Possessed by a Stranger (11 page)

After her furniture was in place, she should
have the opportunity to visit the neighbors. The Presley’s still
lived on the family estate next door, if you considered two miles
next door. She had yet to meet them, being swept under from the
constant barrage of contractors.

The welcomed sight of the truck transporting
her furniture enticed a squeal of delight as she opened the door to
run outside to greet her drivers. They introduced her to the two
extras she hired to assist, then immediately started working.
Hannah directed the furniture’s placement with her regular drivers
taking charge of unwrapping the protective materials and monitoring
for damages. During the lunch break Hank sat on the tailgate of the
truck beside Hannah. She had suspected there was something on his
mind most of the day from the worried look on his face. She was
hesitant to ask in case it was something she didn’t want to hear.
She cringed at the thought they may have found a better proposition
and was dumping her.

“Miss Hannah, you had a couple of visitors I
think I should mention.” Hank’s voice held concerns.

“Did you know them, Hank?” Her heart skipped
a beat. So, P. Garret was looking for her after all. She had almost
given up hope of ever seeing him again. She was afraid he really
was from out of town and had returned home.

“No ma’am, they asked where to find you … but
I played dumb. They weren’t any of your regular clients.”

“Thank you. Did they leave a name or tell you
what they wanted?” She tried to sound nonchalant wanting to grab
Hank’s shirt and shake the answers out of him. Her stomach had
tightened at the possibility she would see Mr. P. Garret again.

“The first two guys said they were your
friends. I figured that if they were friends, they would know where
you were. One of them was Jay. He was pretty pissed … excuse my
French.”

“No problem. You said
first. Was there more?”
Please, say there
was more.
Jay could look all he wanted.
They were done, over, finished. He could go screw himself or his
secretary. He was obviously good at doing just that.

“A big burley guy, that looked like a cop. I
think he was packing. He offered us compensation for the
information. Of course, we refused. You’re not in any trouble are
you? I know some guys that can take care of any problems.”

“I’m fine. That person wasn’t a cop. He works
for an acquaintance of mine. If he gives you any trouble, don’t
hesitate to call the police.” They both laughed. She was sure for
different reasons from the sinister tone in his deep
you’ve-got-to-be-kidding chuckle. Ooo…kay, so there were some
things about her drivers she was better off not knowing. They were
still the best.

****

Exhausted after months of revamping the
Presley Foundation, Garret was finally in a position to breathe
again. He worked day and night, without a moment to relax and very
little time to sleep, to meet his goal. Now, fully staffed with
people he trusted, the foundation was again running smoothly. He
had attacked the challenge vigorously until it was conquered;
giving it everything he had in his arsenal. Unfortunately, leaving
nothing of himself for anyone or anything.

This weekend Garret scheduled a monthly trip
back home, which he had postponed for the last couple of months. He
considered doubling up on the visits and probably would, depending
on the condition of his ninety-two year old grandfather. That
reminded him to check his other email account. A reputable art
dealer had promised to locate the other three Abernathy paintings
for a humongous finder’s fee. Those paintings would brighten up his
grandfather’s remaining days and he would pay any price to put a
smile on his grandfather’s face.

He planned to spend Friday night with Hannah,
reminding her why she should find or sell him the last painting.
After that kiss in the bar, he knew she might be surprised when he
showed up unexpectedly at her door, but she wouldn’t turn him down.
After a successful completion of a project, Garret liked to play
and play hard. Something about Hannah made her his playmate of
choice or necessity. He was a one woman at a time man and she was
stuck in his mind. Until he received his fill of her, he couldn’t
move on to his next conquest.

A month or two with any one woman was his
estimated time limit based on previous experiences. That was enough
time for him to get bored or them to get greedy. Greed usually
superseded his boredom since they had to prove their worth in bed
before advancing to anything longer than a one-night stand. Hannah,
on the other end of the spectrum, had superseded his requirements
in bed. She hadn’t answered his messages on her web site, which
didn’t deter him. If she wanted to play hard to get, so what, let
her try. He had felt her passion erupt when he kissed her. She was
his for the taking.

