Blood Kiss (Savage Security Series Book 1) by Karen Tjebben Page A

coming back. Unless he left to get something. Mike didn’t want to leave her defenseless, so he decided to hang out.
    He found a good spot, a tree that was encircled by bushes. He slipped his legs under the bushes and leaned against the tree, settling in for a long night.
    At three in the morning, he decided the man wasn’t returning. He crept silently through the bushes and slipped unnoticed onto the sidewalk.

9
     
    Alisha stretched as she rolled over in bed to check the time. It was after nine, but she still felt tired. The situation with her stalker kept her from sleeping well. Each night she awoke at any sound, afraid that he’d gotten into her house. That meant the little sleep she did get wasn’t great. 
    She had a lot to do before Mike arrived. She needed to grab a quick breakfast, exercise, and shower before he got there. She sprung out of bed and put on her exercise clothes. She went to the alarm pad in her bedroom and turned off the alarm.
    Forrest was on her heels as she jogged down the steps. “Don’t make mommy trip,” she warned as he brushed past her legs. She loved that bundle of energy. She was glad her nieces hadn’t begged for Forrest. She wasn’t sure she could deny them the little dog if they’d truly wanted him, but she felt like he belonged with her. He kept her from being alone in the big house.
    Once on the first floor, Forrest barked and ran to the patio door. She looked out the window and noticed the broken flower pot and soil scattered on the stone pavers. She rolled her eyes and decided that she’d clean it up later. When she opened the patio door, Forrest bounded out in search of the perfect spot to do his business.
    Alisha shut the door and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal. She kept a variety in her cupboards. They ranged from sugary sweet to the health-nut cereals. It was always obvious what mood she was in when she went shopping by what she purchased.
    If she was in one of her “health” kicks, she stocked up on healthy, high-fiber cereals. When she was stressed or hungry, she bought all the yummy, sweet cereals that were targeted at kids. Today she figured she’d get a big lunch with Mike, so she chose the healthy cereal. She never ate healthy when she went out.
    As she ate the cereal, Forrest scratched on the door. She got out of the chair and carried her bowl over to the door as she shoved another bite into her mouth. She opened the door and Forrest skittered past her. She stared across the patio at the mound of soil and shook her head. She still needed to deal with the gun too. At least there was a mess to show Mike. Perhaps he wouldn’t think that she’d over-reacted.
    She emptied the milk from her cereal bowl into the sink and put the bowl in the dishwasher. It was almost full. She’d have to run it soon. Grabbing a hairband off the counter, she strolled into the study. This room had been her dad’s office. His achievements still hung on the walls, but the room was now her exercise space.
    When she’d bought the elliptical machine, she decided to turn the office into her work-out room. She figured having it on the first floor was easier than lugging the heavy piece of equipment up the stairs and into one of the extra bedrooms.
    Her father would roll his eyes at the current state of his office. He’d always been meticulous. Nothing was ever out of place, but now this room was one of her favorite spots in the house. Whenever she worked out in here, she felt closer to her dad. It was like she was sharing the space with him. She didn’t believe in ghosts, but her memories stayed fresh and alive inside the walls of this house.
    When she’d switched the room over from office to work-out space she moved his computer and put in a television. She indulged and bought a screen larger than she needed for the space, but she was happy that she did. She also put in a good stereo system. She had no trouble hearing the show over the consistent whir of the