Brenna awoke with a smile. She was pleasantly sore and very comfortable. Warm sun shone through the muslin curtains onto the tan and tattooed arm draped across her waist. He had very fine light hairs, she'd never noticed them before, only the tattoos. Very softly she ran her finger tips up his arm as far as she could reach.

The arm flexed and pulled her in closer to him. Her back was flush to his warm chest and he nuzzled the back of her neck before laying a line of kisses along her shoulder. She couldn't help smiling in rapt pleasure at the feel of his lips on her skin. She replayed the night before briefly in her mind, the couch and then the bed.

She had to admit, it had all been glorious and exactly what she had needed.

The large warm man behind her had completed his circuit and finished with a soft kiss behind her ear that sent shivers throughout her body.

"That seems to be a good spot. Noted for the future," he chuckled in his deep throaty morning voice.

She only made a small noncommittal hum of approval. Slowly he traced his hand down her arm and laced his fingers with hers. He nuzzled into her hair and kissed the spot again.

"Are you good with that? I'd like a chance to earn a future with you." He brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles.

Brenna turned into his arms so that she could look into his eyes. He was beautiful. She cupped his face as she searched her heart for the right words.

"You don't have to earn anything. This feels good. Let's just keep going and see what happens?"

Mac smiled wide and kissed her forehead. "Anything you say lady."

"Really? Anything I say huh?" she made a show of tapping her lips in thought. "In that case I would like to see your skills in making coffee?"

Mac pulled away from her and got out of bed. "Your wish is my command!" he announced before stalking out of the room bare assed naked.

"Pants!" she yelled after him.

"Don't need them!" he yelled back up the stairs. Brenna pulled the sheet up over her head while praying that Karen wasn't watching the house with her binoculars this morning. She'd be getting a lot more than she'd bargained for if she was.

**********

Brenna was in no great hurry to make it to work but she was running late but the time she made it there. Mac had joined her in the shower so it had taken twice as long as normal. True to his word, coffee and toast with strawberry jam awaited her once they'd finally made it out.

Another steamy make out session had ensued against the side of her car before she was able to disengage herself and enter the vehicle. She'd watched him in her rear view mirror as he loaded Reego up into the pickup. She'd watched wistfully as she'd pulled away down the driveway and to the main road.

Work was difficult, thoughts of Mac and the night before kept playing through her mind. They hadn't decided on when they'd see each other next but it didn't seem like it could be fast enough. The years of celibacy hadn't seemed hard but now that they were broken it seemed impossible to imagine another night alone.

Belatedly she realized that in her distracted state she hadn't brought anything for lunch. Around noon her loudly growling stomach was making her already unproductive day worse. With a quick wave to Brad she walked down the street to the supermarket in search of sustenance.

After combing the aisles in frustration she finally settled on a chicken salad, small tub of hummus and a bag of pita chips. At the last minute she veered toward the drink aisle. Turning the corner sharply she walked directly into the body of a tall, tan, blonde man who smelled strongly of sweat and grass.

She raised her eyes from the sweat stained white t-shirt before her and directly into the faded denim eyes of Tony Herrick.

"Oh I'm so sorry." She mumbled and stepped around him with her heart racing. Brenna completed the corner and almost exploded with relief to see the long aisle in front of the cooler filled with people. One person she even knew, even if they couldn't actually be considered friends. Regardless Brenna decided to take the refuge offered and started down the aisle.

"Oh, hi there Isabelle!" She announced brightly. The other woman turned with a smile that quickly turned to puzzlement.

"Hello Brenna." she returned icily. Out of the frying pan and into the fire Brenna thought to herself.

"Must be the lunch run for everyone." she waved at the people around them and glanced toward the end of the aisle where Herrick still stood making no effort to hide his staring. "I hope you are doing well. I haven't seen you since the trip."

Isabelle stared at her incredulous. "Who are you? Of course we haven't seen each other, we don't hang out. I've heard all about you though. Still up to your same behaviors? Stringing all the boys along?" She shrugged with disgust and placed her hands on her hips. "Is that what this is? Hiding from the creepy staring guy? So you've finally attracted a follower who isn't willing to just pine away at a distance?"

"Creepy staring guy is not a lovelorn stalker; he's a seriously dangerous guy. Regardless of what you think of me I don't think you want me dead."

"Sure. All the crazy drama of Brenna's life. Poor little widow but now you've got Mac and stupid Mark still hanging in the wings and blonde guy over there glaring bullets." She swung her hands in the direction of Herrick.

"Don't!" Brenna exclaimed in a hushed tone. She reached for her phone in her pocket. "You know Isabelle, this was a mistake.Thanks, have a great day."

The other woman grabbed her arm. "Not so fast. You need to cut him loose. Tell Mark that you are with Mac and he should move on."

