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“So we should start planning a second engagement party then?”
I want to die. I can’t even bear to look at Cooper’s face right now.
“Xander!” I shout. “Oh my god. Please stop being ridiculous. You’re embarrassing all of us. Leave Cooper alone. He’s been nothing but gracious to me. The second I got the first inkling of this whole stalker thing, he was begging me to be more cautious and asking how he could help. You’re making an ass out of yourself, yelling at him like this.”
“If he cared about you, you’d have twenty-four seven security. If this were Harper, I’d have someone on her every second of the day I couldn’t be there to do it myself, and backup too. I’d have the police and investigators and anyone else I could get to have eyes on the entire thing. I can’t believe you’re being so casual about this.”
“Nothing has happened. Just a few pictures and some footprints outside a window. The cops would have nothing to go on.” I protest
“Nothing happened with Harper’s ex either, until it did.” Xander’s eyes land heavy on me.
“What’s going on out here? You have guests inside, Xander.” My father’s voice interrupts us, and I recoil, pinching my eyes shut.
When I open them, Xander’s smile tells me he’s about to bring our father into this debate. Like we’re kids again, and I’ve finally done something wrong where he gets to tell on me, instead of the other way around.
“Bea has a stalker. For weeks now. She’s done almost nothing about it, and I’m worried about her safety. I’m asking why more isn’t being done.” Xander’s eyes shift to Cooper, and my father’s follow. They both have a very unique ability to assess people and finding them wanting in rapid order. A thing my father does with remarkable efficiency as he studies Cooper.
“He has a security system. I’ve been careful. We don’t know if it’s his stalker or mine. Just that it started after they saw us together. We’ve been careful. I don’t want an overreaction to this situation. It’s embarrassing. This happens to lots of people in the spotlight. You both know this.” I’m immediately hurrying to shield Cooper from whatever comes next, but I might as well be invisible.
My father nods once, the gray streak in his hair reflecting the moonlight.
“We’re going to talk more about this later. For now, she’s safe. My security is everywhere I am, and tomorrow you’re coming to stay at our house. Before you return to Cincinnati…”—my father pauses to look at me—“we’re going to have this resolved.” He turns to Xander. “Now, please go in there and entertain your guests.”
The finality in his tone is enough even to quell Xander’s anxiety, and he nods, glancing one last time between Cooper and me before he heads back inside. My father silently nods for us to follow him, and we march like dutiful children to his beat.
25
Cooper
Once we get settled in at Trix’s parents’ house, her father summons us into his office and has us sit down.
“I didn’t want to continue the scene last night at Xander’s, but I’m as concerned as he is about whatever the two of you have going on with this stalker. I’ve already made arrangements to have a security team help you. I have a contact in Cincinnati. He used to work for me and then he moved back east. He already does some work at the Chaos stadium so he’ll be a perfect fit for you.”
“We’ve taken plenty of precautions,” Trix interjects, and I see her father’s brow raise in gentle disapproval.
“Then these will just be additional fail-safes. You can never be too cautious. Among other things, they want to install cameras around the property where you’re living. They’ll be ready to get that finished for you as soon as you arrive home. I’ve already sent them out to do an assessment, and they’ve noted there are a lot of blind spots on the property that make it vulnerable, so I think it’s important this work happens as soon as possible.”
I’m not entirely shocked that Senator Xavier is so boldly adamant about his plans, but I’m surprised at how swiftly he’s put them in motion. I’m already wondering what sort of assessment they’ve been doing at my house. But I don’t exactly disagree with his or Xander’s concerns, and I want to reassure them I have her safety in mind.
“Dad, I appreciate your concern, but I think it’s wildly inappropriate for you to be telling Cooper what to do with his property and—"
“It’s okay.” I place my hand on top of hers. I know she’s trying to stand up for me, but anything that helps is something I’m willing to try. “It’s extra security. Whatever it takes to keep you safe, I’m happy to do it.”
Trix’s mouth flatlines, and she sighs, resigning herself to the fact that the men in her life are stubborn when it comes to her well-being.
“This is beyond overprotective. You’re approaching intrusive,” she complains to her father.
“If you won’t move back to Seattle, then I have to know you’re safe where you are.”
“I know you care about me, but I think this is all going to feel so silly when this turns out to be nothing. Just some overzealous fan of Cooper’s, having some fun at our expense, and we’ll look ridiculous for acting like it was something serious.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Her father says it with the kind of finality that tells me he’s done discussing it, even if she does hate it. It makes it hard for me to agree with him. While I desperately want more precautions in place than Trix does, I also don’t want to undermine her boundaries, and this entire conversation feels light a tightrope walk between making sure her father knows I think she’s a priority and making her feel like I’ve got her back no matter the circumstances.
“Fine. If it makes you feel better, and Cooper doesn’t object,” she relents.
“Whatever keeps you safe.” I brush my thumb over the backs of her knuckles.
“Good. That’s settled. Now, the next bit of business is that if you’re dating my daughter, I think it’s important I get to know a little more about you. I’ve got some colleagues coming over tonight, and while Bea catches up with some old friends and her mother, I thought you could come to have a scotch and some cigars with me while I get to know you better.”
