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“Thanks again for coming over, Alex. I really appreciate it,” Roxie said, pulling her friend into a hug, careful not to squish Annie, who was expertly tucked into her carrier-wrap-thing. Even though she was an honorary aunt, she wasn’t up to speed on all the baby accessory terminology yet. And holy crap, there was a lot of it...
“What am I, chopped liver?” Quinn asked, slinging a heavy arm around her shoulders.
She smirked at the man, who was like a brother to her. “In comparison? Yes.”
He chucked her on the chin and then turned to give Joe a brotherly hug.
Roxie waved to her three favorite people as they walked to their house next door. “See you guys tomorrow.”
“Lock up, Roxie,” Quinn called out.
With a salute, she shut the door and turned the deadbolt. As soon as she heard the lock click into place, all her energy evaporated. Like a balloon that had been pricked, her head and shoulders sagged. She rested her forehead against the door and closed her eyes.
What a crappy end to an already muddled day. Her brain hurt.
First, there’d been the confusing conversation during her morning run with Joe. Next, Eli had gone all weird on her. And then she’d found the picture.
Whore.
A shiver ran down her spine. It was one thing to suspect the photos were coming from someone who had it out for her. It was another thing entirely to know for sure.
Strong hands settled on her shoulders and squeezed. “Sit with me, Rox.”
One glance behind her revealed Joe’s blue eyes were filled with concern. For her. She followed him to the living room couch. As much as she wanted to ignore everything and wish it all away, she knew that was dumb. And dangerous.
Curling up on one end, she gave Joe a grateful smile when he handed her a glass of red wine. A very full glass of red wine. She took a long gulp as he sat at the other end of the couch.
Joe didn’t say anything. He didn’t push. He simply watched her with a gaze that said she could trust him, that he cared, that he had her back.
She swallowed past the growing lump in her throat and looked down at her wine, blinking fast to stay the stream of tears.
More than anything, she wanted to toss the wineglass aside and snuggle into Joe, to have his arms wrap around her just like they had earlier. The security she’d felt in his embrace had surprised her. It hadn’t been the first time he’d hugged her. He’d done so countless times before. But he’d neverheldher. Not like that. Like he would hunt down the source of her fear and make everything better.
Roxie took pride in being a strong, independent woman. But there was a part of her that wanted to retreat, hoist up the white flag, and let Joe slay all her bad guys. Well, this one bad guy in particular.
He moved over to her and took the wineglass from her hands. Setting it down on the coffee table, he said, “Talk to me, Rox.”
She looked into his eyes, and her heartbeat tripped. He tugged her to his end of the sofa, adjusting their positions, so she sat between his legs, her back to his chest. When his arms wrapped around her, she finally allowed herself to relax.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” His soft voice soothed her frayed nerves.
Her throat knotted again, and a lone tear escaped. She closed her eyes. Then told him the truth. “I’m scared, Joe.”
She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling. That damn photo—all the random, anonymous photos she’d received over the past few months but had never paid any attention to—kept appearing in her mind. Were they all from the same person? Had someone been watching her this entire time? But why? Had she somehow brought this upon herself? The endless questions nagged at her.
“I don’t understand why anyone would do this.” She shifted in his arms so she could see him. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Joe readjusted their position, so she now sat across his lap. One of his arms was still wrapped around her back; the other was tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“The crazies rarely do, Rox. Right now, we just have to stay alert. I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
Joe traced the line of her jaw with his finger, and everywhere he touched tingled. When the hand that had been resting on her back came up to knot in her hair, she struggled to find her voice. His name left her lips on a sigh.
Tilting her head to the side, he traced a line from her jaw to her ear with his mouth. “Roxanne,” he whispered between little kisses. “I’ve made so many mistakes with you. I’ve lied to myself... and to you. But this right here... God, you mean more to me than you’ll ever know. More than I’ll ever deserve.”
Her heart thumped an unsteady beat. She could barely believe this was happening. With Joe. It was thrilling. And petrifying.
