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“Though she does have a penchant for attractive younger men, so that might offer some consolation.”
His grin completely undid her. She stared at him, her heart racing, wondering what it was about Noah that made her lose herself like this, why she couldn’t get a grip on her feelings where he was concerned.
“I’ll worry about who to harass. You just keep going about your life.”
“With my perma-shadow.”
“Is that a complaint?”
She shook her head wordlessly, aching for him, craving his lips on hers, wishing that it was last night again and they were kissing, only this time, he didn’t pull away.
“It’s just different to what I’m used to.”
In more ways than one.
“I’ll try to be invisible.”
“You, Noah Storm, don’t stand a chance in hell of that. I’m sorry to tell you that there is nothing remotely unnoticeable about you.”
She hesitated as they entered the house, the blood from the carpark at the top of her mind, so she was glad beyond words that Noah was with her, that he stayed close with her, checking alarms, windows, reviewing the motion alerts on her security sensors. But she shivered as she watched him, hating that this was necessary, hating that this was her life.
“Max? Are you okay?”
She hadn’t realized he’d stopped watching the screen and was now watching her.
She wrapped her arms around her slender body. Usually she’d lie, project the confident image she showed the entire world, but she didn’t want to do that anymore. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t want to do that with Noah.
“I just…I don’t want to live like this.”
A muscle jerked in Noah’s jaw. “It will be over soon.”
“This guy, maybe. And then what? I’m never going to feel normal again.” Her teeth were chattering, the shock of the day, the emotions of the night before, reverberating through her. “I’m never going to walk down the street and not worry that someone’s following me.”
“Do you know what’s going to make you feel better?”
She did, but the problem was, he didn’t want to give it to her.
“When he’s caught, and locked up. When you get to testify at his trial, and look him in the eye and show him how strong you are. When you get to smile past him, and get on with your life. Every day you do that, you’ll feel good, and eventually, you’ll take strength from this. You’re going to beat him.”
“Am I?”
His eyes narrowed, determination flicking in the heat of his gaze. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
Half her lips lifted in a weak smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
She could have lost herself in his eyes. She simply wanted to look up at him and stop time, to stay just like they were.
But then he stiffened, stepping back, looking towards the front door. “Are you expecting anyone?”
She froze, wishing he was still holding her hand, but Noah was already on alert. Then, she heard it. The turning of her front doorknob. Her pulse exploded.
She couldn’t speak. Noah looked at her and Max shook her head, her eyes huge in her face, her fingernails clenched into her palms.
“Stay here.” His eyes held a warning. Don’t ignore him. Not like the carpark. She nodded jerkily, staying right where she was, but fear was a metallic taste in her mouth as Noah withdrew his gun and moved, silently, oh so stealthily, through her house, towards the front door. Fear morphed into something else, taking a different shape, as she thought of Noah getting hurt, and needing to protect him! It made her want to laugh, a maniacal, unhinged sound, but she bit it back, staring down the corridor.
* * *
