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“I think I have a stalker.”
BRANDON
Istand in the kitchen, my arms crossed over my chest, watching as Ashlyn escorts two Kroydon Hills PD detectives out of her house later that morning. Lindy would probably tease me that all I do is watch. Who knows, maybe she’s right.
Half the Kingston family is gathered in their home, including my sister, who’s been eyeing me like a lion about to pounce on its prey. Lucky for her and the rest of them, they kept quiet—or at least as quiet as a Kingston can be, for the most part—while the detectives were interviewing Ashlyn and Madeline.
Not that they weren’t watching with interested eyes how Ashlyn’s hand kept finding mine or the way I refused to leave her side. But no one said a word. Not about that or about her stalker.
Not when Ashlyn asked her daughter to go outside while she finished up with the detectives.
Not when she admitted the roses had been coming, off and on, for close to six months.
No. They stayed quiet.
The minute the doors close behind the two men, however, all bets are off.
Scarlet, Lenny, and of course, Jules, close ranks around Ashlyn as Hudson and the others start talking security system upgrades and getting Amelia’s husband, Sam, on top of it.
Me... I stand there, watching.
Waiting.
Until Ashlyn looks over at me and offers me one of her shy smiles.
Sorry, she mouths silently, and I shake my head.
She doesn’t have a goddamned thing to be sorry for.
“Silent communication, huh?” Maddie asks with a knowing look.
Not happy when I ignore her, she elbows my ribs. “How long?”
When I turn my head to silence her, she sucks in a breath. “Wow.”
“Madison,” I warn her and let myself out through the French doors in the kitchen, knowing my sister will follow. I stop at the edge of the covered porch and watch Lindy, Brynlee, and Mackenzie chasing Teagan and Aurora down by the lake. My nieces look like little Maddie mini-me’s, giggling and squealing.
Happy.
Not a care in the world.
Just like it should be.
Not at all like Maddie and I were at that point in our lives.
“I like her, Brandon.” I turn and watch my sister as she moves next to me and leans on the wrought-iron railing. She glances out over her girls, and a serene smile stretches across her face. “I think she could be good for you.”
“Madison,” I grunt. “Don’t start.”
“Don’t even think about Madison-ing me, big brother. I live next door. Do you think I didn’t see your car in her driveway last night? Or this morning? I was going to wait a day or two before I poked you about it, but now... Consider yourself free game. When did you and Ashlyn become a thing? Because clearly you are.”
When I raise my brows, she chuckles. “You were her strength in there. The way she gravitated to you. That’s not casual. That speaks of a comfort that’s not new. And you haven’t ever done anything but casual. So spill.”
“It’s a long story, Mads. Too long for today.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “How are you doing with this whole stalker thing? This has got to bring up all sorts of hell for you, Brandon.”
“I’m fine,” I ground out through gritted teeth.
