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I led the way and glanced behind me. She followed me, her hips swaying. I had to force myself to look elsewhere. Having herso close to me was doing things to my mind that I couldn’t afford to be thinking about right now.
There was nothing I loved more than controlling a situation. And for a few minutes, everything that did or did not happen to Mya was totally under my control. It was a heady feeling.
Years of watching her from a distance and now she was just within reach. There were things I wanted to do to her that would probably scare her. But it was too soon.
I took pride in my patience. It was my greatest virtue. I would be patient…up to a point.
Once we reached the marble steps at the front of my house, I went inside and placed a call to Joseph. Then I returned to join her on the steps.
While we waited, I tried to think of something to say to her to keep her from looking so guarded. I settled on the weather. I wasn’t one for small talk, but I didn’t know what else to do.
It didn’t seem to matter anyway, because her mind seemed occupied. I wondered what she was thinking.
Within minutes, Joseph arrived. He climbed out of his car and gave her a wide smile. “I saw your car in the ditch on the way up here. Are you okay, miss?”
“This is Joseph, who I mentioned I would call. He takes care of all my cars. He can take a look at yours and see what needs to be done to get it back on the road as soon as possible.”
Jealousy wasn’t an emotion I was used to feeling, but I surely felt it when she looked over at him and shot him a thankful smile.
Would she still smile if she knew he was the same guy who had been following her around for the past two years?
I could say the same about myself, but Joseph did it because I paid him to. I did it…well, because I was obsessed.
I felt myself getting frustrated because she was right there, and I didn’t want this time with her to end, but I didn’t know how to keep her near me.
I needed to distance myself to think.
“I’m going to grab a drink. Want one?” I called walking toward my front doors.
“I’m not much of a drinker.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t.”
Still no smile. Damn. So, no reaction to humor. Or to my kindness. I wasn’t scoring any points with this woman I had obsessed over for years.
“So, what are you doing out this way?” I tried to make conversation again.
She looked at me and then shifted her feet. She wasn’t a quick liar. That was good. At least she wasn’t one hundred percent morally bankrupt. As if I were one to judge.
I couldn’t remember how many people had lost their lives because of my lies.
“I live in the area.”
I arched a brow. “Really?”
“Really?” Her look was defiant. “Does it look like someone like me couldn’t live in a place like this?”
I shrugged. “What street do you live on?”
“I said I lived in the area?I didn’t say necessarily in this neighborhood.”
I kept the amusement off my face and said, “There’s no one living out here but tech entrepreneurs, old money, and people with very questionable ways of earning a living…so which one are you?”
I dropped my voice when I questioned her. Her eyes had given her away when I mentioned a questionable way to earn a living. She had to work on her poker face.
Who was I kidding? I loved the way she tried to lie.
“I’m a nanny.”