Page 29 of Stalked By the Recruiter

“I know how that looks.” He pointed at the laptop, and I blinked. He was worried I was freaked out. That I was going to run. That I thought he was like Sam when I knew he wasn’t.

Deep down, in my heart and soul, I knew there was no other man like Andres. Not for me. It was crazy. How I felt for him. How much I wanted him and never wanted to not have him in my life. I could easily picture it, our need only growing, both of us obsessed with the other until we grew old.

“But this doesn’t change one thing, Carmen.” He stepped closer.

Slowly and tentatively, like he was approaching a scared wounded animal. But I wasn’t scared or broken anymore. I hadn’t been scared for a long time. I’d thought I was broken and that’s why I hadn’t wanted to meet or date before. But in reality, it had been because I just hadn’t met Andres.

His weird possessive obsessive freaky side matched mine.

It didn’t matter what others might think was right or wrong. Not when I knew. And by the way he neared and reached for my hand, he knew we were right for each other, too.

“I love you,” I found myself blurting out loud. It was crazier than all the crap I had found on his laptop, but I meant it.

Completely and wholeheartedly.

This is right. Righter than right.Andres stopped mid-step but didn’t let go of my hand.

“What did you say?” he asked with an edge to his voice.

“I love you,” I repeated. Suddenly, I wasn’t holding my breath anymore. My body relaxed. There was nothing to fear; I knew that. Not with Andres. “I love you. That”—my chin jerked toward the laptop––“Is it as bad as what I did in your bed?” He licked his lips, and his stare darkened.

“What you did on my bed?” His gravel tone hardened my nipples into tight buds behind the lace of my bra.

“You know.” My face heated up. “I went through your things, and then I was in your bed. I just… I don’t know what it is about you, about us… but––“ I rambled, unable to stop, knowing I wasn’t making sense, yet I somehow knew he got it.

Because he got me.

“You can’t stop it?” Andres filled in the blank, and I nodded. He pulled my hand, and I went toward him. My hand rested between our bodies, not to push him away, but to touch him and feel his heart under my hand.

“That’s how I felt. The screensaver? That’s from the second time I spotted you.”

“When did… I mean—“ I was at a loss for words.

“When did I start stalking you?” His lips twitched. I bit down on mine. This whole conversation was wild, yet I nodded, ready to have it. “A couple weeks before you started seeing me hanging around the library.”

“I don’t understand. Why…”

“I needed to make changes in my life before I stepped in and made a move. When I did and asked you to dinner, you told me to go to hell.”

“I didn’t tell you to––“ He shot me a look, and I pressed my lips together. “Okay, maybe I was a little… sassy,” I admitted. His hands stroked the line of my spine.

“I love your sass.” I blinked. My breathing suddenly felt off. “I love how you dress.” His lips twitched. “Like you take a challenge of putting on every color from the rainbow, and fuck, you make it work.”

“I do?” I asked, loving how much he noticed about me.

“Hell yeah, you do.” His hand rose, and I was leaning into him. “You’re sweet. So fucking sweet, I’m afraid of getting a toothache.”

“I’m not sweet,” I argued.

“You are. And you don’t put up with my crap. You call me out on my shit and—” He swallowed hard. The emotion in his eyes made me feel like I was melting into him. “Carmen, baby, you accept me for me. You see me.”

“Andres,” I whispered. “Baby?—“

“And I know you’ve been put through hell.” His nose flared, and the grip he had on my hip tightened. “I’d never touch you in anger. I’d never raise my voice, and I swear I’d never let you think or feel like you’re anything other than incredible.”

“You’re not Sam.” His eyes softened.

“I know. And I’m really fucking glad you know it, too.” His head dipped, but before his mouth touched mine, his thumb gently stroked my jawline. “I love how much you love what you do. I love how much you read. I love how you treat Stitch, and no matter what, you always go outside and toss the ball for him.”

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