Page 35 of Slay Bells
Besides the noise and faster lifestyle, there was the element of danger when it came to his job. Crime was much higher in San Diego than it could possibly ever be in Missoula.
Her doorbell rang and she went to the monitor. Her stomach pitched at seeing her ex-boyfriends face. He smiled.
“Hi there, had a heck of a time finding you. Can we talk?”
Thankfully he could not see her. She hit a button ending the communication. How had he found her?
The bell rang again, and she was grateful for the security of her building. People were not able to get to the elevators until allowed in. She raced to her cell phone to call the doorman’s area.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Don’t allow the man in the blue polo shirt in. I have a restraining order against him.”
She heard the guard speak to someone and there was a series of short comments back and forth.
“Miss Diaz, he just went into the elevator. Must have slipped in with a resident. Don’t open your door. The police have been contacted and one of our guys is on his way up.”
So why exactly was she paying extra for security again? Gabriela went to her bedroom and sat on the bed. It wasn’t as if the idiot could get in. But it helped to be away from the front door.
When knocks on the front door sounded, she practically jumped out of her skin and a strange kind of giggle escaped. Moments later, her phone rang. It was the doorman. “He’s left. The police missed him by a few seconds.”
“Thanks. By the way, why did you let a non-resident in?”
“We thought he was with the couple. They were all talking and smiling.”
“Ugh.” Gabriela hung up.
Her phone dinged and she slowly lifted it. It was her mother. “Come over for dinner.”
“So let me get this straight,” her mother said leaning forward from her chair on the back deck of her parents beautiful condo in La Jolla. “You’re having a hard time deciding between leaving your sterile apartment, lack of social life and a stalking ex for living in a beautiful town and eventually settling on a spacious ranch house with a handsome man?”
Her mother shook her head. “Mija, what is wrong with you?”
Gabriela slunk down. “When you put it that way, it makes me sound like a dork.”
She chose to ignore her mother’s raised eyebrows. “Besides. I don’t want to leave you and Papi and Nana.”
“Your father already has plans to become a cowboy. Besides, we can get a place and spend winters up there. The one time I went to Billings, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it is up there.”
“When did you go to Billings?” Gabriela straightened and frowned at her mother. “You never told me you’ve been to Montana.”
With a wave of dismissal, her mother huffed. “I’m sure I mentioned it. I went with your father for a medical convention. Nana and I had so much fun.”
“What?” This time Gabriela scooted to the edge of the seat. “You’ve all been to Montana and never told me. And why wasn’t I invited? Did Juanito go to?” She asked, referring to her brother.
“No, he was in Colorado or somewhere doing whatever it is your brother always does. We didn’t invite you because you were so wrapped up with that idiot Rafael and we didn’t want to chance he’d invite himself along.”
“I didn’t know you all disliked him so much.”
“We wanted you to come on the Alaskan cruise too but decided to tell you it was invitation only.”
Gabriela fell backwards on the chair. “I’m so glad Jeremy is coming tomorrow.” She lifted her hand to admire her engagement ring and her lips curved.
“Now he’s a good man. We like Jeremy. He’s normal.” Her mother stood. “Randolph, not so much. Want another glass of wine?”
Her ex hadn’t returned, nor had he tried to contact her. Perhaps the fact she’d not hesitated to call for help deterred him. Or it could be he was biding his time and coming up with another plan.
She’d not seen it at first. Rafael was not in love with her, he was fanatical with them as a couple. The man was an idiot who’d become so obsessive he’d began to plan matching wardrobes. When he’d asked to go shopping together so they could find the same color outfits to attend a dinner party, she’d questioned his sexuality.
