in her good mood, Eden gave into impulse and agreed to go out with Wes. It was while deliberating on what to wear that she began to regret saying yes.
“I’m going to call him and—”
“You’re not going to cancel on that delicious piece of man!”
“But—”
“No buts, missy. You need a night out. You’ve been cooped up in this place for the last three months and as much as I love Liam, you need another man in your life.” No she didn’t. Men were the root of all evil. Okay maybe that was exaggerating a little, but they didn’t do anyone any good. Well, except for that appendage between their legs, but at this point, sustaining for as long as she had, Eden was contemplating long and hard about visiting that little erotic boutique downtown and picking herself up a nice little battery operated friend.
It took Eden changing four times—all the other outfits had apparently been too “nun-like” to be seen by decent company—before Jenna deemed her sexy enough to be let out of the house. They settled on an ivory dress that stopped about mid-thigh, with a lace embroidered back and a sweetheart neckline that hugged every possible curve on her lithe body, accentuating her tits and ass to perfection. She didn’t do much with her hair, and only a sweep of eyeliner, mascara, and her favorite chap stick for makeup.
“You’re going to tell me every single detail when you get back so I can live vicariously through you,” Jenna said urgently. When they heard the knock at the door, they both hurried to the living room. Eden kissed Liam goodnight and told Jenna that she would try to absorb every single detail to recount later.
Wes Courtland was the sort of guy that cheerleaders dated in high school. Blond hair, blue eyes, tall, with an athletic build and a dimpled smile that Eden knew had the power to drop panties. He had such an easy going demeanor about him that it was impossible not to like the guy.
“You look stunning, Eden.”
“Thank you. I can clean up pretty nicely when given the opportunity,” she quipped, giving him a grateful smile when he held the car door open for her and closing it when she was completely settled. He had a nice set of wheels; the fully loaded black Mustang was incredibly sexy.
“I’m very happy you finally decided to go out with me,” he said, shifting the car in gear and driving away from their complex.
They arrived at the restaurant soon enough and were led by the hostess through the intimate setting to a table in the back. He walked to her side and pulled her chair out for her, waiting until she was seated before returning to his own seat. Eden was nervous, and it didn’t help that he kept looking at her like she was dessert. She didn’t really know what to say, this being her very first real date since marrying Dominic. There certainly had been little room for wooing in that union . He’d shown Eden money, and she’d readily jumped on the opportunity never once contemplating the consequences.
“Uh oh, this date isn’t starting off well if you’re looking ready to leave already.”
Eden had the good graces to look embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Wes, it’s not you. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Want to share? I’ve been told I’m a very good listener.”
Eden smiled. “From your trove of women?”
He chuckled, and her smile widened at the sight of his reddening ears. “What can I say, I love women.”
“And they certainly love you.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Eden laughed. “Immensely.”
The rest of dinner continued on that amiable note, and the occasional moments of silences, which were thankfully few and far in between, were easily filled by conversation that did not pertain to any personal matters on either side. Wes did not want to part so soon, so Eden agreed to continue their evening at a bar a few blocks away from where they’d eaten. Far too absorbed in her companion, Eden failed to notice the man covertly trailing behind them as she and Wes entered the bar.