Page 51 of His

“I see you watching for someone or something every hour of every day. What are you looking for?”

“Leo and I had sex,” I blurt out.

“Wow.” Sabine’s eyes pop. She laughs. “Of all the things I thought you were going to say, that was definitely not it.”

“Really? I just assumed he’d told you, and that’s why you came out here.”

“Nope. Leo’s a quiet guy.”

“Tell me about it,” I mumble.

“Okay, spill it. What happened?”

I take a deep breath. “When he’s not here, he works at Spittin’ Suzie, a beach bar in the next town over.”

“What a terrible name.”

“I know. Anyway, about six months ago, I went with some of my girlfriends. Long story short, he and I went home together that night and had sex.”

“Was it good?”

I cut her a look.

She laughs. “Okay, so that’s a yes.”

“Very good. It was only my—well, I haven’t dated a lot.”

“I see. Okay so then what happened?”

“That was it. He never called me, or texted, or spoke to me again. And the thing is, we had the most wonderful talk before we had sex. I felt a connection to him, you know? But then, he didn’t even let me stay the night; told me he had to be up early in the morning and herded me out the front door like cattle. . . . I wasn’t even fully dressed.”

Sabine winces. “Ouch.”

“Yeah. Tell me about it. So then . . . ughhh.” I bury my face in my hands in embarrassment. “A week later or so, I went back to the bar—I know, I know. Stupid. But I was just . . . I don’t know, I was mad and hurt and wanted to see him.”

“And how did he react?”

“He acted like he didn’t even know me. He wouldn’t even wait on me.”

“Double-ouch.”

“That’s not the worst part. I kept going back, Sabine.”

Sabine winces again, then puts her hand on my back. “We’ve all been there.”

“I don’t know why. I just couldn’t get over it. Every time I’d pull into the parking lot, I’d tell myself, ‘this is ridiculous. You’re making a fool of yourself,’ but then I’d go anyway. I stalked him, Sabine.”

“Did he ever talk to you?”

“No.”

“So then, when I got offered this job, I was so excited, because you know Astor Stone.” Sabine grins. “And when I read the case report I saw Leo’s name. But I couldn’t turn down this job. When I got here and saw him outside, I almost threw up. He has got to think I am literally stalking him at this point.” I shake my head. “It’s so hard. I really liked him. He’s so, like, alpha military dude, you know?”

Sabine laughs. “Trust me, I know. . . . And, yes,” she leans in. “Mr. Stone and I are in a relationship.”

“I knew it!”

“I figured you did.”

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