by Haley Travis
Craig practically tripped over his own feet racing to his car before he squealed away.
I turned to Leif, but he didn’t come any closer toward me.
Even though I was still trembling from Craig practically pinning me against the wall, I still had enough residual stress to be angry at Leif.
“Were you following me, or following Craig?” I asked. “Do I have two stalkers now?”
As mad as I was, I still hated that Leif looked wounded by my jab.
“I knew that he would be irritated seeing us together yesterday,” Leif said in an infuriatingly calm tone. “I had to make sure he didn’t try anything. I’m so sorry, Hayden. If I hadn’t been trying so hard to stay out of sight, I would’ve gotten here sooner.”
Those piercing blue eyes were swimming with concern. “I hate that he got in your space. Are you all right?”
Nodding, I tore my eyes away to stare at the ground. “So you were spying on him.”
“Just enough to know how much of a threat he was. Yes.”
“And I’m guessing you messed with the security system here.”
“I was just checking it. Which is actually a good thing for everyone, since it was outdated and on the verge of malfunctioning. Everything has been updated now.”
I glanced over to him again. “You know this because you checked it again this morning?”
“Of course.” Leif seemed unable to stand still, shifting his weight strangely. “Even if you’re still angry with me, Hayden, I need to know that you’re safe.”
Turning to face him, I leaned against the wall. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were moving?”
He smiled slightly. “I never really wanted to move to Nevada, so I was holding out on making the decision. Then when we clicked so perfectly, there was no way I was going to leave, so there was nothing to tell you about.”
He stepped barely an inch closer. “I also didn’t mention it because I didn’t want you to feel that there was some sort of time restraint. Like there was a deadline on deciding whether or not we were going to be real.”
“But your brother sounded so serious.”
Leif chuckled for a momen t. “Julian sounds deadly serious whether he’s firing someone or ordering a martini. It’s just his way.”
“So he’s not going to be mad at you if you stay?”
“Of course he will. But he’ll forgive me in a week. It’s a brother thing.” He stepped another inch closer. “Besides, he’d be a complete ass if he told me I had to move away from the love of my life.”
Instantly I shrank back, shaking my head. “You can’t possibly know that so soon.”
“I do. But you can take as long as you like to come around to the idea.”
We were both silent as Frank, one of my coworkers, approached the door behind Leif, giving me a nod on his way inside.
“I have to work.”
“I know you do, baby,” he said softly, holding out his hand. “May I come to get you at five?”
My head was spinning, and after such a strange night’s sleep, I just couldn’t take any more stress.
“I’ll text you this afternoon, all right?”
Reaching out, I gave his hand a tiny squeeze, then dashed around him to get inside before I was tempted to throw myself into his arms.
I needed a bit more time to think about this. If he was giving up a new job for me, I had to be absolutely certain that I was going to be right for him. And the other way around.
Unless we completely belonged together, there was no sense in messing up his life.
Chapter 16
_____
Leif
Walking away without hugging Hayden goodbye was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But I had to show her that I could give her the space she needed.
Driving home slowly because of my mental fog, I rolled up to the gate. “Hey, Glen.”
I looked up into the security booth to see him giving me a very strange look. “Good morning Mr. Martin. If you don’t mind my saying so, you look pretty stressed. Are you all right?”
“Girl trouble,” I said, forcing a smile.
His grin actually cheered me up a bit. “The pretty brunette you were with this weekend? Very kind eyes. She seems like a sweet girl.”
“She is. I just need to convince her that I’m the right guy.”
He nodded, leaning out of the booth a bit. “My mother once told me that in order to prove you’re a good man, you have to actually be a good man. But she may have just been trying to convince me to mow the lawn instead of mooning over the girl I had a crush on.”
Laughing, I gave him a wave as the gate opened. “Thanks, Glen. That might really help.”
As soon as I got home and put on a fresh pot of coffee, I went straight to my office, contemplating what Glen had said. Instead of being the right man for Hayden, what could I do in this situation to simply be a good man?
First, I spent an hour digging through all of my contacts, selecting three people who would be great for the position Julian needed filled. I sent him that information, along with a formal email advising him that I was not moving, and would be retaining my position here.
Then I prepared an official report of Craig’s behavior, citing dates and times as much as possible. I gathered the email addresses of the university Craig wanted to go to, and both of his parents.
I wouldn’t send anything without Hayden’s permission, but at least it was ready to go.
