Page 46 of Show Me

“I answered a question.”

His jaw tightens. “From whom?”

“A friend.”

He studies me a moment too long. “I saw Xavier Cole’s truck at your place the other day.”

The words hit like cold water. Why did he go by my house? It’s a dead-end road, and as far as I know, he doesn’t know my neighbors. “He was helping with renovations.”

“Then I was right to notice.”

Greg’s mouth flattens into a line. “You should stay away from him.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s a player,” Greg says. “Everyone knows it. He wouldn’t respect you.”

My fingers curl against the edge of the desk. “That’s not your concern.”

“He had no reason to be on your street,” Greg continues, voice low, certain. “Not unless he was going there on purpose.”

His certainty feels like a hand closing around my throat. Eyes never leaving mine. It feels less like concern and more like a warning.

“He was. As I said, he was helping me with renovations.” My heart thumps once, hard. “And my personal life is none of your business.”

He’s the one who had no reason to be on my street. He would’ve had to drive all the way down. Past my house. Where there were no other houses. No through traffic. To see where Xavier was parked.

“I need to get back to work.”

His gaze lingers another beat before he straightens. “Just looking out for you.”

He walks away. I stare at the computer screen without seeing it and looking out for me, watching my house, noticing who parks in my driveway…. And leaving notes? I shudder at the thought.

My skin prickles. Across the gym, Brent is still watching. The lilies and roses on the desk smell too sweet. This has nothing to do with my secret admirer. Stalker. Whatever I call him. I don’t have to put up with Greg’s criticism and strange behavior.

I open a blank document. My fingers hover over the keyboard.

Dear Greg,

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation…

The words come easier than they should. Not running, making a sound decision. Jake’s voice echoes in my head. Xavier’s words replay in my head. I print it before I can talk myself out of it.

My phone buzzes.

Xavier: You went radio silent.

Me: Sorry. Something came up.

Three dots appear again.

Xavier: Is everything okay? I’ll be there in 5.

The fact he cares enough to drop whatever he’s doing to rescue me makes my heart swell. Even though I know it’s not how I want him to care about me, it still feels good.

Me: Don’t do that. Everything’s okay. I’m quitting.

Greg glares at me. In less than a minute, he’ll be hovering behind me telling me I’m wasting company time by being on my phone.