It isn’t until I reach the corner that I hear footsteps closing in behind me. Here I am, fantasizing about tomorrow night and the reaction I’ll get when the guys see me all dressed up. Imagining how much easier life will be once I don’t have to worry about money for a little while. Once I can be free.
Stupid me. Forgetting I’m not free yet. There might not be any such thing as freedom. Not from somebody like Adam.
I reach into my pocket with a shaking hand and close my fingers around the Mace I make a point to carry. At the same time, I pivot on my heel, prepared to spray it right in his face. The can is halfway out of my pocket before the man behind me raises his hands, laughing.
“Sorry to startle you. It’s just I saw you coming down the street and figured I would say hello.”
“Dash?” I bend at the waist, breathing heavily, which only makes him move closer.
“Shit. I really startled you, didn’t I? Um, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Put your head between your knees. I’m shit at things like this.”
If I could think clearly, I’m sure I would find this funny. A big, strong hunk like him freaking out and babbling. Right now, I’m just trying not to hyperventilate. He’s right about the breathing, which I do very deliberately and slowly until my head stops spinning. “I’m fine,” I manage, standing upright again. “I just don’t like it when people get too close.”
He takes a backward step, and something about the gesture goes straight to my heart. “I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“And why don’t I think you were just coincidentally strolling down the same street I happen to be on right now?” I tip my head to the side and give him my most skeptical look. I know I’m right when he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He was following me, making sure I did as I was instructed.
“Maybe I wanted to apologize for not showing last night. Last-minute shit, you know? Believe me…” One corner of his mouth tips upward in a scorchingly hot little smirk. “I wanted to be there.”
Now my heart’s racing for other reasons that have nothing to do with the fear of being stalked. “You’ll be available tomorrow, though, right?”
“Nothing could keep me away.” Something about the way he says it almost makes my toes curl. There’s something so strangely sexy about standing here on a corner like two normal people when he knows very well the sort of things I’m carrying in this bag.
Not to mention him knowing what’s going on under my clothes. Between my legs.
He looks around, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m starving. Are you hungry? I’d love to take you to lunch to apologize for not being around last night and making you go back to the club.”
My mouth falls open, and I’m prepared to tell him it’s no big deal, that I’m looking forward to it—but I’m still too shy. Instead, I lift a shoulder. “Sure. That would be nice.”
It looks like this day is full of surprises.