Page 2 of Knight Before Christmas

“Okay. Remember last year when I moved here? I moved after I was being followed back and forth to work.”

“Did you talk to the cops?” His ice-gray eyes lock on me, intent, predatory.

I shiver. It’s a really good thing that Colt is my brother because if he was hunting me down, I think I’d be scared to death.

I nod my head. “I did. They couldn’t do anything since he hasn’t done anything.”

“So what did he do this time?”

I was over by the door, unlocking it, and someone grabbed my arm.”

“Guy?”

I think back and nod again. “Yeah, definitely a man.”

“And did you see him at all. Hair color, eye color, height, weight, anything?”

I shake my head and sigh. “I’m sorry. I was so surprised I really didn’t look. I just tried to get away from him. And it was dark.” I stop to think. “Actually the light over my door was burnt out.”

He nods his dark head. “Fine. But I’m still pissed at you. You shouldn’t have kept this from me. Has anything else happened since you got here?”

I think back and remember a couple of times when it felt like there was someone watching me and grimace. “I’m not sure. Nothing I can point to but it did feel like someone was following me once or twice.”

He groans and pushes his big fingers through his hair. “I cannot believe that you’ve been dealing with this all alone. This is not some kind of game. If this person followed you here to Wildwood, then they’ve got an agenda, a plan. You can’t just let this go.”

I nod my head and my shoulders fall. “I’m so sorry. I thought it would go away when I moved.”

He pulls me into his arms and sighs. “I get it, sis. I really do. But now we’re gonna have to deal with it from behind the eight ball because he’s obviously set up shop right now. And there are a lot of new people running around thanks to the movie company being here and construction jobs and so much more. But don’t you worry. I’m getting some help for you.”

I jerk out of his arms and glare at him, tapping my toes and crossing my arms. “What does that mean?”

“I’m calling Knight to come watch over you.”

I’m shaking my head before he can even finish the sentence. “No! No way! I can handle this. You can handle this. We don’t need him.”

“Knight is retiring from New York and he’s looking for someplace to retire and I’ve mentioned Wildwood. I haven’t been able to talk him into joining the police department here but he will be able to protect you twenty-four-seven. He’s got all the time in the world to take care of my little sister and I know he will. This is non-negotiable.” He turns on his booted heel. “I’m gonna take another look outside and then I’m gonna get a car to stay outside at least while it’s so quiet.”

He slams through the door, the bell tinkling merrily at his exit. I growl under my breath and wheel on my own heels, stalking to the back.

Hopefully Grayson Knight, my brother’s best friend doesn’t come running when he asks for help. It would be the first time but I can always hope.

Because the man that I’ve had a crush on for most of my adult and teenage life cannot come here. My poor heart cannot take seeing him again.

He’s already made sure that I know he isn’t interested in me. I think that’s all I need to know. I have to protect myself and the worst thing that I can do for my own heart is let Grayson Knight anywhere near it again.

CHAPTER 2

Grayson

Ireach up and grab my bag out of the overhead compartment and grunt when I drag it down, barely avoiding smacking the woman who’s been stalking me the whole flight in the head.

But she doesn’t act pissed. Instead she shoots me a flirty little smile that does absolutely nothing for me and reaches out to touch my arm where my bicep is curved, holding my bag.

“My, my,” she purrs. “You sure have a lot of muscles. I bet you could pick little old me up and do practically anything with me.”

I can tell exactly what she wants me to do with her and there’s no fucking way. I mean, it’s not like she isn’t pretty in an overblown Barbie doll kind of way. Big lips, big boobs and plastic smile that promises all kinds of things that I’m sure she thinks she can deliver on. I’m not so sure. I don’t feel a damn thing below the belt. I never have.

Except for one damn, trouble-making, pain in the ass woman. And that’s part of the reason that I’m all kinds of pissy today. Like a teenage girl whose prom date stands her up.

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