Then I ordered some colorful throw pillows, and a soft blanket for the sofa, so that she would be more comfortable when she came over to watch movies again.
By the time I got my actual work done for the day, it was nearly four-thirty, and I still hadn’t received a text from her. Setting my phone on the desk in front of me, I put my fingers to my temples and tried to will it to beep.
To my complete lack of surprise, it didn’t.
I went downstairs to get another coffee, then nearly tripped on a step as the phone beeped from my pocket.
Hayden: Yes, you could pick me up from work. Thanks.
I waited just long enough to think my response through before sending.
Me: Thank you. I’ll see you at 5:10.
Quickly changing into nicer clothes, I raced across town, giving Glen a happy thumbs up on the way by.
I rolled up in front of her building at exactly five, then immediately checked the tracker. Craig’s car was parked at his mother’s house, where it had been since this morning.
Standing in front of my car, it was actually hard to keep my hands and feet still. I had never been one to fidget before. Hell, I’d been out on surveillance jobs where I had to sit still as a stone for hours at a time.
It was fascinating how much Hayden rattled me. Oddly, that told me yet again that she was the one for me.
I watched as her coworkers filed out one by one, then Hayden came out, closing the door tightly behind her.
It was almost painful not to reach for her as she came toward me. Yet I had to somehow find a way to be the calmest version of myself ever.
“Hi,” I said. “Would you like me to drive you straight home? Or I would love to take you out for dinner – either at a restaurant, or my place. Your pick.”
“Why don’t we just sit in the car for a minute?”
“Sure.” I opened the door for her, and she got in without bothering to put on her seatbelt. That implied that she might not stay, which made me even jumpier.
I got in, then turned to her, smiling as gently as possible. “I sent Julian a list of people who would be perfect for that job, and officially turned it down.”
Hayden’s bottom lip began to tremble. “But what if we don’t work out? Won’t you be disappointed that you didn’t take the job?”
“Not in the slightest. I like it here. I think I was just toying with the idea because I felt like I needed a change in my life, and Julian was adamant that he needed me.”
She finally looked over to me, those big bright brow
n eyes melting my heart.
“The only change I needed in my life was you, Hayden.”
She looked uncomfortable, so I quickly added, “Of course, having a stalking case again was also a bit of excitement.”
Hayden’s head swiveled and tipped as she stared. “You actually enjoy those cases?”
“I do. I hate that women have to deal with them, of course. But it’s satisfying to really help someone. A lot of my work is simply protecting things. Electronics, expensive artwork, jewelry and money. Giving a person their privacy back is important.”
“So you’re positive that Craig can’t say nasty things to his dad about me?”
I shrugged. “I mean, he could. But his dad has practically disowned him, so I really don’t think it would make a difference. Plus, now he knows that I’ll kick his ass.”
Finally she smirked slightly. “Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome. Anytime. But I know there won’t be a next time.”
Her giggle was a great relief. “I thought he was going to pee himself.”
“So did I. I actually stepped back so I wouldn’t get any on my shoes.”
Hayden sputtered a laugh, then clapped her palm over her mouth.
“Let it out,” I insisted. “That guy is ridiculous. Is it politically correct to call someone like him a poser douchebag?”
“Likely not, but I’ll keep your secret,” she said.
Hayden was smiling and relaxing. Finally I felt that I could almost breathe again. “Now that he’s gone, you’re free to go back to your regularly scheduled summer activities,” I said. “I would be honored if I could help you with some of those.”
Her teeth skated along her bottom lip while she thought. “You’ll forgive me for overreacting?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Really?”
I reached out for her hand, relieved when she took it. “A lot has gone on in the past week. You thought I was keeping something from you. You thought that I was intentionally messing up your security systems. You thought that I put a tracker on Craig’s car.”
Those pretty little lips fell open, but before she could speak I added, “Oh, right – I actually did that.”
Hayden burst out laughing again.
“For the record,” I said, “he’s been parked at his mom’s since he scuttled home this morning.”
“He’s probably too scared to go anywhere,” she said.
“Is that so bad? He made you terrified to go anywhere for a month. Let him sweat for a little while for a change.”
Nodding, she gave my hand a squeeze. “Good point.”
“Hayden,” I said as gently as I could, lifting her hand to my side, “this spot right here has been aching all day. Knowing you’re upset feels like being stabbed.”
