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13

MADISON

B risky crossing the parking lot of the bookstore after work, I hurry toward my car, my eyes narrowing when I spot something on my windshield. As I get closer, I realize it’s a dozen red roses.

Lifting my windshield wiper, I spot a note. Pulling it out, it simply reads, “Soon.” Raising it closer to my face, I squint, trying to determine if the letters look the same as the previous notes I received. But I can’t tell. And I don’t have them on me for comparison since I tucked them inside the nightstand of my childhood bedroom.

Looking around the parking lot, I don’t see anyone. My gaze moves across the street, but it’s empty.

Hmmm. Weird.

I’m unsettled by this note, which isn’t worded the same as the sweet notes my stalker sent me previously . Is it him? Or someone else?

The breeze blows, lifting my hair, feeling like the slight brush of a hand over my skin. Goosebumps erupt over my neck.

Hurriedly unlocking my car door, I slide behind the wheel, locking the door. Tossing the roses on the passenger seat, along with the note, my hands shake as I start my car. I peel out of the parking lot, forgetting to text Ben and head for the coffee shop.

By the time I pulled into the parking lot of the coffee shop, I felt foolish for overreacting. Glancing down at the roses on my seat, I grin. There’s nothing threatening about them. And that note? Well, yeah, it’s slightly foreboding, but maybe my stalker is communicating he’ll make an appearance soon. It’s ridiculous how much time I’ve spent thinking of him, sadness enveloping me that I haven’t seen him. But I felt eyes boring into me, indicating he was around.

My heart rate speeds up and I lick my lips. I can no longer deny that I’m attracted to him, despite not knowing a damn thing about him.

Pulling into a space, I leave my car running as I text Ben, letting him know I’ve arrived at the coffee shop. He texts back almost immediately.

Ben: I thought I told you to text me when you left work.

Me: I was distracted and forgot. I’m anxious to write. I made it here safely. Isn’t that the important thing?

Ben: I’m glad you made it there safely, but you clearly don’t know how to follow instructions!

Me: WTF? You’re seriously pissed off that I didn’t text when I left? I figured you’d be too busy with Chloe to worry about me. And I have no problems following instructions.

Ben: WTF is that supposed to mean? Too busy with Chloe? You need to explain yourself.

Me: No, I don’t. I need to get inside and start writing. We’ll talk about this later.

Ben: Dammit, Maddie, I need to focus on this project. I can’t afford to get a bad grade on it.

Me: Then focus. I’m not stopping you. I’m going inside to write now. I’ll talk to you later.

My gaze moves to the flowers and the note. Grabbing the roses, I twist around, laying them on the floor behind my passenger seat. I grab my backpack with my laptop from the backseat, checking to make sure my wallet is inside. I shove the note inside my backpack, then open my door, stepping into the cool air. I shiver, wishing I would have worn a jacket.

Locking my car, I sling my backpack over my shoulder, hurrying toward the coffee shop. I sigh with relief when I step inside, the warmth wrapping around me as the scent of java fills my nostrils. Sniffing appreciatively, I head toward the counter, placing my order.

Grabbing my coffee and pastry, I head toward a small table in the corner. Feeling like someone is staring at me, my head lifts and I make eye contact with a guy wearing a baseball cap. I give him a brief smile, then slide into the seat, facing him. He smiles back, continuing to stare at me.

Pulling my laptop from my bag, I set it on the table, and open it. Setting my phone on the table, I feel his gaze on me. When I look up, the guy in the ball cap several tables over still hasn’t averted his eyes.

Glaring at him, my attention is diverted as I hear my phone beep. It’s another text from Ben. And then it beeps again.

With a sigh, I look at my phone, white-hot anger surging through me as I read the texts.

Ben: We will talk about this later!

Chloe: What is going on with you? Don’t drag me into your relationship problems with Ben.

Me: Fuck you. I see the way you’ve been hanging all over Ben.

Chloe: Whatever. You sound jealous. Maybe you should focus on giving him what he wants instead of worrying about me and him.

What the hell? How dare she.

My hands shake as I set my phone on the table, realizing I’m getting angry and distracted. Taking a few deep breaths, I take a sip of my coffee and then click on my story. As I wait for it to load, I look up to see the guy in the ball cap still staring at me.

I’m about ready to poke his damn eyes out. Glaring at him, I open my mouth to say something when movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention. I suck in a breath as I turn my head, spotting him.

My stalker.

He commands the room as he strolls over to my table, wearing a navy blue hoodie beneath his leather jacket. His thighs flex beneath his dark blue jeans as he moves, his boots thudding softly across the floor.

Pulling out the chair across from me, he sets his coffee cup on the table, his ebony eyes never leaving mine.

