He knocked again. “I’ve got a gift for you. This one is really special.” Would he ever give up on bribing me?
What else had Gwen told him I liked? I’d assumed she was his source for discovering my love of flowers and beignets. I’d meant to have a talk with her today, but the little rat hadn’t been there. I’d forgotten she had a continuing education seminar that lasted all day. I could believe he’d charmed her into revealing ways to bribe me, but she wouldn’t have given him my address, would she? I didn’t think she’d go that far. She was very conscientious about safety. She always wanted me to check in with her if I walked home after dark or on the rare occasions when I went out.
He knocked again. “I promise you’ll really like this surprise.”
What could it be? What would Gwen have told him that would be so special?
I heard the downstairs door open, and all thoughts of the surprise fled. I stepped closer to the window and saw the man heading inside.
I grabbed a heavy lamp. If I swung it hard enough, maybe I’d have a chance to take him down.
I heard him coming up the stairs. “Julian? I need to talk to you.”
He appeared in the doorway before I had a chance to hide. I brandished the lamp. “Don’t come any closer. The police are on their way.”
He shook his head. “No, they’re not.”
Shit. I’d always been a terrible liar.
He held out a book. “I found this for you. I hear you’ve been looking for a copy.”
I tried to make out the title, but I couldn’t. “Where did you hear that?”
Shit. I was acting like an idiot. I’d never thought I’d be the stupid one if I was in a horror movie. Apparently, I’d been wrong. I should whack him with the lamp and call the police.
I raised the lamp higher.
He held up his free hand. “I swear I’m not going to hurt you.”
Dammit. How did he manage to sound so sincere?
Maybe he is.
I wasn’t going to be able to hold up the heavy lamp much longer. My arms were starting to shake. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to bring you—”
“No. Why are you stalking me?”
He looked pained. “That’s such a negative term. I thought you’d be working late at the library. When you weren’t, I came here. I’m not a patient person.”
No shit. “How did you—”
He waved me off. “I have a lot of contacts.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I’d like you to come back to the library with me so I can get the information I need.”
I shook my head. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Not at all.”
“You broke into my house because you want me to let you into the library after hours and you want me to believe you’re just doing some research?”
He grinned. “Maybe I’m up against a deadline.”
“No. You’re not.”
“Actually I am, just not one from a professor.”
I finally lowered the lamp. Clearly I wasn’t going to use it against him. What was wrong with me? “This has to be a dream.”
Or maybe I just needed some excitement in my life. How many times had Gwen said the same thing to me? This couldn’t be what she meant, though.
The man was studying me with way too much interest. “I could pinch you if you’d like.”
“What? No.” I took a step back.
“Where’s your kitchen? A drink might help settle your nerves, although I do need you to stay awake for a while. Do you go to bed early? You seem like someone who would, so maybe you need coffee instead.”
I’d had enough. “Get out of my apartment, and don’t come back here or to the library.”
He shook his head. “Cher, you know I’m not going to do that.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Be nice to me. Use pet names. I…” Jesus, how stupid did I sound?
He moved closer, and his smile became predatory. “Would you like me to be rough instead? Is that what you crave?”
Heat rushed to my face. That was too close to the truth. “No. I… I don’t…”
He grinned. “I suppose that’s none of my business. Unless you want it to be.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket. “I’m calling the police.”
“I thought you already had. Of course, they don’t always respond as fast as one would hope. Maybe another call will hurry things along.”
His mocking tone made anger surge in me. I pressed nine on my phone, then one, but before I could tap it again, he yanked the phone from my hand.
“We can’t involve the police.”
Fuck. Why had I hesitated? I could’ve called the police when I first saw him. I could have at least tried to knock him out, but I’d done nothing.
You want him.
I’d never acted like this over any man, no matter how sexy. I didn’t take chances. There was no reason to believe this man wouldn’t hurt me. Why should I take his word for it? Except, apparently, I had. The situation with my father and the library must be making me lose my mind. I needed help.