“I can’t just leave Poppie, especially not now,” Sophie said. There had to be a better solution. But what?Think. Think. Think.
“I was afraid you’d say that.” Stone ran his fingers through his curls. “The only other option is for me to move in with you.”
An image of what that would look like instantly formed.Nope. Nope, nope, nope. “What’s your backup plan? You said you always have a backup plan?”
He blinked. “That was my backup plan.”
“Oh. Surely, you can handle the threat without completely disrupting our lives. Like what if I added additional locks to my door, and a security system, one that includes cameras?”
“That’s something we can work toward, but until it’s in place and approved by Ms. Birdie, you and I are stuck together,” Stone asserted, his tone leaving zilch room for argument.
Sophie sighed. Time to switch gears. Figure out who’d made the threat. “It’s probably Antonio. The idiot’s way of making sure if I do happen to have a backup copy of the image of him, I never share it.”
“Do you have a backup copy?”
“No.”
He nodded. “He is the obvious suspect. Which is a little too easy from where I stand, but I’ll investigate the possibility as soon as I get your word you won’t leave your office until I return to pick you up and take you home.”
If it wasn’t Antonio, then who? Some weirdo who had heard about her mission? But why? “How long will you be?”
“Not long. Do you have plans? A date?”
“Of course I don’t have a date. I’m supposed to be your girlfriend for the foreseeable future.”
“Right. Right,” he said, sounding distracted.
“I don’t like to leave Poppie unattended for more than three or four hours. Sometimes he gets confused if I’m not there to anchor him. I planned to head home by three.”
Stone glanced at his watch. “I can make that work. I need to go home, grab a go bag, and fill my partners in on the situation. They can dig into the threat while I get what we need to make your place more secure. Until then, stay put.”
“Deal,” Sophie said. “And Stone, thanks for understanding.”
“No problem. It’s what I’ve been hired to do.”
“Speaking of that, Poppie will think my boyfriend has moved in with me. You’re going to have to sell the sweet guy persona. I refuse to allow him to worry one moment that I’ve fallen for the wrong type of guy again or that my life is in danger.”
“Sweet guy. Got it. Anything else?”
“Don’t be too sweet. I don’t want his heart to be crushed when we split.”
“What’s considered too sweet?”
“Roses. Daisies are fine. You can cook but try not to look too efficient. And no nicknames. He’s a sucker for nicknames. Sort of like I am with grand gestures.”
“Got it.”
“And you’re going to have to come up with a good reason why it’s been two months since our last date.”
Chapter 16
Sophie fumbled with her keys in a rush to get inside her apartment before Poppie realized she was home. As the key slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor, she bent to retrieve it, only to feel Stone’s hand brush against hers as he reached for it too. At that exact moment, the hallway lights flickered.
“That’s weird,” Sophie murmured, straightening up, a shiver of unease trickling down her spine.
Stone’s expression tightened, a hint of concern—or was it something else?—flashing in his eyes. “Stay here a moment,” he instructed, his voice carrying an edge of command she wasn’t used to. “I’ll check for danger.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow, glancing at the now fine lights. If there was any danger, wouldn’t it be out here where the lights were flickering? Then again, this was an old building where half the tenants enjoyed rent-controlled living. Buildings like these weren’t known for fine living conditions. “Okay.” She placed her hand on his shoulder, so she could lean in and whisper the restof her comment. “But hurry up. I don’t want Poppie to see me out here with you.”
