No More Running by Jayton Young Page B

He soaped another sponge so he could return the favor.  “Will you spend the night in here with me?”
    “I would love to.”
     
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    I wasn’t able to talk to Doc.  For the rest of the weekend he seemed to avoid all of us.  We knew he was in the house, but he stayed in his room except for mealtimes.  I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to go to his room, so I just left him to brood.  I knew he would talk to me when he was ready, but I was still sad that my best friend was angry with me.
    Monday morning all but Doc headed back to work.  Garret and Stefan felt like no one would make a move in a building full of people, especially at a security firm.
    I was checking with the message service, checking e-mails and regular mail to determine priority, when I came across a letter delivered by a messenger service the prior Friday.  It had no return address on it, so I opened it.
    After reading it, I shot out of my chair sending it rolling across the cubicles.  Black spots clouded my vision and I blacked out.
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
     
    I came to lying down on the couch in Garrets office.  He was holding a wet washcloth to my forehead, and running his hand over my hair.  He looked upset, and I realized he’d seen the picture. 
    Someone had been following and watching us.  The picture was of us at the grocery store when Garret was returning the items to the shelf, and I was talking with him.  What made it worse was that the person drew a hole in Garret’s head with blood coming out, and had written that he would not miss next time.  Of course I knew who it had to be, and my first thought was to pack up and run, but laying there just looking into Garret’s eyes, I knew that was no longer an option.  I loved him too much to leave him with the mess that followed me around.  Selfish as it was too, I didn’t want to live without him.  I would do all in my power to keep him safe.
    “I know what you’re thinking, and I won’t let you do it.”  He said quietly.
    I looked at him, confused about what he was talking about until I realized that he thought I would run.  I shook my head.  “I’m not going to run anymore.”  I gave him a weak smile and took his hand in mine.  “I have too much to lose, now.”
    He smirked at that.  “Really?  And just what do you have to lose now?”
    Figuring I would play with him a little, I said, “Well, I have this awesome job and a cool best friend that I just couldn’t live without.”
    He ran his hand up my thigh. “Oh, is that all?”  He looked so cute when he playfully pouted as his hand had made its way up to my breasts.  “Are you sure there are no other reasons?”
    “Well, I guess Stefan isn’t that ba…”   I was cut off when his lips crushed mine in a devastating kiss.  When we finally broke apart, a couple of minutes later, we were both panting.  He set his forehead on mine, looking deep into my eyes.  “Don’t let whoever it is get to you.  I’ll be here with you.  We all will, and he won’t be able to hurt you again.”
    “It’s not me he’s going after.”  I said softly.  “You saw the picture.”
    “You don’t need to worry about it, Honey.”  He brushed my hair behind my ear with such a tender touch.  “I have every man available on this.  We will to get him before he does anything else.”
    I nodded and made to get up, but Garret stopped me with a gentle hand on my shoulder.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “Well, Mr. Starr, I do have a job to do.”  I smirked at him.  I had to get busy or I would drive myself insane thinking about this.
    “Yeah that’s right.  I’m moving you into my adjoining office.  The door will be open at all times.”  He said as he pecked my astonished face.  “But you are to relax for the rest of today.”
    “Come on, I can’t just sit around.  I’m not made that way.”
    “I know, but I figured