Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“But I do worry,” I say, anxiety clawing up my throat. “The idea of anything happening to you…” I swallow my words, my heart clenching in my chest. I scan his face, drinking in the sincerity in his blue eyes.
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he got hurt because of me. Because of my mess.
“Owen…” I continue, my heart in my throat. “You’re…you’re important to me.”
Something serious ripples over his features, and he cups my cheeks. “You’re important to me too, Zoe,” he says, his voice low. “That’s why I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He shifts me in his embrace, holding me closer. I rest my cheek against his powerful chest, hating that I can’t promise him the same thing.
How can I? When it’s my stalker who’s getting more intense every single day.
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” I whisper.
His embrace tightens. “Kitten, this is my literal job.”
Cold dread slides into my stomach.
“Don’t worry,” he says in a reassuring tone. “As long as I’m here, he’s never going to get near you. And that’s the way I want it.”
I nod against his chest, clinging to him like that action alone can protect us both. Rage bubbles in my chest.
Rage and regret and guilt. Once again, I wonder where I went wrong with Spencer as a patient, what I did to trigger this behavior, but I just as quickly shut it down.
I’ve analyzed every single one of our encounters enough to know I didn’t play into his fantasies or instigate this behavior in any way.
This is all on him.
His actions.
I just wish like hell I could find a way to stop them before any of us gets hurt.
CHAPTER 13
Owen
“Do you mind if we pop into my club really quick so I can check on things?” I ask Zoe after we've just finished up lunch in Charleston, enjoying a Saturday away from Sweet Water.
Not that I don’t love the small town. I fell for it almost as hard as I was falling for the girl in my passenger seat, but after everything that had been going on, including the frequent texts from Spencer to Zoe, I knew getting away was just what she needed.
“Of course,” she says, and I start navigating the roads toward my club. “I can wait in the car if you have business you need to handle.”
I give her a casual side-eye as I pull into a spot right in front of my club. I park the car and turn to fully face her.
“I'm just going to check on things,” I say. “But even if I did have a full-fledged business meeting, there's no way in hell I'm leaving you waiting in this car. I've got nothing to hide and while you’re a delightful distraction, I can maintain both.” I hop out of the car, hurrying around to her side to open her door before she can.
“You are a man of many talents,” she says, taking my hand as I help her out of the car and lead her toward my club.
I grin down at her before sliding my key into the master lock, turning it and holding the door open for her, ushering her inside.
I close and lock the door behind us, and I'm flooded with the almost nostalgic scent that is exclusive to my club—a luxurious concoction that I paid handsomely for. The signature scent is a mixture of amber and wood and a few other ingredients that a local scent master created for me, and I make sure it’s pumped through the vents on a daily basis.
“I knew I remembered this smell,” Zoe says as she smiles and takes in the empty space. “It's close to what you wear, isn't it?”
I dip my head as I lead her toward the bar. “The same person who created the club scent also makes my cologne.”
“I love it,” she says. “This place looks wildly different with the lights on. I feel like I'm peeking behind the curtain.”
“Sort of unnerving, isn't it?” Caleb’s voice sounds before he rounds the corner, a case of whiskey in his hand as he heads behind the bar to shelve it. “You get used to it though,” he says after he sets the case on the ground. He extends his hand toward Zoe. “I'm Caleb,” he says as she takes his hand and politely shakes it. “And you are?”
“Zoe,” she says, smiling at him before glancing at me. “I'm a friend of Owen’s.”
Caleb smiles at me with an eyebrow raised. “Friend? I thought I was your only one.” When he catches Zoe looking at him confused, he shrugs. “This one's always been a little salty,” he says. “Not one for long conversations and insights to his soul. Took me two years to figure out what to get the guy for Christmas.”