I moved her hand up to place it over my heart. “The only way I’m surviving is that this here is still full of hope. My feelings for you are absolutely gigantic. I’d love a chance to prove that to you, any way you like.”
Those perfect lips turned up in a saucy smile. “Any way at all?”
“Absolutely. Dinner on the highest rooftop in the city? Name the place. Catered cocktails on the beach in our own private pavilion? Why not. Wait, I know. We could go to a jeweler and buy you the biggest diamond they have in the store. Sounds good?”
“Pfft,” she blurted. “I’ve never owned a diamond in my life. I don’t think I want to start with something purchased on a whim.”
“Trust me, it would be the first of many,” I said. “Actually, hold on a second.”
Reaching into the glove compartment, I grabbed my trusty tape measure, placed her finger on it, then pulled out my phone to take a photo. Then I wrapped the tape around her ring finger, taking another shot.
Hayden laughed merrily. “You are so strange.”
“That’s one of the many things that you love about me,” I said with a wink, tossing the tape measure back in the glove compartment and snapping it shut. I let my hand drop to her knee, giving it a squeeze. “I know that you do.”
“Do what?”
Leaning in, I pulled her as close as I could, nuzzling under her ear as I whispered, “Love me.”
I pulled back to look at her, flushed and confused.
“It’s okay, baby. I know because I love you too. Our hearts have a whole psychic connection thing going on.”
Her mouth fell open in a perfect O as she blinked several times. Then she smiled. “That’s not a thing.”
“It could be a thing. You don’t know everything.”
Staring at those perfect lips, my heart nearly stopped until she finally said, “I love you too.”
My arm darted around to pull her closer as I kissed her gently. “My favorite words ever,” I murmured. Her lips parted for mine, as we melted into a deep, satisfying kiss.
Then she sat back and raised her eyebrow. “But you’re not psychic.”
“But you have to admit we do have a deep connection,” I insisted.
A shadow fell across the front windshield, and Hayden flinched, glancing over to see a businessman walking by the car.
Taking her hand, I caressed her skin gently with my fingers. “I’m so sorry that Craig made you so jumpy, baby. I’m going to work very hard to help you get over that.”
Hayden stared toward the glove compartment for a moment, her eyes unfocused. Then she looked at me. “No. I don’t want to waste any more time. I need to get over things. I want to be done with it right now.”
“Okay. How can I help?”
I would have done absolutely anything she wanted. Yet I was surprised by the devilish gleam in her eye.
“Could you please drive me to Craig’s place?”
Chapter 17
_____
Hayden
For the first time in ages, I didn’t have that creepy crick in the back of my neck, from darting my head around to see if I was being watched.
The apprehension had been replaced by anger.
As Leif drove to a residential neighborhood, I realized it didn’t have to make sense. Somehow, now that I was completely secure in our love, and now that I knew we really were going to make it, it was like there was room in my heart for new emotions.
Like the magnitude of how unbelievably pissed off I was at Craig for being a creep, and at myself for not having the guts to confront him sooner.
Leif pulled up in front of a house where Craig and an older woman were pulling weeds from the front garden.
“I assume that’s his mom?” I asked.
“She must be.”
Craig looked up and completely froze when he saw Leif’s car. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I’d be. Why bother being anxious when I knew that Leif was going to be close by?
“Would you mind waiting here?” I asked. “I feel this is something I have to do myself.”
Leif frowned, his jaw tight. “What if I get out of the car, but don’t come any closer?”
I reached over to squeeze his hand. “Good compromise. Thank you.”
He got out and came around to open my door, then closed it and leaned against the car while I walked toward Craig.
“Hi,” I said brightly. “Sorry to bother you, I only need a moment.”
His eyes were wild with fright as he looked between me, his mother, and Leif. “Why don’t we go inside?”
“No, right here is fine,” I said pleasantly.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to use a tick more volume than usual, so that nobody would miss a word.
“I just wanted to thank you so much for stalking me for the past four weeks. Although seeing your car outside my work, my favorite diner, and my apartment every single day was absolutely terrifying, it really did turn out for the best.”
His mother stood up slowly, brushing her gardening gloves against her dirty jeans as she pinned him with a glare. “What’s all this about, Craig?”
“He’s been absolutely terrible to me,” I said, stil
l smiling but turning to her. “We went out to coffee once after an improv class, and when I wasn’t interested in anything more, he proceeded to threaten me.”
“What?” she gasped.