Then she heads to women’s clothing and quickly picks out a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.
“Don’t you need to try the jeans on?” Not that I want to be here all day, but I know women have a hard time finding jeans that fit.
“No, these are fine.” She locates a pair of white tennies in her size, then snags a pack of socks.
It seems she didn’t just miss a few things on her way out the door. This girl took off in a real hurry. I’d be willing to bet the only things she brought were her phone and that damned disguise. Which—to be honest—is proving pretty useful.
For all the people here shopping, not one of them has paid her any attention outside of gawking at her silly costume.
She got one thing right. I’ll give her that.
Also, something about the fact that she’s comfortable walking around in that crazy outfit makes me smile. She’s not caught up in her own appearance the way most celebrities are. In fact, she seems less caught up in her appearance than the average person anywhere. I have to admit, it’s endearing. Maybe even admirable.
On the way to the register, she ducks into ladies’ lingerie to grab a pack of lacy panties.
“Forgot these too,” she mumbles sheepishly, but now all I can think about is her round ass in a pair of those tiny panties. I have to look away to get my bearings.
“Wait.” She goes back to pull a strappy satin nightgown off the rack.
Fuck.
Not gonna think about her wearing that tonight.
We go through checkout and she pays in cash, but as we leave the register, she bolts ahead of me. All of my muscles tense as I spin to identify the threat and attempt to shield her with my body. But then I hear her call out, “Ma’am! You dropped something,” and I turn to see her scooping a credit card from the ground. An older woman in a fuzzy purple coat thanks her.
“Stay close to me,” I remind her.
“Right, sorry. I didn’t want her to leave without it.”
I can’t help but grin. “I get it.”
Maybe I’ve misjudged her.
I scan the parking lot as we leave the store, and a tall, thin man with gray hair catches my attention. He’s standing under a tree at the edge of the lot, but he keeps glancing in our direction. It’s making me nervous.
“Hold on.” I take Harper’s arm gently.
“Why? What is it?”
I bring her in closer as we pause, but the man turns away, striding down the sidewalk at an easy pace. I relax my grip, trying to ignore the warm sensation spreading up my arm from touching her this way. “It’s fine. I thought I saw someone acting suspicious, but he’s walking away.”
Still. Something about him made me uneasy, but maybe my nerves are still jangled from the scare.
“Thanks.” She shoots me a smile so genuine it gives me goose bumps. There’s an easiness about her. A warmth that’s working its way into my heart, whether I like it or not.
I’m still holding her arm, and there’s a small part of me that doesn’t want to let go. Maybe a not-so-small part of me, but getting a boner every time she’s within three feet isn’t going to keep her safe.
I relinquish her arm, and she steps ahead as we reach the car. I watch her hips sway in that silly dress and realize it doesn’t feel like a burden anymore. Protecting her.
Chapter 5
Harper
Chase picks up groceries on the way back to the rental, including some herbal tea with mint and valerian root that he says will help me sleep. He even bought me a toothbrush. It was a sweet gesture.
Now I don’t know what to make of him.
At the start, he was incredibly rude—bordering on downright mean. For a hot minute, I was sure I’d signed myself up for three days with another Tony.
