Page 4 of Xavier

Probably the entire time I was with him.

I need to schedule an appointment to make sure he didn’t give me anything.

“Candace, you’re supposed to be my best friend. What the hell?”

“I was only your friend because your dad is the Mayor, and my mom works for him. It was a way for our families to get closer and mine to gain social status.”

My mouth opens, but no words come out. I’m so pissed, I can’t speak.

She pretended to be my friend to jump the social ladder? Who the fuck does that?

I down the rest of my beer and head down the beach. I need to get as far away from them as I can.

My breathing quickens, my heart pounds with rage, and my hands ball into tight fists. I want to scream and punch something.

Or someone. Make that two someones.

I concentrate on my breathing. In through my nose. Out of my mouth.

After several minutes, my fast steps slow to a stroll, and my racing heart returns to normal.

How could I not see this? For fuck’s sake, I work for the police department as a profiler. I should have been able to tell that Austin was being unfaithful.

All those unanswered calls and texts, the random late nights, and the lame excuses for the missed dates.

All red flags.

All ignored by yours truly.

Not wanting to rejoin the party, I turn towards the road, stopping when my gaze locks onto a dark, serious pair of eyes.

The stranger is sitting on the last step. His feet are resting on the sand. His gaze pierces through my invisible wall, causing my breath to hitch in my throat.

This impromptu staring contest makes me feel uncomfortable. I tear my gaze away and let it wander over the stranger.

He’s wearing a black hoodie, black cargo pants, and black combat boots. Not really the correct attire for a summer evening at the beach, but it doesn’t scream threatening to me.

It’s hard to gauge his height from the way he’s hunched over and resting his elbows on his knees, but I’d wager to say that he’s at least six feet tall.

Possibly even six-foot-two.

I’ve never seen him before. He must be an out-of-towner. My gaze makes its way back to his.

He downs the rest of his beer and stands, taking a few steps toward me. “It’s not safe for you to be wandering alone, Princess. Especially this far from the party.”

My heart races at the childish nickname. It comes out of his mouth sounding like acid. However, by the time it reaches my ear, it’s as smooth as silk.

I should hate it, but I don’t, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to hear him say it again.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“I’m not a fucking princess.” I say through clenched teeth as I step closer to this stranger like he’s a magnet.

He’s taller than I imagined, pushing closer to six foot four. He towers over my above average height of five foot seven.

He shrugs and glances toward the bonfire. “If you say so, but your family is like royalty in this town.”

How does he know so much about the town and my family?

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