Chapter 10
Waking up early, Stephanie opened her eyes and stretched beside Paul who was on his front with his hair fanned out on his pillow. She turned to her side and swept the hair that covered his face. She ran her fingers down his back as he stirred awake.
"Good morning." She smiled.
He turned on his side, facing her. "Good morning beautiful." He leaned over and kissed her softly.
Stephanie sat on her bed, leaning back to rest against the headboard. "Wow, this feels weird."
"What does?" Paul sat up in bed, pulling Stephanie to sit on his lap.
"I feel like I'm 16 and living with my parents again and I have a boy in here. I've never had a boy in here."
Paul chuckled, "About that, how come you've never brought a boy in your room before."
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders, "Growing up, privacy was a number one thing. I guess if I let any of my boyfriends in here, they would be invading my personal sanctuary."
Paul scrunched his nose, "Boyfriends? As in plural?"
Stephanie laughed, "Yes as in more than one."
Paul squinted his eyes, "How many are we talking here?"
"Not that many. How about you? Your way older than me, I'm sure you've had your fair share of women."
"Don't change the subject lady! And I'm not that old. Now back to you, how many?"
"You tell me your number first and I'll tell you mine."
"I asked you first!"
Stephanie pouted, "Do I have to?"
Paul nodded, "I'm curious."
"I had 3 boyfriends before you."
"3? That's not bad. You had me thinking it was like a ballpark or something." He joked.
"Yeah that was kind of fun." Stephanie giggled. "Now tell me yours before I think it's a ball park."
"Okay," Paul breathed out, he held his fingers up as he counted them one by one. "Six."
Stephanie stared at him impassively. Who could blame him? The man was gorgeous, she could see why those 6 women fell for him. Hell she knew it first-hand. Before she knew it, Paul turned her around, straddling him.
He held up his index finger to her face and grinned, "But there was only one out of those six that I loved very much."
Stephanie shook her head. Paul lifted her chin with his other index finger, "You."
Stephanie gaped at Paul as he continued, "I think I love you more and more each day. Scratch that, I know for a fact I do."
"I love you too Paul." Stephanie leaned in and kissed Paul passionately.
Three hours later, Stephanie and Paul were saying goodbye to her parents.
"Hope to see you again pumpkin." Linda whispered in her daughter's ear as she hugged her tight. She finally released her daughter and turned to Paul. "Take care of her will you."
"Always." He smiled, held his hand out to Vince. "Sir."
"Take care of her." Vince said sternly, shaking Paul's outstretched hand.
"Bye mom, dad."
Paul opened the door for Stephanie, she climbed into the leather seat as he shut the door and jogged to the other side and got in himself. Paul started the car and eased the car backward and turned it in the driveway. He made his way down the driveway and the gate opened before them. He checked both sides then turned left as he set out onto the main road to Boston.
"Let's play the game we were playing yesterday." He said.
"Which was?"
"Get to know each other."
Stephanie smiled, "Yeah that's cool."
After a lot of questions about one another, Stephanie ended up falling asleep on Paul.
"Babe, what happened…" Paul turned to his girlfriend to see her eyes closed, leaning on the window. They weren't far now, 15-20 minutes give or take when Paul noticed a black BMW SUV 4 cars behind his car. He was sure that he's seen that car before but forgot where. There's no way their following me he thought. With Stephanie in tow, he kept his focus on the road and stepped on the gas as he weaved between the two lines of traffic, startling Stephanie awake.
Stephanie noticed the frantic speed the car she was in, "Paul what's going on?"
Paul kept his stare on the road, "nothing baby. Don't worry about it."
"Paul I've never seen you drive like this? Where's the fire?"
"I don't want you to panic but I think that the SUV five cars behind is following us."
Stephanie's eyes widened as she turned around to look for herself and damn was he right.
"Don't worry baby, I'm going to get you home safe."
Stephanie nodded. She might appear calm on the outside but she was definitely freaking out in the inside. Who the hell would do this? She thought. She set her eyes on the road as Paul continued to weave his way through. Paul glanced at the rear view mirror and noticed that the car had disappeared. He slowed down as he exited on I-93 and merged into the tunnel. Stephanie reached over and caressed his thigh, reassuring him.
Stephanie was glad that Paul slowed down as she felt a bile rise in her throat but she had to remain calm. He drove them home as safely as he could, "Let's get you home."
He reached the side of her building and punched in the access code for the underground garage. The gate obliged and Paul drove the car into its place. He turned the engine off and moved forward to rest his head on the steering wheel. After a moment, he lifted his head to turn to Stephanie, "You okay?"
Stephanie couldn't hold her breath any longer and had to let it out. She nodded but she was petrified inside. Paul got out the car and walked over to her side and opened the door for her. She stepped out and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She started to shake in his arms as tears came out. Paul wrapped her in his arms tight and gave her time to compose herself; he tried his best to calm her down while he rubbed her back.
"No baby, please don't cry." He hushed.
Stephanie pulled back and wiped the tears off with the sleeve of her jacket. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Better?"
"A bit." She smiled. He took her hand and led her to the garage elevator and pushed the call button. Finally, it arrived and they both walked in and pressed for the 11th floor. The door opened to their floor and they both stepped out and made their way to the apartment.
"And we're home." He announced as he closed the door.
"I'm going to take a bath." Stephanie walked towards their bedroom.
"Alright baby."
Paul walked into her study and pulled out his phone. He dialed a familiar number and waited for the person to pick up.
"Levesque, long time no talk."
"I know Ryan, listen I need a favour?"
"For you? Anything man."
"I was driving back from Connecticut today and I think I was being followed. Is there any way you can track that car down? The last time I saw the car, a black BMW SUV, it was on the I-93."
"Connecticut? That might be tricky but I'll see what I can do man."
"Thanks Ryan. Update me when you know something."
"Take care Paul."
Paul put his phone down and sat on Stephanie's office chair. He ran his hand down his face in annoyance. He had a feeling he knew who was behind that car chase. No, it can't be her he thought, shaking his head, she's in jail. Right?