“Get down! Get the fuck down!”
“What the hell?”
Someone wrenches the door open.
It’s a man all in black, standing there shadowy in the doorway.
My stalker!
He walks in, wordless, and grabs me then picks me up.
“Fitz?” I ask uncertainly.
My stalker doesn’t say anything, just carries me through the chaos of broken furniture and men with guns all in black screaming at Laura and Nolan. He carries me out through the busted front door like I’m the princess he rescued from the dragon.
I should hate it, but I’m hungry and tired, and sometimes it’s nice to be carried, you know?
“Winnie!” Kathy screams when he carries me out to a waiting van. “Oh my god.” My little sister throws herself on me, sobbing.
“You should have seen Kathy”—Gran mimes kicking ass—“threatening people with a knife.”
“I can’t believe Loony Laura kidnapped you,” Carolina says as the masked man pulls out a handcuff key.
Sirens blare in the distance.
I pull the mask off. “Fitz!”
Gray eyes inspect me. “Winnie.” He says my name like a prayer.
“For a second, I thought it was your hot brother,” I joke weakly.
“For that, I might just leave you in the handcuffs.”
Then I kiss him.
“We need to take her to the hospital.”
“Oh my god, this is ridiculous. I don’t need to go to the hospital. I’m fine. I need pasta, wine—a large glass of wine—probably some coffee.”
“Can we do water and a salad and a shower?” Carolina wrinkles her nose.
I watch as Laura and her fiancé are led away by the state troopers. “I’m a victim here,” Laura yells.
Her fiancé is crying. “Winnie,” he begs, “can you still get me that Netflix deal?”
“Man, that’s going to be all over the internet in like five minutes.” I make a face.
“Are you kidding?” Fitz smirks, still cradling me to his chest. “This is great publicity for your café.”
“Well, thanks for the rescue, guys.” I swing my arm awkwardly. “I’ll just be heading home now.”
Fitz scowls down at me. “Creampuff. I’m never letting you out of my sight. You’re coming home with me.”
“But I—well, I was pretty shitty to you,” I remind him, looking down at my dirty toes.
“Don’t care.”
“Laura said you were trying to propose and—”
