“Yes,” he admits softly.
I can’t help the way my eyes scan over him again. I bite my lip to keep from blurting out the question on the tip of my tongue.
“Christ,” he curses under his breath while looking away from me.
I scrunch up my nose, feeling guilty. I really need to remember he studies people for a living, and I’m not even trying to conceal what I’m thinking. “I’m not a weirdo,” I defend lamely. “I was just wondering where it was. I’ve thought about getting one, but I also told you I’m afraid I’d end up shooting myself.”
The lights dim, only leaving the tiny illumination that runs along the outside aisle to help brighten the path. I sink a little lower in my seat.
“I know you aren’t a weirdo, but I only have so much restraint, Harlyn. Never in my life have I wanted… I don’t want to do anything that might set this guy off. People like him, they convince themselves their target, their obsession, is communicating with them in ways you could never imagine. He might see me as a threat, or like you’re antagonizing him by being close to me, especially if he knew—” He stops short.
“Knew what?” I need to know what he was about to say.
“Knew what I do.”
I let out a yelp when the sound system blares to life. It’s so loud, I have to cover my ears to adjust. A little warning would have been nice. Seconds later, the dark screen finally catches up, displaying an ad for a local car dealership.
“Holy crow,” I half yell as my hands fall back into my lap. There is no way we would be able to hold a conversation like this. Maybe once the movie starts and this strange soundtrack ends, we can try again without having to shout.
Catching me completely off guard, Boone leans over and places his lips near my ear. I inhale sharply as goosebumps cover my arms. He lingers for a moment, making sure every nerve ending in my body is tuned into the warmth coming from his skin. “Anything I do or don’t do is to protect you. I know what this guy is capable of, and for the first time in my life, the knowledge fucking scares me.”
I swallow hard. “I’m always scared,” I admit rather softly, but I don’t think he had a problem hearing me, since he’s still so close. I turn to face him, our lips only inches apart. “The only time I’m not afraid is when I’m with you.”
His brow furrows tightly. Just when I think he’s going to pull away again, he slowly leans forward, giving me ample time to make my own retreat, but I don’t. In fact, I lean in so his lips land on mine even quicker than he anticipated.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach before he even moves his lips. When he opens up and captures my bottom lip between his, a soft sound of surrender escapes me. My eyes remain closed for a fleeting moment when he pulls away after a few more lingering pecks. It should be a crime to feel so affected by such a chaste kiss, and I’m certainly guilty.
Boone’s forehead touches mine, and he breathes deeply, proving I’m not the only one affected. “This is dangerous, Harlyn,” he warns.
“I’m more afraid of how I would feel if I never kissed you again than what he might do about it.”
He weaves his hand under my hair and onto the back of my neck, holding me in place. “You say that now, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he hurt you.”
“Then help me find him so we don’t have to worry about him again,” I plead. In that moment, I realize it isn’t only justice for my sister I want. It’s a chance to live free of the shadows and free of guilt, but mostly, I’m desperate to get to know this man and find out if he’s really what my heart is already convinced he is to me.
CHAPTER 14
Boone
“You don’t play fair.”
“I’m not nice,” she concedes, and I kiss her again, but there’s no holding back this time. I may regret this later.Lie. I already know regretting this is the last thing I’ll do. I may feel remorse though, especially when I know I won’t be able to do it again freely until the fucker hunting her is gone.
Harlyn melts for me, taking my pent-up frustration. I kiss her harder, deeper, and she meets me with every stroke of her tongue. When I feel her fingers begin to explore my shoulders and chest before venturing lower to my stomach, I break off the kiss, breathing heavily into her neck.
I have to stop myself now before it goes any further, but she smells so fucking good, and I can feel the thrum of her pulse, hard and fast, racing against my lips. The urge to explore her jaw with my teeth and tongue is nearly enough to undo me, but her fingernails, which dig into my side as if she’s struggling just as much as I am, is the wake-up call I need.
Not only is her hand dangerously close to my weapon, but what we are doing right now is far more unsafe. I wasn’t lying when I told her I’m worried what my presence might mean to the man stalking her. If I was smart, I would have called Mickey this morning and told my boss everything that was happening, but my selfishness wouldn’t allow it. I know the minute Mickey finds out how truly dangerous this is and how close I’ve gotten to Harlyn, my boss will pull me off the case. It’s protocol, and I couldn’t handle the thought, so I foolishly wanted to see things through myself. I realize now how stupid that was. I don’t know how I’m going to convince Mickey to let me stay with Harlyn when I do tell her, but I will. “This is so stupid. I don’t have the right to put you at risk like this.”
“How about you let me worry about what risks I want to take?”
“It’s not that simple.” I give her the truth she deserves, even if she doesn’t like my answer.
The sound of the door thudding against the wall has me springing up from the seat and facing the door. My hand is on my holster when a teen boy steps into the aisle and looks directly into the last row where we’re sitting.
“Is there a problem?” I make my voice loud enough to be heard over the film.
He blinks a few times as his eyes rise to meet mine. He seems a little surprised to find me standing. “No, sir, just making the rounds.” He backs out the way he came without another word.