Garret opened the email. Damn it to hell, the
paintings he was promised weren’t obtainable. If they were out of
circulation, why had the art dealer promised to locate them? He
grabbed his phone to demand an explanation when he noticed another
email.

Abernathy paintings as a heading caught his
attention. Very few people knew the identity of the artist. He
opened the email. He presumed the blank email was a hoax or
oversight until he noticed the attachment. He opened the
attachment, which took a few seconds to download.

The picture on his computer screen amazed and
aroused him. Hannah had all four paintings and she had the audacity
to taunt him with her accomplishment. Finding all four paintings
completed his obligations that had crushingly weighted his
shoulders. Now all he had to do was get them from her.

“Well I’ll be damned. There’s more to you,
than I ever thought possible.” Garret chuckled. He typed a reply of
see you soon. The email stuck in cyber space with an explanation of
an invalid email address. Hanna Greer might hide in cyber space but
he knew where she lived. His play date with sexy lady
fast-forwarded to now. The first thing he would do when he arrived
was check her for balls. Apparently, she grew a pair of brass ones
since he last entered that tight wet dream maker. He assumed the
shadow figure was an invitation, which he accepted. Oh yes, he
would gladly kiss that ass and more until she screamed over and
over. Damn, he wanted that woman in the worse way.

He signed off the email, grabbing his jacket
off the back of his chair. A push of the number one key on his
cell, alerted Jeff he was leaving. He stopped at the door to his
office to adjust himself from the uncomfortable beginnings of an
erection. Hannah’s bold move to antagonize him had potently aroused
him. The long night he had planned, just got longer.

Garret climbed in the front seat. In closer
quarters, Jeff’s reactions would be easier assessed. He wanted
information from his driver, his only source since Ted failed so
miserably. Where Hannah was concerned, he wasn’t convinced Jeff
would be honest. “The apartments in Old Town, where Hannah
lives.”

Jeff glanced tentatively toward his boss.
“I’m banging one of her friends, I met at the bar. No one has seen
Hannah in a couple months. Around the time you had that meeting
with her.” Jeff sounded sincere, although nervous from relaying bad
news.

“Really, what are her friends saying about
that?” It was actually good news. She hadn’t run back to a life of
comfortable with her ex.

Garret hadn’t exploded so Jeff freely spilled
his guts. “They figure . . . no, actually they know she’s pissed
because everyone knew Jay was screwing around and no one told her.
They all got the hint after her speech. Jay is pissed at her
because she left the bar with you. But according to him, he would
take her back in a heartbeat. He is banging as many of her friends
as possible for consolation. Larry the love sick bartender is
heartbroken because she won’t return his calls or answer her
door.”

“Sounds like a soap opera to me.” Garret
huffed disappointed in Jeff’s gossip. He wanted information on her,
not them.

“That bar’s a hoot. They are all probably
related if their parent’s bed hopped as much as they do. You’ve
heard the old saying ‘keep it in the family’. These people take it
literally. Once you’re in one pair of panties, the rest of the
girls spread ’em wide.” Jeff stopped to add a job saving exception.
“But not Hannah, boss. From what I can tell, she was the only sane
one of the bunch. I swear, I haven’t heard one bad thing about
her.”

“I know.” Garret, already bored hearing about
people he didn’t know or care about had let that comment slip out
unexpectedly. He regretted it immediately seeing Jeff’s face perk
up with a wide grin. Hannah’s virginity must have been common
knowledge amongst her friends. If she wanted to keep her loss of it
a secret, he should respect her wishes. Although, he preened like
the cock of the roost knowing, she had chosen him.

Jeff slapped the steering wheel with his
outburst of laughter. “So the rumor is true. Never mind, it’s none
of my business. Serves Jay right, he’s a class one prick.” Jeff
chuckled all the way to the apartments.

This was his first time to see where Hannah
lived. The old apartment complex surprised Garret, after running
Hannah’s financials. She could easily afford something better than
this dilapidated building. Then, she was a mystery.

