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“I’m working on that answer. Whoever this guy is, he either wanted me to see him, or he’s really bad at his job. Either way, I’m going to talk to him.”
“Talk to him?” I ask incredulously. “Are you crazy? What if he has a gun?”
“I’m not without skills. That’s the part of my life you missed, and I’m glad you did.” There’s a knock on the door and my heart is racing all over again. “Easy, sweetheart,” Eric murmurs, catching my shoulders and walking me to him. “Blake, one of the owners of Walker Security, sent a man over. I need to go talk to that asshole watching us and nip it in the bud. Blake’s man will stay with you until I get back.”
“Stay with me? I’m not staying here with some stranger. This is crazy, no you’re crazy, and if you’re going to be crazy, I’m going with you.”
“I swear to God, Harper, I will tie you to the bed and keep you here. Stay here. It will take half an hour at most.”
“Do not go caveman on me,” I warn. “You will not like the results.”
“You wanted my help. You wantedme. You got me now, and I’m telling you to listen to me and stay here.”
“I do want you, alive and well.”
“There’s no such thing as an ex-Navy SEAL. I’m still that guy. If someone gets hurt, it won’t be me. Don’t fight me on this. I protect what matters to me and that means you. I need to talk to this guy before he’s gone.”
I matter to him. That brings me down about ten notches. I inhale and let my breath out. “Yes. Okay.”
“Blake’s man is going to stay at the door to be sure you’re safe. Come lock up.”
He catches my hand and leads me to the door and when he would leave, I grab his arm. “Please don’t get hurt.”
He cups my head and kisses me. “I’ll beright back.” And that’s it. There’s no holding him back any longer. He exits the room. I lock the door and lean against it, all too aware of the obvious. IfEric didn’t think there was a real threat, there wouldn’t be a guard at my door. He also didn’t promise not to get hurt.
Chapter thirty-three
Eric
Iexit the hotel room to be greeted by a burly guy with a beard wearing a blue suit and an earpiece. He gives me a nod. “I’m Jensen.”
I don’t introduce myself. He’s been briefed and while I trust Blake’s judgment, Jensen is still staying in the hallway. I’m not letting any guy I don’t know into a room alone with my woman, even Blake’s guy. If this turns out to be trouble, I’m getting her the hell out of here. “Don’t let anyone in or out of that room.”
“Understood. Adam’s in town. He’s at her house.”
Adam being one of Blake’s men and a fellow SEAL. I’ll take a SEAL at my back any day of any week. I give a nod and add, “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
I don’t say more. He understands. If I’m a minute longer, there’s a problem. I head down the hallway with the scent of Harper on my skin and the taste of her on my lips. She’s under my skin, in my head, and the idea that I almost left her to deal with this alone, is not a good one. She needed me. I needed to be here. I needed to be here a long damn time ago and maybe she wouldn’t still be here in this mess. She’s not staying and I’m not leaving without her.
Eager to deal with this problem and get back to her, I don’t bother with the elevator. I take the stairs and I’m at the front of the hotel in a blink, but I don’t stop for my car. I walk toward Harper’s house and dial Blake. “Talk to me.”
“He’s still there,” he says. “And the plates are registered to one of the neighbors.”
“He pulled them off another car.”
“That’s my bet,” he agrees.
“That’s not a stupid, half-assed PI move,” I say.
“Not all PIs are stupid,” he reminds me. “Quite the contrary. There’s a Glock at the back door in the bush to the right of theentrance. I only had two men available outside of Adam and one is tracking down Isaac. Adam’s with you. He’ll find you when you need him.”
“Got it.” I disconnect and jog the rest of the way, coming up a street that will bring me to the rear of the vehicle. I slow as I turn a corner, my target in view, parked in the same spot, but I don’t give the driver time to see me.
I cut left down the side of one of the neighbor’s houses without any resistance. I enter the unfenced backyard and cross two more open rear yards before I’m moving through the shadows of Harper’s property and arrive at her back door. I grab the Glock and holding a weapon, any weapon, is like holding an old friend in my hand. I check the ammunition, and shove the weapon into my waistband, under my jacket before I head to the side of the house.
Once I’m there, I find the car still boldly parked across the street, almost daring me to confront him. I rest my back against the wall and Adam, dressed in all black, down to the beanie on his otherwise curly black hair, appears by my side. “He’s alone,” he says. “He wants to talk. You don’t announce yourself to a SEAL and expect to be ignored.”
Spoken like one of us.
