Page 17 of Followed By the CEO

“Lunch then.”

“As soon as I’m done with my errands, I’m going home to let Monster out, and then I’m taking an epic nap. Do you want a complete schedule for my entire week?”

Hayden laughs. “No need, I’ll just figure it out on my own.”

“Okay, stalker with no apparent job to go to.”

“I have a job. You know you looked me up.”

“Yeah, I did,” I admit. “A really fucking impressive one for a stalker, actually.”

“I notice you haven’t called the cops on me yet.”

“How do you know I don’t have an uncle in the mafia? Much more effective,” I say.

“If you did then I’d already be swimming with the fishes.”

“You have a point.”

“When can I see you?”

I heave a sigh. Tonight after my gig? Every night this week? Please. No, Mills. Bad Mills.

“You can’t. You’re a walking red flag,” I tell him. And the hottest guy who’s ever made me come.

“Tell me to leave you alone, and I will.”

Say it. Say it! Tell this guy to leave and he will! Call him on his bluff.

But…but maybe I don’t want him to leave me alone.

Maybe I like him following me around.

Maybe my judgment is clouded after that kiss—and all the other things.

He lets me walk ahead of him as I head toward the boutique pet store where I have no business shopping. I look at him over my shoulder and say, “I’ll DM you after my show tonight.”

And bless him; he lets me go.

“See you then.”

Hayden waves and heads into a coffee shop, texting someone on his phone.

Instantly, I’m jealous.

Who is he texting?

God, I ought to have my head examined.

It’s a good thing I do stand-up because a lively audience is like good therapy, except I get paid for it.

chapter

six

Hayden

I pause to buy a coffee that I do not need so I can lag behind and give Mills the space I do not want to give.

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