Page 27 of Dangerously Tempting

“Which is why she probably planted something on your bike as well.”

“You truly think she’d go to that extent? That she’s stalking me?”

“She’s a giant, waving red flag. If she did this, she’s stalking you. Where are you? You should check your bike and see.”

“I’m pulling into the garage now. I’ll check it.”

“Now,” he demands. “And keep me on the line. I want to hear what you say when you figure out I’m right.”

I roll my eyes again as I pull into my parking spot. “I bet there’s not even anything there, but just for you I’ll check.”

I grab my phone and climb from the truck, walking over to my bike. I set my phone on the seat and grab my helmet that’s hanging from the handlebars. I never took them back upstairs earlier, my intention was to take them up when I got back from taking Amelia home. I flip it around, making sure nothing is inside

“Nothing so far.”

“Keep looking.”

“Of course, master,” I respond as I reach over the seat to grab my spare helmet from the other handlebar. I flip it over, giving it a good shake, and nothing. I start prodding around under the small windshield, just to prove to Theo that there’s nothing here when something clatters to the ground.

My heart stops in my chest and I stare at the item as it rolls across the ground, coming to a stop against the tire of the car beside me.

“Son of a bitch,” I mumble and Theo sighs.

“What is it?”

“A lipstick. It definitely wasn’t there before.”

“Well… what are you going to do?”

“I think you’re right.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “It’s time to get the police involved.”

“Thank the lord! The man finally sees reason.”

“Fuck,” I mumble as the full reality of the situation settles on my shoulders. “She’s actually stalking me.”

“She is. But the cops will handle it. I wouldn’t touch anything else. Just have them come take a look and start the process. You’ll feel constantly on edge if you don’t.”

“I think I’m going to feel constantly on edge regardless. She was in my truck, Theo. The doors were locked.”

“You could have left it unlocked and she just locked it back after she planted the panties in your truck.”

“Maybe,” I sigh. “But what if I didn’t leave it unlocked? How then?”

“Good lock picking skills?”

“Christ, I hope not. Because then she could be getting into my apartment, too.”

“Hang up, Jameson, and call the police. I’m on my way, okay?”

“Thank you, Theo. I’ll call.”

I do so right away before I talk myself out of it, and while I wait I call the one person I know who will give it to me straight and tell me what I need to be doing. I immediately tell her everything that’s been going on and there’s a long moment of silence before she says anything.

“Christ, son,” I hear, startling at my father’s voice. Mom must have pulled him into the call at some point and I was so wrapped up in trying to get everything off my chest that I didn’t even notice. “You said you called the police?”

“Yeah. They should be here anytime now.”

“Sweetie, you should have done this sooner. You should have called us sooner. I don’t like that you’ve been shouldering this by yourself,” my mom adds in, somehow managing to make me feel guilty about my own circumstances.

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