“Wait here.” Garret left the car to enter the
building. Jeff could wait as long as it took him to get his fill of
Hannah. That should deter his interest in her, as he imagined
Garret fucking the hell out of her. Inside, the building wasn’t the
squalor he expected. With Hannah in the antique business, he knew,
she would appreciate the character of the building. It was located
in the historical section so the building’s maintenance directly
affected the owner’s ability to collect tax credits. He climbed one
fight of winding stairs to her second floor apartment.

Garret knocked on her door anticipating a
shocked Hannah to answer. The door was opened by a young woman
carrying a beer. She leaned on the doorframe, smiling
provocatively. “Well, hello. How can I help you?”

His mood worsened when confronted by a slutty
college student. He glared at the half shit-faced girl. If this was
Hannah’s roommate, he might have misjudged her maturity. He had
overlooked her younger age guessing there wasn’t more than ten
years difference. He might need to check on that detail. “I’m
looking for Hannah Greer.”

“She moved out. I live here now. Why don’t
you come in?” She invitingly swept her arm in front of herself.

“Do you know where Hannah moved?” He doubted
the girl knew where she was right now, let alone where Hannah
moved. Being outfoxed again by Hannah made him more determined than
ever to find her. She had raised the stakes with her possession of
all four paintings in their cat and mouse game. He called her play.
He planned to place his full arsenal of resources on the task of
finding her. Garret Presley never lost especially when so openly
challenged. For such a sweet piece of ass she was becoming a pain
in his.

“No, but the old lady next door might. Are
you sure you won’t stay?” Her voice slurred showing her agitation
and inebriation. He walked to the next door in the hallway hearing
the first one slam shut.

Garret knocked on the neighbor’s door. He
heard mumbling of curse words from an elderly voice. It took a few
moments before the door opened. An old grumpy woman wearing a
granny housedress frowned at him. “Ma’am, I’m looking for Hannah
Greer.”

The woman looked him over. “Why? I don’t give
out information to strangers. Everyone and his or her brother have
come by looking for her. That girl should have told people she was
moving so they would quit bothering me.” This woman was going to
take a little finessing if he expected to get any information.

“I’m sorry to disturb you but I have a piece
of merchandise she wanted to purchase. I misplaced her cell phone
number so I came here, to her last known address. Here is my card.
If you happen to see or hear from her, would you have her call me?”
He turned on his charm smiling as she looked over his card.

The woman raised her head to peer through the
glasses on the tip of her nose. She read the business card sliding
her finger over the embossed letters. “She brought me some
strawberries last week. She was always bringing me stuff. She is in
the country somewhere. Have you checked her storage buildings?
That’s why she was in the city, to check on them.”

“Thank you, that’s a good idea.” He forced a
smile. Ted had already questioned her drivers to no avail.

“I miss that girl. She was quiet. I’ll give
her your card when she stops by next week. I can’t promise she’ll
call you. She’s funny about people knowing her business.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you taking the
trouble to do me a favor.” Not asking questions sometimes was the
best method to receive answers. Damn, Hannah had slipped away
again. Ted would station someone in front of this building to catch
Hannah when she returned. Waiting another week to alleviate the
excruciating tension from his lack of sex was going to cost her.
This time he might have her brought to him. That should thoroughly
piss her off and teach her not to run. After all, he wasn’t done
with her yet.

CHAPTER SIX

In a large patch of her overgrown backyard,
Hannah had stumbled upon rambling strawberry plants. She had seen a
furry little critter hopping around for several days. She
unsuccessfully tried to coax the bunny closer with fresh
vegetables. The little scamp teased her, nibbling the carrot she
used as bait before he hopped out of reach. He seemed to know
exactly how close to get and still be just out of reach. Now, while
she picked strawberries, he playfully stayed around her feet. As
soon as he got a whiff of one of his bunny harem, he would desert
her feet for a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. He was a prolific little
bugger. She knew his offspring would wreak havoc on the garden she
had planned on for next year, but she still enjoyed his company.
Her pet rabbit appeared every time she went outside, after she
accepted his freedom wasn’t up for grabs or in this case, up for
petting. He was a fluffy example of the peace and tranquility of
her new life. Fittingly, she named him Garret.