Page 26 of Dangerously Tempting

My chest tightens at how thoughtful he is to a situation I didn’t even consider. “They might be stunned to silence after all the times they’ve catcalled me.”

He grunts, clearly frustrated by the reminder. “I don’t think a single one of them has silence on their tool belt. I’m going to have to invest in a bulk roll of duct tape.”

“Whatever you need to do. I’m fine with it, regardless.”

“You’re sure?”

I smirk. “Of course I am. Stake your claim.”

He moves closer, pulling in a deep breath as he leans closer, his lips brushing over mine. “Oh, I’ll be doing a lot of that.”

And then his lips fuse over mine and I feel like without his hands on me, I would become weightless and float away. It feels too soon when he pulls away and presses his forehead to mine.

“Go get some sleep,” he kisses me again, a quick peck before he steps back. “Goodnight.”

My brain is foggy so it takes me a moment before I nod and step towards the door. “Goodnight.”

I step into my building and as the door falls closed behind me, I can’t help but wonder how long I’ll be able to hold out before I fall into bed with him again. He’s certainly going to give my self-control a run for its money.

16

Jameson

Playlist: "Obsession," Animotion

I round the front of my truck with stiff legs before climbing back inside. I start the ignition, drawing in a deep breath, before I turn and confront the situation that’s fallen into my lap.

Sitting in the back seat is a bright red, lacey pair of panties that I’ve never seen before. There’s only one person I can think of that would plant something like this, and I draw in another deep breath to keep my anger from boiling over, to keep myself from unblocking her number so I can call and yell at her. Any sort of contact could make her think she has an in, and I will not be giving that to her.

So instead, I turn back to the steering wheel and pull out my phone, putting it on speaker as I call Theo. He answers on the second ring.

“Fuck formalities, how did it go?”

I can’t help but laugh, some of the tension leaving my shoulders as I pull away from the curb and head home. “It went well, but I have a problem.”

“Okay, first off, I’m going to need way more details than ‘it went well’ but we can come back to that. What’s the problem?”

“I’m pretty sure Tori planted panties in my truck.”

There’s a pause before he responds. “Pretty sure? How would she even have gotten in your truck?”

“Yeah, pretty sure because who else would do it. I have no idea how she would have gotten in, but someone did.”

“How did you find them?”

“I was taking Amelia home,” I begin, and he curses. “Yes, exactly. I was backing out and when I turned they caught my eye because they were laying on the back seat in plain sight. She wanted them to be seen. Almost backed into the car behind me because it made no sense to see them there, and if Amelia saw them—“

“It would probably be over before it even started. This psycho bitch has got to go, Jameson. Go to the police and file a restraining order. Right now. Maybe they can fingerprint your truck and get evidence that will make it stick.”

“There has to be an easier way to deal with her.”

“There isn’t. You’ve been very clear with her and it obviously isn’t doing anything to stop her. I need you to hear me when I say this, Jameson, so you better be listening.”

I roll my eyes but reply, “I’m all ears.”

“She is stalking you. Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, it’s what’s happening here. There’s no reason for her to do that other than if she saw you with Amelia and got jealous.”

“It could have nothing to do with Amelia at all. She could have just left it to get me to call her. She would have no way of knowing what vehicle we would take even if she did see me with Amelia.”

---