Chapter 330

Why would a stranger follow and take photos of Victor and me? It didn’t make sense. Besides Findlay, who knew we were in New Ripon?

I had to know.

Trying to keep my eyes on the man with the buzz cut, I followed him away from the dining room and through the lobby.

It looked like he was heading for the main entrance, but when I got there, he was gone. I went outside onto the sidewalk and saw no sign of him.

The sidewalk wasn’t crowded. I could see a block away in both directions. How did he disappear so quickly?

The hotel doorman was talking to the valet in front of the entrance. Maybe they saw the man or knew who he was.

“Excuse me,” I said to them. “Did you see a man a little shorter than me with a buzz cut come out of the hotel?”

“No, ma’am,” the doorman said without looking at me.

“I saw him.” The valet pointed down the street. “He jumped into a car that was waiting down there. Another man was driving when it took off in the other direction.”

“Have you ever seen either of them before?” I asked.

The doorman shrugged silently while still keeping his eyes averted from mine.

“It’s hard to say. We see a lot of people, Miss,” the valet replied. “Did he do something wrong? I can get someone from hotel security for you.”

“No,” I replied. “Thank you.” I went inside the hotel and began walking back to the restaurant.

Maybe I was being paranoid. The man could be another hotel guest who happened to be at Funland and the restaurant when we were there.

“No, Daisy,” Diana said. “I sensed something sinister about him. And I think the doorman was lying.”

She was right. The doorman did act suspiciously.

“I’ll tell Victor about it,” I said and walked faster. He was probably getting worried about me.

I was right. Victor was coming out of the restaurant when I got there. He was visibly relieved to see me.

“Sweetheart, where have you been?” he asked. “I was worried something happened to you.”

“Let’s go back inside and sit down,” I said. “I’ll tell you about it.”

We returned to our table seconds before our meals arrived. As soon as the waiter walked away, I explained about the strange man to Victor.

“It’s not particularly odd that someone staying at this hotel was also at Funland,” Victor said. “It’s a popular tourist attraction.”

“He gives me and Diana a strange feeling,” I insisted. “And every time I saw him, he was staring at us or taking our photo with his phone.

“It’s probably a coincidence.” Victor began to eat his entree. He chewed his steak slowly and sighed. “It wouldn’t hurt to talk to hotel security before we go upstairs.”

“Diana is usually right,” I reminded him. But I didn’t want to spoil our trip, so I picked up my fork and changed the subject. “What are we doing tomorrow?”

“How does the museum and the city’s oldest art gallery sound?” Victor asked.

“They sound wonderful,” I replied. “I’ve read about New Ripon’s gallery. It has some marvelous pieces.”

“We have a reservation at La Severes tomorrow night at eight,” Victor added. “We’ll be sitting near the chefs and be able to watch them prepare their famous tasting menu.”

“How wonderful!” La Severes was famous for its tasting menu. They only had two sittings a night, and it cost thousands of dollars per couple.

“We owe Findlay a special dinner for everything he does for us,” I said.

“Or maybe I’ll buy him a new car,” Victor chuckled. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I already told Findlay the mountain vacation for him and Tony is on me. I know I’m lucky to have him working for me.”

After dinner, we went to the front desk, and Victor asked to speak to the night-shift security supervisor.

We were led to a quiet corner in the lobby and waited on a silk sofa for a few minutes.

The security supervisor arrived promptly. She was a pleasant and competent woman named Jane Annesly. She sat opposite us in a club chair and asked how she could help.

Victor explained about the man with the buzz cut.

“It may be another guest,” Victor said. “But there is something about him that makes my fiancée uneasy.”

“I’ll check security footage and see what I can find out about him, Mr. Klein,” Jane Annesly promised. “If he isn’t a hotel guest, I will see he doesn’t bother you again.”

“Thank you,” Victor said, and we returned to our suite.

“Feel better, my love?” Victor asked after he locked the door to our suite and took me into his arms.

“I always feel better when you hold me,” I said while fighting back a yawn.

He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. “Funland was fun but exhausting. Let’s get some sleep so we can enjoy our last full day here tomorrow.”

“You are the sweetest man,” I said as he laid me on the bed.

We were at the museum by ten the following day. The staff told us the largest crowds wouldn’t be there until the afternoon, so we took our time examining each exhibit.

I was fascinated by the skeletal remains of our ancient ancestors. The thousand-year-old pottery was amazing, too.

Victor and I held hands as we moved into the art gallery in the adjoining building.

The statues were breathtaking. How did the artist carve rock to look like delicate folds of linen or water lapping at a woman’s toes?

Next were the paintings. The oldest had been preserved so well that the colors were still vibrant and glowing.

I could imagine myself in a field next to a stone barn in a six-hundred-year-old landscape painting.

Another painting of a stone cottage made me believe someone would step out of the open doorway any second to tend the beautiful garden.

But the day was about to take a sinister turn. I was standing before a portrait of a twelfth-century lady when Diana sensed him.

“Daisy, the man is here,” she told me.

“The man with the buzz cut?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I sense his aura. He’s nearby.”

Forcing myself to move slowly, I looked around as if trying to decide what artwork I wanted to examine next.

My heart began to pound when I saw he was just a few feet behind me, trying to hide his face behind a museum program. His eyes met mine, and he hurried away.

I tugged on Victor’s arm. “The man with the buzz cut was right behind me.”

Victor turned. “Where?”

We walked in the direction I had last seen him, but he was gone.

We enjoyed the gallery for another hour, but it was distracting to keep looking around for the man.

“Let’s go somewhere nice for lunch,” I suggested. It was after one o’clock, and we only had a light breakfast that morning.

After lunch, we visited another gallery with more modern pieces before returning to the hotel for a nap.

After waking, we dressed in our best, and a hotel limousine drove us to La Severes.

We were captivated by the way the chefs worked in perfect precision to prepare our meal. Each course was more delicious than the last.

On our way out of the restaurant, Victor stiffened. “Is that him,” he asked.

I followed his gaze and saw the man who had been following us climbing into the passenger seat of a dark blue sedan. The sedan quickly sped away.

“That was him,” I said. “But I didn’t see him inside the restaurant.”

“He could be another tourist, my love,” Victor said. “Don’t let it ruin the rest of our trip.”

Back at the hotel, I filled the garden tub with warm water and stripped to my bra and panties before going to the living room to find Victor.

“Sweetheart, come take a bath with me,” I purred as I removed my bra and dropped it to the floor.

Victor’s eyes widened, and he grinned before hurrying to follow me to the bathroom.

We made love twice before lying in the bed with our bodies entwined. I fell asleep knowing we were more in love and connected than ever.

I woke up first the following day. As I reached for my phone to check the time, it rang in my hand. Caller ID told me it was Shane.

Not wanting to wake Victor by taking a call from Shane, I silenced the call and let it go to voicemail.

But when Victor was still sleeping peacefully, I checked my messages.

I listened to the voicemail from Shane and leaped from the bed. His editor read my article, and he wanted me to call him back immediately.