“Save yourself the trouble of calling Viper. He’s too busy with the factory to worry about your drama. You’re stuck with me.”
Ginny stayed as still as a statue. She said what she had to say. Only time would prove what she was saying was true. Unfortunately, she was running out of that commodity, since her stalker was no longer content to stay in the background.
Gavin becoming a casualty was unacceptable to her. She wouldn’t sit back and watch that happen.
“Waiting for a storm to hit is fucking useless. It puts you at a disadvantage.”
Ginny didn’t shrink away from Gavin’s powerful body towering over hers. “What do you suggest?”
“Meet the fucker head-on. Ride the storm with me, and let’s find out who he is.”
“I don’t want to make you a target.” She really didn’t want him to leave, but then she didn’t want him hurt, either.
Gavin gave a smile that turned her blood to ice. “I was in the Navy; storms are what I’m best at.”
Chapter Twelve
“What are you wanting to do?” Making her way to the couch, Ginny sat down.
“We make him believe we’re a couple.”
“How do we accomplish that?”
“You telling Kimmy we are was a good start.”
“I didn’t exactly tell her we’re a couple,” she argued. “I just said that you were attached. She just assumed it was to me.”
Gavin folded his arms over his chest. “How did she get that impression?”
“Kimmy saw you and asked if you were the one taking Shade’s and Rider’s place.”
“And …?” he prompted.
“And …” Ginny guiltily lowered her gaze to his boots. “She asked if you were attached. Erring on the side of caution, I told her you were.”
“Why would you err on the side of caution?”
“Well, I couldn’t say for sure if you were or not, so I erred on the side of caution and told her you are.” She nodded as if that should make perfect sense to him.
“Yet you didn’t use the same caution when telling me your own feelings?”
“That’s different.”
“How’s it different?”
“Because we’re meant to be together.”
“We need to get something straight—”
“Let’s not, if you want me to go along with your idea.”
“You know we’re not going to be a real couple, right?”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Of course. I’m not crazy.”
“I just want to get it straight—”
“Okay, it’s straight. Can we move on?”
“We’ll start off with me moving in here.”
“That works for me.”
Gavin ran his hand through his hair. “Cut it out.”
“Cut what out?” she asked innocently.
“Staring at me like you are.”
Poor guy was clenching his jaw so tightly that she could see the muscles bulge out. Ginny couldn’t help but grin.
“Gavin, relax. I’m just teasing you.” Sighing, she managed a more solemn expression. “Is this better?”
“Yes. This is serious. Whoever is stalking you is going to a lot trouble to make you notice him. He’s not going to be happy that your attention is focused on someone else.”
“I take your safety very seriously.”
“I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about you. Did you know Mason is an ex-Green Berets?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, he is.”
“I see.” Rising from the couch, Ginny went into the kitchen, coming back with a watering can to water the plants around the room.
“What do you see?”
“You want me to take this more seriously. I am. Go ahead. What comes after everyone thinks we’re a couple?”
“We give him an opportunity to get to me.”
“How?”
“I’ll start a schedule I follow when you’re around and give him an opportunity when no one else in around.”
“Who will be with me?”
“Nickel. And I’ll make sure you’re either in rehearsals with Kaden or on stage. I won’t leave you alone.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
As she carried the watering can back into the kitchen, she heard Gavin’s phone ringing. She unashamedly eavesdropped on his conversation.
“How’s Mason?” Gavin asked. When she’d asked earlier to go to the hospital instead of coming home, he’d told her that Alec would call with an update.
Wrapping her arms around her waist, Ginny waited nervously for the call to end. Thankfully, it wasn’t long.
“Mason if fine. Alec is driving him home. He has a bump at the back of his head and he needs someone to stay with him for the next few days, but the doctor said it’s not a concussion.”
“I’m glad. I’ve been worried sick about him.”
Going to the coffee table, Ginny picked up her cell phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“I’m calling Alec. I’m going to go stay with Mason.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“Yes, I am.” Disregarding Gavin’s decree, Ginny started to call Alec. She was left blinking when he swept her phone out of her hand.
“Do you want whoever knocked him out to come back and finish the job?”
“No.”
“He could think something is going on with Mason instead of me.”
“Whoever did it has been watching me enough to know when and how to get in my dressing room. I’m sure they would know that I was there because I feel responsible.”