followed him inside, his step heavier than usual.
Inside, Jude shook hands with Yvonne Depuis and invited her into his inner office. Sometimes Creed thought Jude had been born suave, but he’d also seen Jude’s other side—impatient and occasionally cranky. On leaden feet, he went into Jude’s office with them, and took a chair as far away from Yvonne as space allowed.
“Mr. Preston,” Jude explained to Yvonne, “consults with me as his health allows, so I’m sure you don’t mind if he stays with us while we discuss your problem.”
Good going, Jude, Creed thought.
Yvonne shot another glance at Creed and again colored. “No, of course not. Might as well have the entire world think I’m crazy.”
“We don’t often think that around here,” Jude said soothingly. He pulled a piece of paper in front of him and picked up a pen. “What brought you to Messenger Investigations?”
“A friend of mine is on the police force. She said you have a reputation for dealing with weird stuff.”
Jude smiled. “So we do. Who recommended us? I like to thank people for referrals.”
“Detective Matthews.”
“Ah, Pat. A very nice lady.”
“She taught a criminology course I took a number of years ago and we became friends.”
“You’re in the police, too?”
Yvonne shook her head. “Not my cup of tea. I was just curious about law enforcement. I’m a writer. I’m curious about a lot of things.”
Jude nodded, scribbling something. “And the problem that brought you to us?”
Yvonne bit her lower lip. Creed inevitably thought about how he’d like to bite it for her. He had to close his eyes for a moment.
“It’s so hard to explain.”
“But you managed to tell Pat about it.”
A tremulous sigh escaped her and she managed another nod. “Okay. I moved into my condo about a week ago. And since I did, well, it’s hard to explain. I’ve never felt like this before. But I feel continually watched. Never alone. Every single minute I’m there. And then some things got moved around and I know I didn’t move them.”
“So you think someone may be getting in?”
“I don’t know. I mean that feeling of being watched … If someone was there, I’d know it. The condo’s not big enough for someone to really hide for long. But no one’s ever there. Frankly, I don’t even want to be alone in my own home, and it’s only been a week. The feeling is getting stronger. At first I thought it was just being in a new place, but if that was the case, it would be wearing off, wouldn’t it? And things being moved …” She shook her head and released a heavy sigh. “I can’t afford to move out now. I just bought the place. So I have to find out what’s wrong.”
“I agree,” Jude said. “Whatever it is that’s making you feel this way, we need to get to the bottom of it.”
“So you don’t think I’m just crazy?”
“Not likely. I think Creed will concur, when one feels watched, there’s usually someone watching.”
Creed cleared his throat. “Studies would seem to bear that out.”
“God.” Yvonne shuddered. “How could that be?” Then she appeared to have a thought. “Maybe it’s that creep of an ex-boyfriend of mine. Maybe he did something to my computer. He could be watching me day and night.” She scowled. “I wouldn’t put it past him, considering all the weird things he seems to get into. Stalking me? Yes, he’d be capable of it.”
“We’ll check it out along with other possibilities,” Jude said. “I want to examine your apartment very closely. I’ll need to gather some equipment first, though. When would be a good time?”
“Any time,” she said vehemently. “Now, tomorrow, I don’t care when. I work at home. Or I do when I’m not creeped out. Just tell me when.”
“Tomorrow night,” Jude said. “And I’m going to have Creed here accompany you home and check out your apartment before he goes to his own.”
Creed found it almost impossible to maintain a straight face. Alone with that woman in her apartment? Had Jude just lost his mind? But Jude’s expression revealed nothing. Talk about the ultimate test of self-control.
“Thank you,” Yvonne said, looking at him. “I’d be so grateful.”
Like hell she would, he thought grimly. Whatever or whoever might be watching her, it probably wasn’t nearly as big a threat to her as a vampire who craved her blood.
Namely Creed.
Chapter 2
Yvonne was acutely aware of Creed following her in his big black SUV as she drove back home. But then she’d been acutely aware of him since first she’d seen him, that day she decided to buy the condo. Maybe she had even made the decision because of him.
God, wasn’t she too old for a crush? Evidently not, because one sight of Creed Preston had engraved him indelibly in her mind. He was handsome, with an elegant build. He moved like an athlete, and the gold color of his eyes was striking. Like a tiger’s eyes, she thought.
And something about him struck her as dangerous, but not in a bad way. How weird was that? Maybe it was his tiger’s eyes.
But not even for long could she distract herself with thoughts of a silly schoolgirl crush, and how ridiculous that was in a woman of thirty-two. She was heading home again, heading to that place she called home anyway, a place that not even for one instant seemed welcoming anymore. In one short week she had come to wish that she’d noticed that feeling of being watched before she had bought the place. Because now all she wanted was to get out of it. Fast.
She pulled into her slot in the building’s parking garage and waited while Creed pulled into his. The penthouse slots were nearer the elevator, hardly surprising. When he climbed out, she felt again his extraordinary impact and wondered why she responded that way.
His smile was nice, too, even if it looked a bit forced. He used his own key to open the elevator then waved her in ahead of him. He seemed to her to hesitate, but only for a split second, before entering the car with her. She must have imagined it.
“Which floor?” he asked, reaching for the buttons.
“Twenty-fourth.”
He punched the button, then leaned back against the far wall, not looking at her. Indeed, he almost seemed to hold his breath.
Was she that repulsive to him? She knew she looked rather mousy, in fact it was an appearance she mostly cultivated in order to be left alone, but she didn’t think she stank. Had nervousness outworn her deodorant or something?
Irritated, she glanced away from him and watched
