I’m kicking my own ass for being the idiot who gave her space because I can’t be pissed that she’s taking it. We’ve talked on the phone multiple times a day, but those conversations have been surface, and they’re not cutting it anymore.
She seems happy and content even though she hasn’t left the building yet. But her license was transferred, and she starts her new job today. I wanted to take her to dinner to celebrate, but her shift doesn’t end until eleven. I’m not cool with that, but I’ll argue about it another day.
Right now, I just want to see her. I need to look into her eyes and make sure she’s okay. I’m desperate to get my hands on her, to reassure myself that she’s still here, still close, and she’s not leaving. I’m respecting that this is all an adjustment and it’ll take time for her, but it’s killing me to be apart when she’s so close.
I’ve still been working both jobs to keep busy in an attempt to keep my mind off her, but it doesn’t do shit. I’m wired, excited, practically obsessed, thinking about her as much as I am. Howshe feels in my arms, how that shy smile takes my breath away, how her emerald eyes twinkle when I touch her. How soft her skin is, how perfect her curves are, how much I want to explore every inch of her body. But most importantly, how her confession forced me to admit to myself what I’ve been in denial about for years.
I’ve barely slept, but I wake up on edge…in more ways than one. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt—a yearning, a magnetism beneath my skin that strains to fuse with hers. The urge to touch her, to be close, to kiss her? That desire is threatening to shatter my sanity.
“Bennett.” Drew’s booming voice sounds so much like my dad’s that I jump in my seat. It takes a second to remember I’m at work. “Are you fuckin’ listening?”
I wasn’t. I haven’t been able to pay attention to anything for the past week because as soon as I start, Annie infiltrates my mind and won’t leave. “Sorry, didn’t catch it.” I sit up and force myself to focus.
He narrows his eyes, then speaks to me like I’m a toddler. “I said, Fitz needs some shifts covered in surveillance. I asked if you’d be able to take one.”
I lift a shoulder. “Yeah, just let me know when so I can get coverage at Someday’s.”
“We need Saturday morning.”
“That works for me, I’ll have Harlan shadow, too.” Harlan and Spencer are the two newbies I’ve been training.
He nods toward Fitz. “Fitzy has something else.”
“Thanks.” Fitz stands and addresses the half a dozen guys sitting around the table. Aside from us, four others are actively on assignments, and the two new guys aren’t qualified yet. “Clearly, LPA is growing, and that means my caseload is, too, so I’m outsourcing some help. I’ve sent a profile to all of youremails in case you’d like to look into him further, but I can assure you he’s solid.”
“We trust your judgment, Fitz. You know that.”
Not one to like the spotlight on him, he continues as if he didn’t hear me. “His name is Scotty Damato, and he’s an independent contractor specializing in cybersecurity. He’s coming in to help me streamline some programs, automate new-client intake and daily reports, and test the upgraded monitoring system I designed. If he can’t penetrate it, then we’ll roll it out next month.”
“Sounds good. Any questions?” Drew glances around the room, and when no one responds, he ends the meeting.
The guys trickle out, but when I move to leave, Drew stops me. “Everything all right with Annie?”
That was a loaded question. “Yes. Why?”
“You got the alert for the hits on her credit report, right?”
“Yeah. She had to have her background run for the new job.”
He nods. “Right. That’s all well?”
“Yep. She starts today.”
“Ahh. So that’s why you signed out a tracker?”
I’m not a fan of that underlying criticism. “You got a problem with it?”
“No.” He draws out the word. “But she will if she finds out she lost a stalker only to gain another.”
“It’s for her safety.”
“Vito’s dead. She lives across the street from you. She’s safe, Ben.”
It would be easier on my psyche if I could believe that. “Something still isn’t sitting right with me about how Vito died. It was too easy, too convenient.”
“I get it. But we’ve spent countless hours on this over the past few days and we’ve found no evidence that it wasn’t him. Iunderstand you want to be cautious, but as of right now, she’s safe.”
“I know you think I’m being emotional about it and everyone is ready to give up, but I’m not ready to accept that.”
