Finally she leaned back and grabbed the cup of coffee one of them set near her. She looked at the ceiling.
“Why aren’t we going for a run?” Griffen prompted.
“Because I’m not running in the race.” She lowered her gaze.
His eyes widened. “And this would be because…?”
“Because your sister,” she yanked her eyes to Miles, “insisted I not.”
He furrowed his brow. “She know something?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “More of a gut feeling.”
“But you trust her enough to give this up, love?” He reached for her hand and held it, stroking the backs of her knuckles with his thumb. “Do you know how much that means to me?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s not an easy decision. But she seemed sure.” She had to fight to keep her eyes from tearing up.
Griffen cupped her neck behind her head and drew her gaze to his. “I’m so sorry, baby. I know this race meant a lot to you. I swear we’ll find another one soon and get you in it.”
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “You know what the worst part is?”
“What’s that, love?”
“We’ll probably never know why.”
“Yeah. That sucks.” Griffen leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
She loved the touch. A lot.
“What else is bothering you, love?” Miles asked.
“Caught that, did you?” She forced a grin.
“For days, baby. We just don’t know what to make of your emotions.” Griffen released her neck, but grabbed her free hand. “Open up to us. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”
She needed to buck up and give it to them straight. “I think there’s more than just a spirit after me.”
Miles squeezed her fingers. “We talked about that possibility. I agree it’s not out of the question.”
She shook her head. “No. There’s more. I haven’t told you everything.”
Both men stiffened visibly. “Why?”
She glanced back and forth between them. “Because you’re both so extremely overprotective. You’re smothering me. At times to the point of choking.”
“Sorry, baby. We only mean to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, well, if you knew the half of it, you would have tied me to the bed and not let me leave the house for the last week, and I couldn’t deal with that.”
“Mmm, that does sound like a good plan. Can we do it either way?”
She shot Miles a hard look, a smile fighting to lift her lips. “Maybe.”
And she could not believe she’d just said that…
Miles couldn’t either. His mouth opened, but he said nothing.
Griffen groaned. “Don’t say things like that. Get back to who or what is giving you grief.”
She licked her lips and began. “First there was my apartment. Well, I mean if we don’t count the hurricane in your house that happened before we went to town the other day.”
“What about your apartment, love?” Miles asked.
“It was tossed.”
“I knew it.” Miles jerked. “I knew there was something off about that situation.”
“How did you know? I never said a word to anyone. I just figured you thought I was a total slob when we entered my bedroom.”
“Yesterday at Griffen’s. You kept those piles of clothes all tidy, even straightening them. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but now I get it.”
“Do you think someone entered your apartment and made a mess of things before the fire?” Miles asked.
“Had to be before the fire because all the items on the floor were soaked and covered in black.”
“True,” Griffen agreed.
Miles blew out a breath. “Okay, but that’s not much different than what happened here at the house. What else?”
“The rest is worse. Please do not freak out and make me regret telling you.”
“Can’t promise that. But we’ll try.” Griffen pushed her plate back farther and set his free elbow on the table. “Spit it out.”
“Someone’s been sending my boss e-mails at work. Two of them, actually.”
“Pardon?” Miles asked.
“The first was a long-range photo taken of the three of us on your patio the day I sat on your lap wearing a sheet. This one.” She tugged at the current toga she wore.
“Fuck.” Miles released her hand and ran it through his hair.
“And then there was a second one. It was a simple message threatening my boss to let me go because I was a whore.” Her voice fell as she said that last word.
“Please tell me you’re mistaken,” Griffen gritted out.