"I have! I've told him several times, even before Mac, that I wasn't interested. He saw Mac and I the other day and I told him again. I don't know what else to say to the man!" She momentarily forgot the intimidating male at the end of the aisle in the heat of Isabelle's accusations.

"I can't make him, or any other man for that matter, want you. I didn't even try to make him want me. I'd rather he wanted you, it would make my life easier!" She threw her empty hand in the air with frustration and shrugged off Isabelle's grip. "Grow up Isabelle." With a growl Brenna stalked off.

Only a second later she looked around and didn't see Herrick anywhere. Keeping her eyes open, carefully, she made her way to the checkout counter. There was a line. She felt exposed and vulnerable out in the open. She flipped open her phone and dialed Mac.

"Hello Gorgeous!" he answered chipper.

"Mac, Herrick is here. He was following me around the grocery store super creepy style and then I ran into Isabelle and he just sat at the end of the aisle staring at me. I don't see him now but I have to walk back to the station and I don't know where he is."

"I'll be right there. Don't leave the store. It's the one right by the station right?" Brenna confirmed it was. "Ok, hold tight. I'm calling Pete too."

"Ok. I'm in line right now. I don't see him. I'll wait for you."

She only had to wait a few awkward moments at the front of the store before Mac's big dark pickup pulled up. She left the store and walked to him. He was out of the truck in seconds scanning the parking lot around them.

As soon as she was close enough he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. He didn't do anything he just stood there and stared at me. Even when I was arguing with Isabelle he just stood there and stared." His arms tightened around her and he kissed her on the head as he looked around again.

"Ok, lets get you back to the station." He called Pete back and diverted him to the fire station. Only moments after their arrival Pete pulled his police cruiser into the parking lot.

He walked with a purpose across the parking lot straight to them. "Brenna are you ok? What is going on?"

"Ya Pete, I'm ok. I don't know what is going on but it seems like something is. Let's go to my office."

Brad blinked several times in surprise at seeing Brenna return pale and flanked by a stormy faced Mac and Pete in his dark police uniform.

"Is everything ok?" He asked no one in particular.

"Fine."

"No."

Both Brenna and Mac answered at the same time.

"I believe him." Brad pointed at Mac while making his way to Brenna. She waved him off and sat down at her desk.

"So what exactly happened?" Pete asked. He sat back quietly as Mac told the story of the day before and seeing Herrick at both locations. Brenna started were he left off with her encounter in the grocery store.

"Too many coincidences and too much weird behavior. I'm with Mac on this, something is wrong with that guy. He is either angry or has a screw loose or both and he's set his sights on you."

"I don't even know how!" She was exasperated and dropped her head into her hands.

"I'm going to do a report on this and get things documented." He took the picture of Herrick off the wall and photocopied it on the little printer/copier she shared with Brad. "If this behavior indicates anything I'd say this guy can jump several rungs on your suspect list. It's unlikely he'd be behaving like this if he didn't feel threatened in some way. He knows you're onto him."

Pete put the picture back. "Don't go anywhere alone if you can help it. I'm going to try to get a little security detail for you." She made move to protest but he motioned in the negative. "Don't even argue. Mac, watch her. Brewster is the Detective on this isn't he?" Mac nodded in affirmation to both questions.

"Brenna I need you to type all that you just told me up and email it to me so I have your statement. You too Mac." They both promised they would. "Ok, I'm going to head out but don't hesitate to call if anything at all happens." He pointed directly at Brenna and looked her straight in the eyes. "I mean it, anything Brenna."

"Yes, sir!" She saluted and smiled trying to crack the serious testosterone laden atmosphere. She heaved a small sigh of relief as Pete walked out leaving her with only two frowning male faces.

"Ok, would you two please stop? It's being taken care of. I'm just going to eat my salad and get back to work." With that she turned her back on them. Eventually she heard Brad's heavy step back to his desk. She could feel Mac's eyes still watching her.

Brenna tried to be busy by delving into the file on her desk. She heard the scrape of a chair and suddenly he was beside her smelling of clean linen and some spicy soap.

She turned to him. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry I called you in the middle of the day. I probably overreacted. I panicked....."

He cut her off by softly stroking her cheek. "I'm glad you called. I want you to always call me. I wasn't doing anything. Just waiting on Reego at the groomers. I don't think you overreacted and I don't think Pete is either. We care about you. You...." He stopped and swallowed. "You are very important to me."

She nodded. "I promise to be careful, I really do."

"Ok, I'll be here around 5 to follow you home? Is that about when you leave?"

She knew it was pointless to argue and truthfully she didn't mind. The last thing she wanted was Herrick showing up on her doorstep or following her home.

"Ya, I'll be done by 5." He leaned forward and kissed her softly but with strength behind it.

"I'll see you then." He got up and she heard him walk out.

"I like him!" Brad announced loudly from across the room. Brenna ignored him and continued to stuff chicken and lettuce into her mouth.