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“The cop you saved, Shelby.” Rochelle motioned toward her. “He’s now a detective here in Hathaway.” With that, she headed for the waiting family.

Shelby’s head swung toward Hunter. She found him watching her, expression carved from stone.

One of his dark eyebrows slowly crooked up. “You’re back in the old diner hardly ten minutes and we’re already learning a whole lot, aren’t we?”

She felt glued to her seat.

“Let’s recap, shall we?”

Her heart thudded into her chest.

Hunter bobbed his head toward her. “The local criminal psych professor thinks Nate Shiloh is innocent, and he’s training his students to think the exact same way.” His fingers drummed on the table. “And, for a reason that I sure as shit can’t figure out, Officer Jonah Campbell never once mentioned that Nate Shiloh had a violent past. I read over the trial records. I read over all the sentencing recommendations—I’ve done that again and again⁠—"

He had…when? He’d said that he watched her trial from his hospital bed, but to read over the sentencing recommendations and⁠—

“There is no reference in them to Nate attacking some waiter. Nate had no previous arrest record. No crimes at all. Makes you damn curious, doesn’t it?”

There were a whole lot of things making her curious. “When did you do all that?”

He didn’t blink.

“You read the files—you just said you’d read them again and again—why? When? I just came to you yesterday. You have been with me practically every moment. Just when was it that you read the files so much? Studied everything so thoroughly?” Because there was knowing about her case—the way so many people did. There was having watched some of the made-for-TV movies, sure. But…actually having read the transcripts and case files took things to a whole new level, and unease grew in her gut.

“Fuck it,” he growled. “You were going to find out sooner or later.”

“Find out what?”

His stare never wavered. “I’m obsessed with you.”

Chapter Nine

He wasn’t surprised when Shelby immediately tried to bolt from the booth. Hunter did not blame her. Nope. But he couldn’t let her run away from him.

His hand flew out and curled around her wrist. “Shelby.”

Her breath rushed in and out. Her eyes met his, terrified.

Hell. “Let me explain.”

“I think I’ve made a mistake. This—it’s all a mistake. I need to go.”

His grip tightened on her. Then⁠—

He stood up. Moved into her path but let her go. “It’s not what you think.”

“I think…” She wet her lips. “I think I’m barely in town at all, and someone is recording me. I’m discovering that Nate was violent when I was dating him, and I never knew that. And now, the man I thought was my partner…you…you…” A hard shake of her head. “No, you can’t be obsessed. You don’t even know me.”

I do. “I would never hurt you. You don’t need to be afraid.” He hated her fear. It hadn’t been there before, not when she looked at him.

Her chin whipped into the air. “Who says I am afraid?”

“Baby, I can see it.” Could practically smell it. “It’s not what you think,” Hunter said again. “Let me explain.”

“I have to get out of here.” Fast words. “I have to get away—” Shelby stopped.

But Hunter knew what she’d been about to say.

I have to get away from you.