He looked down as though he hadn't realized that he'd taken them away from me. Texas handed them over without resistance and I held them over my hips, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say and leave so that I could dress inpeace.
"Texas?"
Despite the fact that his expression was slack, his gaze was sharp, his eyes tight. "Are you scared of me, Harlow?" heasked.
I blinked, confused. "No?"
"Are you sure?" His hands landed on my shoulders and his eyes bore into me with a seriousness that was rare fromhim.
I shook my head. "Completely. I'm not scared of you, Texas. You just startledme."
It took a moment for that to sink in, but I could tell when it did because he backed off and his expression became more open. "Okay..." He took another step back. "Alright—sorry about...I'll see you...outside." He turned and rushed out of the room, leaving me standing there and gaping afterhim.
I didn't wait for him to change his mind and catch me mid-change with my ass hanging out again. I hurried and yanked the pants legs up, only feeling safe when I had my jeans on, zipped, and buttoned. I grabbed my boots and quickly pulled those on as well before reaching for the discarded dress and re-hanging it. Leaving it for an attendant to find at the front of the dressing room section, I went in hunt forTexas.
He was at the front of the store, striding back and forth—looking thoughtful as he paced. "Hey," I said, announcing myarrival.
He stopped and turned towards me. "I want to go on a date," he saidsuddenly.
I froze as my lips parted in shock. "Um... okay."What was I supposed to say to that? Was he asking ortelling?
"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm fucking this up. I just... I mean... I realize we haven't been on one—you and I, and I want to take you on one. Will you go on a date withme?"
I relaxed and smiled. "Of course," I said with a quiet chuckle. "As long as you promise not to make me do anythingillegal."
Texas' shoulders finally went down and I realize he'd been nervous. He returned my smile. "Damn it, how'd you guess?" hereplied.
I shrugged, playing it casual. "I know you too well," Isaid.
He shook his head and reached for my hand. "That you do," he said with a sigh. "That youdo."
We headed into the parking lot and I squeezed Texas’ palm as he slipped his hand in mine. I turned my head, smiling up at him as something moved from behind a car a few yards behind us. Pivoting a little more, I glanced back as we got to the SUV and Texas reached for my door. A man dressed in a navy blue coat strode by, glancing away when he noticed me looking. There was nothing particularly interesting or noteworthy about the man, but it was odd how he continued to walk past car after car, never stopping or slowing. He wasn’t even looking at them. He bypassed plenty of open spaces that had been there when we went in. Had he intentionally parked at the very back? Who did that? Every once in a while, he'd turn his head and scan the parking lot as if he was looking for something orsomeone.
We climbed into the front seat of the SUV, and I watched as the man broke into a jog, heading towards a nondescript sedan a few rows over. He got to the car and I noticed a jagged looking crack across thewindshield.
He hadn’t even been on the correct row? What the hell?Ithought.
I turned completely in my seat even as I buckled in and kept my eyes on him as Texas cranked the engine and backed out. The man disappeared as we moved through the rows of cars and then turned onto the mainroad.
“What’s wrong?” Texasasked.
I shook my head and returned my gaze to the front. It’d probably been nothing. A few minutes later, however, I noticed that same small sedan with the cracked windshield change lanes behind us in the rearview mirror. I blinked, sure I was seeing things when I turned and glanced back over my shoulder again. It was the same car. It sped up and then slowed down as Texas drove, maneuvering around slower drivers, keeping pace with us. Not too close but not too far either. It remained a few cars back but always in our lane. I didn’t like it. Not onebit.
"Texas..." I said slowly, rotating back in my seat as my eyes glued themselves to the side rearview mirror, keeping track of thesedan.
"Hmmm?" Texas turned his head to me and noted my preoccupation. "What isit?"
"I think someone's following us," I said. “Are you sure you got all of thePIs?”
Texas looked up at the rearview mirror hanging above the dashboard. "In a car or SUV?” heasked.
“Car,” I said. “A sedan, Ithink.”
“Whatcolor?"
"Dark Gray. It’s got a crack in the windshield. A few carsback."
"I see it." Texas paused for a moment, his fingers hovering over the blinker before he shook his head and glanced back then jerked the wheel over into the next lane. I knew he had looked back to be sure, but it still left me gasping as my hand reached for the handle above my passenger sidewindow.