God, he’s fucking hotter than hell.

From the way he dresses to the way he captivates me with just one glance, there’s something so damn impressive about him.

“That seat is taken,” I say as he sits down.

“I know. By me.” He winks, giving me that smile that shows the dimple on his left cheek. Why the fuck is this guy so hot? Shouldn’t there be a law against this sort of thing?

Raising my brows, I say, “Awful presumptuous of you. How do you know my boyfriend isn’t in the bathroom?”

He leans forward, his onyx eyes glimmering. “Because your boyfriend is currently at the Falls Creek campus library. And I watched you walk in by yourself.”

My mouth drops open slightly, causing him to smirk. Straightening in my chair, I snap, “You know, stalking is a crime.”

He shrugs. “I never said I wasn’t a criminal.” Sitting back in the chair, he says, “Why don’t you report me if my ‘stalking’ you is so bothersome?”

Seriously? He even did the finger quotes when he said, “stalking.”

I’m momentarily at a loss for words, unsure what to say. His confidence throws me. It borders on slightly cocky, yet somehow endearing. The challenge in his eyes and his quick-witted responses has flustered me.

“What are you doing here, stalker? Don’t you have better things to do than drop into a seat, uninvited?”

He chuckles. “I could be doing other things. But I’d rather be here, with you.” He nods his head in the direction of the guy behind him, who is watching us with intense interest. “That asshole seemed to be annoying you, so I figured I’d sit down and see if he knocks his shit off. But I can tell he hasn’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“Your face darkens and you scowl every time you look up and catch him staring.”

Damn, this guy is observant. My skin hums from his nearness and the timbre of his voice. It’s sexy as sin, just like him. He is like sex on a stick. A giggle escapes me as soon as I have that thought and I blush, meeting his twinkling eyes.

Stretching his legs out, they bump into mine, sending electrical currents through my skin. Jesus. What the hell is that? My eyes widen, my heart racing.

He calmly picks up his coffee, dark eyes boring into mine.

Taking a long drink, he observes me over the rim of his cup, and I wonder what the hell he’s thinking. I can’t help but notice his large hands as they grip the cup. My thoughts flash back to my dream of those hands touching me and goosebumps flare over my skin.

“What are you trying to work on?” Setting his cup on the table, he nods toward my open laptop.

“Oh, I’m writing a book.” My voice comes out in a high-pitched tone, and I mentally kick myself, hating that I sound like a schoolgirl gushing over a celebrity, rather than a nineteen-year-old woman in control of herself. Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I exhale a breath. “It sucks, and I need to rewrite it.”

He tilts his head slightly, a slight frown on his lips. “I’m sure it doesn’t. What’s it about?”

My face is fire engine red as I swallow hard. Make something up , my brain screams. Don’t tell him.

“Umm…” As I look into his eyes, I can’t lie to him. “It’s a dark romance about a girl falling for her stalker.” Fuck. Me. Slamming my eyelids closed, I wish the damn floor could swallow me right now.

“That sounds interesting.” His smooth voice causes me to slowly open my eyes, the heat of my blush making my body warm. He’s trying not to smile as he says, “What’s the problem? Are you lacking inspiration?”

Son of a bitch.

I bristle, folding my arms over my chest. “No, the content is good. It’s just the wording needs to be changed.” I hope the timbre of my voice hovers in the neutral zone because I feel like we are teetering on the edge of sliding into the danger zone.

Picking up his cup to hide his amused smile, he downs the rest of his coffee. “Well then, I guess I should let you get back to wordsmithing.” He shoves his chair back, a wave of disappointment flowing through me that he’s leaving already. He moves beside me, tossing his cup into the trash can. Leaning down beside me, he whispers, “If you need any inspiration, I’m happy to help. Especially any sex scenes.” Then he stands, giving me a wink.

Swallowing hard, I watch him as he moves away from me, my heart hammering inside my chest . I think I’ve just melted into the floor. It’s made worse as I watch his muscular ass flex inside his jeans.

Stopping beside the guy wearing the hat, he leans over him, his muscles taut and straining against his clothing. “If you don’t fucking stop staring at her, I’ll rip your goddamn eyeballs out and shove them up your ass.”

Oh my God. I’m partially mortified, yet mostly turned on.

Ball cap guy trembles in his seat, stammering, “S-S-Sorry m-man. I-It w-won’t h-h-happen again.”

My stalker grabs the guy’s coffee cup, crumbling it into a ball, coffee sloshing on his hand and all over the table. “See that it doesn’t.” Then he straightens, heading toward the door. Tossing the crumpled cup in the trash, he turns, his ebony eyes locking on mine. He winks, a smile spreading over his face before he exits.

Well… That was titillating.