With a sigh, she unlocked the door and stepped inside the shop, locking the door behind her. In the still quiet of the store, Hailey spruced up the arrangements slotted for the following morning’s deliveries. Rubbing her sore neck, she glanced up and saw a shadow by the front door. It looked like someone was standing against the brick wall next to the entrance as if to avoid detection, but the recently lit streetlight cast the person’s shadow. Hailey cursed under her breath for forgetting to pull down the blinds so she would be obscured. Sitting in the shop with the lights on suddenly made her feel like she was in a fishbowl.
Standing up, she crept slowly to the front of the store, her heart pounding a mile a minute. She tapped in 911 in case she had to call the cops in a hurry, then picked up one of the heavier vases in case the person broke through the window. She figured she could always clobber him over the head with the vase. Keeping as close to the wall as she could without toppling everything off the shelves, she approached the front door. Then she saw the tips of the person’s shoes.If I can just grab the chain and pull down the shade without him seeing me.Then she froze.What if it’s the same guy who was watching me across the street a few nights ago? Oh no. It can’t be him. What if it’s the serial rapist? Why am I thinking like this? I’m scaring the shit out of myself.
Leaning over, she reached for the chain, her hand wildly trying to grasp it, and then the man came out of the shadows to face her full-on.
And she screamed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Through her piercingyells, a baritone voice broke through and her eyes flew open. Instead of the bogeyman who’d been lurking in her thoughts, the man at the door was blond, gorgeous, and pissed.
She flung open the door. “Why in the hell are you lurking around scaring the shit out of me?”
Goldie walked into the shop. “Why the fuck are you at the shop so late?”
“How’s that your damn business? You still haven’t answered why you were lurking outside.”
“I wasn’t ‘lurking,’ I was watching out for you. Remember the last time you stayed late? I didn’t want you to have any problems.”
“How did you know I was even here?”
“I was headed to Get Inked and I came down this street. I was surprised to see your lights on. I just wanted to check to see if you’re good. From your frown and pouting lips, I’d guess you’re not.”
“I’m fine. Thanks for looking out for me. Wait, that’s your job, right?”
“You going to start in on that shit already? And it’s not my job anymore. I talked to Ryan and told him that I found out Nolan’s stalking another woman in Albuquerque. So Ryan’s let go of the leash.”
“Oh. Was Nolan ever in Alina?”
He shook his head. “Never. That’s the problem with the grapevine, it’s rarely accurate. I had one of my brothers check him out. You don’t need to worry about him anymore.”
“Why’re you still looking out for me?” Standing next to him in a small space brought an influx of butterflies dancing inside her.
“Because I care about you.” His gaze melted over her.
“You do? You could’ve fooled me. I mean, I haven’t heard from you. You were at Cherry Vale tonight and I know you saw my car, but you never came down to my aunt’s room.”
“I know,” he said softly as he ran his hand down her arm.
Tingles shivered through her as she watched his fingers against her skin. “Why have you been dissing me?”
“Because you asked me to. You told me to leave you alone.” He grasped her wrist and pulled her closer. “But I can’t. I want you, Hailey. You were right. You’re a grown woman and I’m a man, and if we want to be together it’s our damn decision.”
“I’ve had a crush on you since forever, but I felt something pull me to you when I first saw you the night I got the tattoo.”
“Me too. I wondered if you felt it. It was a jolt and it made me take notice. When I found out it was you, it was so fucked up. But now it’s clear. I want to be with you.”
“For tonight? I’m not into one-night stands. I like being with someone and having a relationship. I’m afraid of getting hurt.”
“There’s always a risk in getting hurt, but it’s worth it. I’m gonna be honest with you. I can’t promise you forever. Hell, I don’t even know what the fuck to do in a relationship because I’ve never been in one. All I know is that you’re in my head all the time, my dick’s been hard for too fuckin’ long, and I want to spend time with you. I want to get to know all of you—inside and out. I’ve never wanted that with a woman, so I’m pretty sure this is more than just lust.”
“What about all the women you have?”
“Are you hearing me, woman? I want to be with you. You. Only you. I don’t want any other women. Let’s just see where this takes us. We don’t have to figure it all out tonight.”
She smiled. “First thing for you to learn about me—I’m an obsessive planner. I cringe at spontaneity and don’t do so well with a change in plans.”
“I know that. Remember how you’d make a fuss when Ryan and I would take you to the fair instead of swimming when the carnival was in town? You always could go swimming the next day, but you’d carry on like it was the end of the world. And you always ended up having a good time at the fair.”
