The alert that someone is coming through the front gates goes off. A handful of people have that privilege. Not only do you need a code to get through, but Sawyer actually has someone on the front gate as well. He’s jacked up his security.
It’s been nice being behind the gates of his home. I’ve gotten to shut out the rest of the world and truly relax for the first time in a really long time. I haven’t even bothered with my cell phone. I put it on silent when Blake started blowing it up with apologies. He can piss off. The only thing I have left to do is the movie premiere coming up. When that’s done, so am I.
“It’s your mom!” I suddenly remembered that I invited her. “She’s coming over to teach me how to make your favorite, beef bourguignon.” A plus to being locked away with Sawyer is getting to know so much about him. I love our late-night talks.
“You don’t have to cook for me, babe.” He brushes my hair out of my face.
“I like it.”
A smile spreads across his face. “All right. Then the kitchen is all yours.” He leans down and starts kissing me again.
“You two are adorable,” Marie says, setting a bunch of bags down on the counter. I push on Sawyer’s chest. He reluctantly takes a step back from me. I wiggle off the counter.
“Hey, Marie.” I drop a kiss on her cheek. She gives me one back. I love the bond we are forming.
“How are you, sweetie?”
“I’m good, but I’ll be right back,” I say, creeping out of the kitchen in search of panties and pants for that matter. When I get to our bedroom, I dress quickly before going into the bathroom. My face heats when I see myself, knowing Marie saw me looking like her son just fucked me.
My eyes catch on my phone that is plugged into the charger on the bathroom counter. The screen is of course lighting up with alerts. I’m tempted to toss the thing in the toilet, but I know I won’t get to stay in the bubble Sawyer has created for me forever. I’ll have to come up for air at some point.
I decided that I don’t want to ruin my newfound peace just yet, so I don’t bother with it and head back toward the kitchen. “Have you talked to her yet?” I hear Marie ask.
“She’s got enough on her plate right now.”
“Locke—”
“Mom, don’t,” Sawyer cuts her off.
Guess that bubble I was trying to stay inside of is bursting sooner than I hoped for. Nothing ever lasts, but I pray Sawyer and I are the exception.
Chapter Eighteen
Sawyer
“Do you have something to tell me?” Sadie asks as I get dressed.
I glance down at the shoulder holster I’ve just put on. It might have been better if I had geared up in another room, but all my shit is in here. I’m not used to having someone else in my house other than my mom. “I got a lead on your stalker and am going to check it out.”
“By yourself? Without the police? What about your hand?” Sadie sits up, clutching the sheet to her chest.
“It’s fine. Got it taped and everything.”
“You’re supposed to wear the cast for six to eight weeks.” She scowls at me, which only makes me want to strip off my clothes and climb back in bed with her, but I’ve got a mess to clean up.
“It interferes with my activities, but I promise to put the air cast on when I get back.” For now, the splint and tape will do. I doublecheck the magazine of my Glock and slide the piece into the holster.
“Do you have a license for that?”
I shrug on a windbreaker to hide the weapon and then go over to place a kiss on her worried face. “Yes. It’s just a precaution. I probably won’t use it.”
“Probably?”
Damn. She picks up on everything, but I know it’s me she’s worried about and not the loser I’m going after. Based on the offhand comments she’s dropped about how she hopes she never has to see him again or how it’d be nice if he disappeared off the face of the planet, I know that she wants him gone.
“Don’t worry,” I answer. It’s evasive, but this operation is being carried out on a need-to-know basis. No one knows my exact destination and what I plan to do. If the end result gets traced back to me, Sadie won’t get implicated. It’s all about making her safe. The laws on the books are ineffective against stalkers, and the police have a hard time enforcing even simple things like restraining orders. I can’t have my Sadie living in fear. I want to show her that I can protect her and keep her safe.