To emphasize what she meant, she trailed her fingers from his pectoral muscles lower to right where they’d been recently joined.
“Not a bit.” He stroked the curve of her cheek. “I just snapped when I saw them.”
“Who?”
“James and Tori. They were hardcore kissing in that tent on the beach. When I saw it, I was done being the nice guy. That’s why I rushed you out of there so fast.”
Flummoxed, Hannah blinked and shook her head. “I thought it was because Wentworth was on the beach with his kid.”
Eric stilled. “Wait... he was there?”
“I thought you saw him too. I don’t think it was a coincidence he was there. It’s almost like he’s been watching my apartment, and followed me when I left alone.” She squinted and tilted her head. “And wait, tell me again what was happening between James and Tori?”
“They were making out in the wardrobe tent.” His wary gaze searched hers, clearly trying to gauge if the news upset her.
“Well, I’m not going to say I’m surprised.”
“Are you upset?”
“No. Well, maybe that they did it in such a public place near all their friends. There’s already enough drama with our breakup.” She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was someone seeing them and feeling sorry for her again. “But whatever... they can figure out their own issues.”
“And there’s a lot of them. Issues, I mean.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m more worried about you and this prick who won’t leave you alone. He was seriously on the beach?”
“Me too.”
“I think it’s time to go to the police.”
“And say what?” Her heart sank. “He hasn’t done anything illegal. Everything is circumstantial.”
“The flowers.”
“Can’t prove it was him.” She bit her lip as her phone buzzed nearby in her purse. Her nerves jumped to alert. She hated that Wentworth had done that to her. Hated this whole situation.
She eased herself from his arms and went to retrieve her phone from her purse. A quick scan of the text made her stomach sink lower.
“What did he say?” Eric was up in a moment, his expression dark with barely veiled fury. “I swear we’ll get this bastard.”
“It’s not him. It’s worse.” She grimaced. “It’s my mom. She wants to know why I missed church and strongly implied her heart will shatter if I miss the family dinner.”
Eric’s brows rose. “When’s the dinner?”
“Tonight.” She sighed. “It’s fine. I can swing by and—”
“Think they’d set an extra plate for me? I’d love to come.”
Her heart skipped both with the thrill and terror of his offer.
“I’m... not sure that’s a good idea.” Her parents would be all over him with a curiosity equal to the second graders she taught.
“I can handle parents.” He paused. “Unless you don’t want me to go for another reason?”
“No, that’s not it.” She shook her head. “It’s just my umma can be a lot.”
“I can handle it.” He lowered his head and brushed a light kiss across her lips.
She was beginning to think he could. With her knees turning to gelatin, she gave a small nod. “Well, I had to at least warn you.”
*