″So that means you’ll be taking over the lucrative businesses then?” She smirks, pulling away from me. She takes a few quick steps so she is ahead of me, then spins as she walks backward.
″I will.” I catch up to her, tugging on her jacket to pull her to me. Our chests collide and her eyes look up to my mouth. Her arms wrap around my waist. I guide her as she continues a few steps backward until we reach the entrance to her house.
I tug on her again so she stops walking, then ask. “Will you invite me in for coffee?”
″No.”
″Tea?”
She rolls her eyes. “I have to work in the morning.”
I lean in, my lips pressing against her ear. “I’ll tuck you in, then leave.”
″You said you had no expectations.”
I groan, cursing myself forever saying such a gentlemanly thing. “There aren’t. I won’t do anything you don’t want.”
Arms still wrapped around me, I step forward and lift her up the first step to her brownstone. Her hands grip me tighter as she exhales a shaky breath. Eyes closed, she inhales, shoulders rolling in to that tight tension she carries like a goddamned protective barrier.
We take more steps and she bites her lip, pushing away from me. As she turns, Haley trips over something. Her hands catch the fall, and she lets out a grunt as I grab her waist and pull her up.
Ignoring me, she pulls away to glance at the item on her porch. A shattered, glass vase crunches under her steps, flowers spread about. “You already gave me flowers,” she says. “Why would you have more sent over?”
My nose twitches. “I didn’t send those, love.”
″Then who—” her voice cuts off as she bends down and grabs a soggy envelope drenched in vase water.
Before she can read it, I take it from her, trying to get the card out of the envelope without ruining the message.
You can do better than him, Haley.
Haley says something, but I don’t hear her. I’m too busy trying to figure out where this asshole is. My eyes do a quick scan around the sidewalk. We’re the only ones outside, which means he has to be across the way, in the park.
I don’t hesitate to ring Scotty. He should be in the area, even if I’m with Haley. When he answers with a breathy sigh, I already know he’s slipped away for a hookup, the bloody fucker.
″Where the hell are you, Scotty?” I ask, my voice tight.
″Sorry, boss. I didn’t think you would be back so soon.”
″Well, we fucking are. And this asshole stalker was here. Meanwhile, you left your post? Get the fuck back here now.” I end the call, my hand clenching tightly around my phone.
The muscle in my jaw tightens as I think of the most fucked up ways I can punish Scotty. Sure, I told him he didn’t have to follow us, but that didn’t mean he could just leave Haley’s house.
She isn’t safe, and his job is to make sure she doesn’t get fucking hurt.
Haley’s hand rests on my shoulder, but I can’t bring myself to look at her. I shrug away from her touch, walking down the steps, and without even looking for oncoming traffic, I cross in the middle of the street. Crosswalk be damned.
I pull my gun from the hidden holster, readying it for the fucker who’s decided to cross my path. Whoever this little shit is, he is about to meet his maker.
Me.
The anger in my chest clouds my senses. I know this because as I enter the park, I realize that I’ve left Haley alone on her steps, and turn quickly. She’s still on the steps, arms crossed, as she watches me.
I can’t let her out of my sight. Fuck.
I take a quick glance around the park and only see a few walkers, a couple with a stroller, and an older woman with a dog. Satisfied that the Peeping Tom isn’t here, I head back for Haley.
Her gaze stays glued on me as I head back up the steps. “When Scotty gets here, he’ll clear the house.” I grab her elbow, hauling her down the steps and she doesn’t resist. “Until then, let’s head over to the park.”