Stolen(81)
Smart lady.
Caitlin wished she could get up and follow her.
“I ordered you passion tea. As I recall, it’s your favorite.” Grady clanked his spoon against his coffee cup while he stirred in the cream. “Want some?”
“Cream? Yes.” She added the cream and took a sip of the warm liquid, then forced herself to smile. “It’s good.”
“I know what you like, Caitlin, and I aim to please. I just want you to be happy.”
Happy? More like nauseated. But she might as well start out civilly, because things were going to get bumpy soon enough. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“When you called, it was a delightful surprise.” He reached his arm across the table and opened his hand.
She stared at it a moment in disbelief. Surely he didn’t expect her to take it.
“I’m hoping this means you’ve realized you misjudged me.”
“For heaven’s sake, you’re trying to hold my hand right now. I haven’t misjudged you.”
“There you go again, misinterpreting.”
She leaned forward and met his eyes.
He leaned in, too.
Nobody blinked.
“Grady, this is not a date. I asked you to meet me here because I have something to tell you. I’m no longer your protégée.”
“Of course not, dear.”
“And I’m neither stupid nor naïve. When a man makes advances, I know it.”
He threw back his head and let out a small laugh. “If you’re implying that I’ve made unsolicited advances toward you, you’re delusional.”
“You might be adept at convincing your patients that they’re imagining things, but your tactics won’t work on me.”
“Aren’t you going to finish your tea?”
She picked up the cup, sipping and weighing her words. She needed to be crystal-clear, because she’d be damned if she was going to allow him to continue down this same path. She set her tea down with enough determination to make some of it slosh onto the saucer. “You will not follow me into any more bathrooms. You will not follow me into any more shops. You will not attempt to give me any more gifts.”
“The way you’re acting . . . I wouldn’t dream of it.” He made a tsk tsk noise with his disgusting lips. “Frankly, I feel sorry for Agent Spenser. You haven’t aged well, Caitlin. You’ve turned into a bitch.”
“Fabulous. Then it won’t be difficult for you to stay away from me.”
“Not in the least.”
“If you step out of line again. If you bring up our past relationship. If you so much as smile at me from across the way, or show up anywhere near me—”
“What am I supposed to do? Follow you around so I know where not to go?”
“Not my problem, Grady.” She stood up and slapped a ten on the tabletop. “Come anywhere near me again, or try to make any complaint against Spense, and I’ll press charges against you for stalking.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. No one will believe you.”
“They will. And I have a witness who heard you sexually harassing me about my breasts. I’m not the least bit intimidated by you. I’ll be delighted to be the woman who finally holds you accountable for your bad behavior.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Caitlin, but you could use a little makeup.”
Her fists bunched at her sides. Then she relaxed them and touched her hand to her forehead. She was surprised by how damp it felt.
She was perspiring, and a bit dizzy—that’s how worked up this infuriating man had gotten her. He wasn’t even going to acknowledge her warning. But she knew he’d heard her. His reputation meant everything to him.
He’d never risk it.
“Try something besides Chapstick on your lips, why don’t you. You look as though you’re auditioning for a part in The Walking Dead.”
His remarks didn’t deserve a reply.
She slipped her purse over her shoulder and walked, with her head held high, out of the coffee shop.
Outside, she paused and drew a few long breaths of the night air.
She patted her stomach—the acidity of the tea disagreed with her.
In fact she wasn’t feeling in the least well.
Too bad the parking garage was several blocks away.
She turned onto a side street.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Her head was swimming from the nausea.
This was more than the effects of hot tea on an empty stomach.
Her gut contracted, and she doubled over from the cramp.
Behind her, the footsteps grew faster, louder.
She jerked her body back to a stand.
It was time to make a run for it.
Chapter 43
Monday, October 28