Page 1 of Seductive Heat

Prologue

Theo

I'm waiting in my car, eating a crappy frozen yogurt. Who eats this stuff anyway? Well, actually, the love of my life does. That's why I bought this one to try out. She's such a fan of this place that she visits up to three times a week. Thankfully, she follows a strict schedule, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy to follow her around.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I'm stalking Helene Hudson. Yes, she's the love of my life. I knew that from the first moment that I saw her on social media. That's not really important. What's important is that she's happy today and looking fine. Her sister Marguerite is with her, and they appear to be gossiping.

I love seeing Helene like this, carefree and seemingly without a worry in the world. I mean, she's got to have things figured out, right? One of us better have.

I get out of the car and toss the yogurt in the trash. I'll have to introduce her to real ice cream. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I take it out. It's from one of my partners at Midnight Heat.

Ignoring the message, I get back in my car and wait for my girl and her sister to leave the yogurt shop. She's got yoga tonight, and I'm rather excited. The class was full, so I wasn't able to get in until this past week. I always go to the back of the class so that no one pays me much attention, but a lot of the women there want to flirt after class.

It doesn't matter because I need to be closer to Helene, so I put up with the flirting and propositions from the women there. The chance to be so close to her that I might be able to touch her is something I don't take for granted. She's tall and lithe and knows her yoga well. I'm thinking of asking her to help me with my poses. It would be a way into her life, but I can't do that. Eventually, she'll have to meet the real me and know I've lied.

Helene and her sister leave the shop, and I move to follow them. They jump into the sister's car. It's time for yoga.

Tonight, I'll dream about her again and look for a way to find out why she hasn't contacted me yet.

Chapter 1

Helene

Frozen yogurt is my go-to snack. I figure it's fat-free or sugar-free or free of whatever that thing is that makes you fat. So I eat it—often. I'll be able to burn the calories in my yoga class later. So I'm in my happy place right now. Still, the hairs on the back of my neck are up because I feel him. He's here somewhere. Perhaps not in the yogurt shop. Maybe outside.

"I need to tell you something, Mags."

"I was wondering if you were going to separate yourself from that ice cream to talk."

"Someone is stalking me," I say.

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

"It's been happening for a couple of months, but I wasn't one hundred percent sure."

"What makes you sure now?" Marguerite asks.

"A feeling. Like things have escalated. I get goosebumps all over my arms when I feel him, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up straight like I'm a porcupine."

"Do you want me to post an officer at home?"

"What? No. I'm starting to find his presence a comfort."

"Are you crazy? Is he stalking you online, too?"

"I don't know, but just in case, I always say where I'm going." I tuck my head, embarrassed.

"Helene! That's so dangerous. I can't believe you would do something so foolish. I'm going to do something about this."

"Please don't. I mean, what if he's the man of my dreams? The 'one', you know? You'll scare him away."

"This is not normal, Helene. And you're romanticizing this guy, building him up like he's some prince charming or something." She takes out her phone and starts writing something. "At what locations have you 'felt' him?"

I clear my face of all emotion and look at her. I'm not ratting my special guy out.

"Really? The silent treatment? I'm trying to help you here."

"I don't need your help. I shouldn’t have said anything. Are you tagging along to yoga today?"

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