Janelle Denison - Too Wilde to Tame

"Well I'll be damned," Steve said with a sly grin. "Does anyone else know the two of you are dating?"

Dating . What a novel thought to actually be able to date Mia, out in the open and in public places, Cameron mused. So far, their involvement had all taken place behind closed doors, and that was something Cameron would love to change once the stalker issue with Mia was finally resolved. That is, if Mia allowed their relationship to progress beyond the case.

"Joel knows," Cameron admitted. "He kinda figured things out at your party this weekend." He deliberately left out the more intimate details of Joel's discovery.

"And he didn't kick your ass right then and there?"

"No." Amusement tugged up one corner of Cameron's mouth, along with a good dose of surprise, considering how well Steve was handling the news. "Should he have?"

Steve laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "Naw, he's probably grateful, as I am, Mia is with someone we all know and trust."

Cameron couldn't help but marvel over both Joel's and Steve's similar responses. He'd expected the worst, and instead had come to realize that he'd completely underestimated both of their reactions. They were just looking out for Mia's welfare, and it was nice to know they thought so highly of him.

If only Mia would put as much trust in him as her brother and cousin had, he'd be a happy man.

Realizing how far off track their discussion had gone, Cameron attempted to steer the conversation back to business. "About Ray Wilkins," Cameron said, relieved to have the focus off him and Mia. "I attempted to do a background check on him and came up with a dead end on his current identity, which was why I put Wes on the trace for me." Especially because the guy was such a genius with computers and finding out information through the Internet. "I was hoping he'd find some kind of lead on the guy that maybe I missed."

Steve nodded, and after a thoughtful minute finally replied. "Well, now that I know what's going on, I'll find out what I can on this guy, as well, and make it top priority with Wes."

"Thanks," Cameron said. "I appreciate it."

Determination and a lifetime of being protective of Mia-an emotion Cameron knew was purely instinctual-darkened Steve's features. "Whoever is messing with Mia is going to have hell to pay once we catch up with them."

Cameron had no doubt of that, because he planned to be the one who confronted that person.

THE deed was done. As soon as Gina hung up the phone after ending things with Ray, and cutting him off mid-rage, she and Mia put their agreed-upon plan into action. Mia grabbed her small suitcase, Gina picked up hers, and they left the apartment for the weekend, with Mia heading to Cameron's and Gina to her sister's. The phone began ringing immediately, and because Gina had disengaged her answering machine, at least she wouldn't come back home on Sunday to vicious, nasty messages from Ray.

"That felt good," Gina said, and Mia knew a huge burden had been lifted from her friend's shoulders.

"It was the right thing to do." Mia smiled at Gina, wanting her to believe that without question. Unfortunately, she didn't think this was the end of Ray, despite the restraining order Gina had issued against him before making the final call. "Now you can go to your sisters and enjoy the weekend with her and your nieces."

"Oh, I plan to," she said as they headed down the pathway to the front of the complex. "And what about you? You'll be okay for the weekend?"

"I'll be just fine." Mia withdrew her keys from her purse. "Cameron said I could stay in his guest bedroom."

Gina burst out laughing, and Mia was glad to see glimpses of the old friend she knew and loved. "I'm betting you don't even set foot in that guest bedroom."

"I'll never tell," Mia teased, though she was certain Gina was right. "Hold on. I want to check our mailbox before we leave."

Mia quickly unlocked their box and took out the mail. She handed Gina her bills and correspondences and felt her own stomach drop when she found a larger, padded envelope addressed to her-in the same vein as the two other envelopes she'd received from an anonymous sender.

It appeared her own troubles weren't over yet.

"THIS came in today's mail," Mia said to Cameron once she'd arrived at his place half an hour later. She paced anxiously near the kitchen table, her stomach already in knots over what they'd find inside. "I thought I'd wait and give you the honor of opening the envelope this time."

Cameron picked up the envelope and checked it out, front and back. "No return address, of course," he said calmly. "And it's bigger and bulkier than the others you've been sent with the pictures inside."

And that's what worried her the most, because she was fairly certain her stalker had a different kind of surprise in store for her. "I don't think I want to know what's inside." Dread tightened her chest.

"We don't have a choice." He glanced back at her, his gaze filled with understanding. "I know this is difficult for you, but maybe there's something in here that will help us figure out who is sending you this stuff."

Just like the untraceable pictures she'd received, Mia had her doubts. Still, there was no avoiding the inevitable, and she wrapped her arms around her middle as if she could protect herself from what was about to come. "Go ahead and open the envelope so we can get this over with."

Cameron hesitated a few seconds, then tore open the seal and pulled out something bright red and silky. He immediately frowned. "What the hell…"

For a moment, as Mia stared at the provocative pair of panties, she wondered if she'd recently ordered any lingerie from a catalog, which would explain the risque underwear dangling from Cameron's fingers. But then she noticed the slashes in the crimson fabric, and worse, the black pen markings on the crotch area where someone had written the word tramp .

Oh God . Shock swept through Mia, weakening her knees and making her stomach pitch with apprehension. She didn't want to believe the conclusion she'd just come to, but there was no denying the connection to those panties.

"Goddammit!" Cameron bit out furiously and tossed the underwear back onto the envelope on the table. He was so caught up in his own anger over this latest attack that he wasn't aware of the change in Mia. "Who in the hell would do something deranged like this?"

Mia was certain Cameron still believed Ray was the culprit, but Mia had her own strong suspicions. "Carrie," she said, still stunned by the realization. Didn't Carrie think she'd figure it out? Or maybe she just didn't care any longer.

Cameron's startled gaze jerked to her, and his brows creased in confusion. "What?"

"It's Carrie," she said again and sat down on the nearby barstool before her shaking legs gave out on her. "I'm certain she sent this package, and maybe even the pictures, too."

"Okay." Cameron's tone was cautious, even a little skeptical. But he didn't discount her claim. "Why would you think that?"

She'd never told him about her odd and somewhat strained lunch with Carrie last week, but she brought it up now. "When I met with Carrie last week, at lunch she made the comment that she hated going places with me, because she felt as though she blended into the woodwork when I was around. And when the waiter paid more attention to me than he did to her, Carrie also made a remark that my breasts were enough to encourage any man to flirt with me."

Cameron leaned against the counter behind him, his expression intent. "It definitely sounds like Carrie is jealous, and even I saw glimpses of that the first night at The Electric Blue, but do you really think she's capable of doing something like this to you? The pictures, your car, and now this?" She waved a hand toward her latest delivery.