Page 30 of Hearts at War

I did not need a reminder that Nevaeh was my problem. And I didn’t appreciate her saying so.

“You stay out of my business,” I warned, angling closer.

She bit down on her lower lip and gave a slight growl of annoyance. “I never wanted to get into your business in the first place.”

“Then steer clear,” I suggested. “Don’t go where you’re not welcome.”

She reached up, rising on her toes as if scowling at me any closer could burn me faster. The wrath glittering in her eyes was potent, but instead of pissing me off further, it made me want to see how much more impassioned she could get. How much fury she could handle, snaring me to want to see her reach her breakpoint.

Because, fuck me, she was magnificent. Watching a woman fume, spitting mad and fiercely stubborn like this, had never turned me on more.

I licked my lips, readying to quarrel right back. Touching my tongue to my lip, though, I caught her attention. She lowered her gaze to my mouth. It was a second-long reaction, but when she lifted her eyes to mine again, I wanted to groan at the hint of desire lurking in those green orbs.

“Then go.”

Fuck this. No way. I couldn’t actually be thinking about...kissing her.

Ever so slightly, she leaned up closer, as if she was tempted to do the same. To kiss me instead of fight.

Just as quickly as she’d lowered her mask to show me that she wasn’t impervious to the same instant lust I felt for her, she dropped back down on her heels and spun away. “Gladly,” she snarled.

I watched her walk back through the darkness for no more than five feet.

“Dammit.”

I followed after her, keeping a yard behind her. Like a bodyguard.

“I don’t need an escort,” she sassed without slowing or looking back at me.

“Tough shit.”

“Stop following me.”

“I’m not. I’m walking you home.”

She snorted. “Didn’t you just lecture me about staying away from where I’m not welcome? Use that advice on yourself. I didn’t ask you to walk me home.”

“Tough. Shit,” I repeated.

She might piss me off—alarmingly as much as she drew me closer. But that was no excuse to ever let a woman walk through the darkness alone.

I was tiring of trying to be a hero and help Nevaeh, taking on this battle of protecting my niece from herself.

Yet I still had enough decency to extend that same goodwill to Heather, seeing her all the way back to her place regardless of her stubborn silence the whole walk there.

Chapter 11

Heather

Over the weekend, I stayed on high alert for knocks on my door. For that teen who hurried away on a bike. For David. Hell, for the damn boogeyman. Halloween had come and gone, but a spooky, tense mood lingered after it.

This November started with cool, rainy days. Gray skies. Chilly temps that had me seeing my breath when I walked to my car. Some leaves had yet to drop, but already, the gloom of winter dormancy was trickling in.

I didn’t want to be dormant, despite how easy it was to feel stuck in place here in Burton. No excitement could be found on the regular like in Chicago or other bigger cities, and that wasn’t what I was after anyway. I was here to take a breather and recoup from all I experienced since I left before. However, with my goal of keeping to myself and avoiding the people from this town, I bunkered in my cabin and did my best not to go stir crazy.

Fortunately, I was “saved” on Monday morning.

Janelle called bright and early, and I caught myself from sounding overly eager or needy.