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Daniel.

A deep well of black, clawing fear opens up in my chest.

It’s not him. It’s can’t be him.

He’s in DC. He doesn’t know where I am or where I work. There’s no way…

Finally shaken out of my paralysis, I duck behind a shelf and move slowly and steadily toward the front window, doing my best to stay out of view of the street as I peer into the Seattle night.

There are plenty of people walking the downtown sidewalks, and the man I saw is already gone, but that doesn’t stop the panic. It doesn’t erase the lurching in my stomach or the soul-deep certainty I just saw my worst nightmare walk by.

And I’m here alone. Completely vulnerable if he comes back.

Running back behind the front counter, I crouch down on the floor and try to think. What do I do? Who can I call?

The police aren’t an option. If that person really was Daniel, he did nothing illegal by just walking down a public street.Ilefthim. There was never any law enforcement involved, no restraining orders, nothing in our relationship that would have escalated to that level, other than on that very last night and…

No, the police won’t be any help. Especially when I’m well aware of the different set of rules for wealthy, important people dealing with law enforcement.

Do I call Ana? What do I say to her?

Sorry, I know I said I was alright closing tonight, but I think I just saw my nightmare of an ex walk by and now I need to go home. Do I know it was him? No. Have I ever said a single thing to make you think I have a nightmare ex to be concerned about? No.

Holly or Kenna? No, neither of them should be involved in this.

Mind still racing, body still numb, I pull my phone out of my pocket and hit ‘call’ before I can really think it through.

“Hello?” Elias answers on the second ring. “Nora?”

“Hi,” I say, trying to keep the trembling out of my voice. “I’m sorry to call you out of the blue.”

“What’s wrong?”

Well, so much for playing it cool. His voice is clipped and concerned, and I can almost imagine the furrows on his forehead and the way his ocean-blue eyes would be narrowed. It snaps a bit of rationality back into me, knowing I’m burdening someone else with my problems.

“It’s probably nothing, but…” I trail off, suddenly feeling so, so stupid for blowing this out of proportion.

“Nora,” Elias’s deep voice prompts. “Tell me.”

“I thought I saw Daniel. Outside the shop. It was just for a second, and I’m sure I’m imagining things… but I could have sworn it was him.”

Elias’s harsh curse is muffled, like he tried to pull the phone away from his mouth before he said it.

“I’m not in the country,” he says, voice clear again.

“Oh.” My cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry for bothering you. It’s fine, really. It’s nothing. I can—”

“I’m going to have Travis come and pick you up. He’ll bring you to my house.”

“Who’s Travis?” I ask in a small voice.

“He works for me. He coordinates my private security.”

Elias’s steady, even words wrap around me through the phone, easing some of my lingering panic and making me clutch my cell even more tightly to the side of my face.

“Oh,” I say again, still feeling foolish despite that reassurance. “That really isn’t necessary.”

“It is. If Daniel’s in the neighborhood, he could come into the shop or find you after work.”