Page 52 of Wanted

“Oh?” she probed. “What happened to you, Sara? Do tell.” Therewas an air of cockiness surrounding her. Or was I reading her wrong? We were havinga great time until she started with her interrogation.

“I’m not comfortable talking about it, so let’s change thesubject. Okay?” Once she realized I wasn’t going to divulge something sopersonal, her demeanor changed a little.

“Sure. Sorry, I don’t mean to be so pushy. I think I’ve had a bittoo much to drink.” She genuinely smiled that time.

After another half-hour of chatting about clothes and movies, wedecided to call it a night. I texted Alek the name of the restaurant, but toldMegan if she was ready to go, I would be fine waiting by myself until he gotthere.

“Actually, Megan, if you want, we can drop you off at home. Idon’t really think you should be driving.”

“Oh, please, this is nothing, girl. I’m completely fine.” When Iquirked my brow, she said, “Really. I’m fine. I wouldn’t drive if I didn’tthink I could.” Knowing she had two glasses of wine was concerning but notoverly so. She was a grown woman and I couldn’t force her to do anything. Besides,if she was in the same car with Alek, something bad might happen. Her dislikefor him continued to baffle me.

“Okay, but only if you’re sure.”

“I’m positive. I’m actually going tostayfor a bitlonger anyway. There is a handsome man at the bar who has been checking me outall night.” She subtly pointed toward the guy she was referring to. Hewasquite the looker. I didn’t blameher. “He looks like Mr. Right Now.” She laughed. Gathering her things, shewinked at me as she wrangled herself out of our booth.

As we said our goodbyes, Alek called to tell me he was waitingoutside. “Okay, well, I had fun, Megan. We’ll have to do this again sometimesoon.”

“You bet we will,” she agreed before pulling me in for a quickhug.

Touching her arm, I pleaded, “Please, be careful.”

“I will. Don’t worry about me. I control my life and everythingin it, Sara. Remember that.” Before I could dissect her words, she smiled andmade her way toward the man who’d caught her attention.

Heading outside, my thoughts were suddenly bombarded with imagesof my man. I was already excited and I hadn’t even laid eyes on him yet.

When he saw me coming, he immediately opened the passenger doorfor me. Always the gentleman.

“I’ve missed you, babe,” he groaned before gathering me in hisarms for a heart-stopping kiss. His hands lowered to grip my ass, pressing mefirmly against his body.

“I missed you, too, but if you don’t stop it, all these peopleare going to watch a show.” Giving him a quick kiss, I backed up because what Ihad planned for him should only be done in private.

“Okay, okay. Let’s get you home then.”

~32~

Alek

It’d been a couple of weeks since Sara and I had officiallyrekindled our relationship and I couldn’t be happier. We were even better thanbefore because we didn’t take anything for granted. Mainly because we both knewwhat it was like to lose the other.

Running from meeting to meeting did nothing to calm the incessantneed I had to check on something. Or should I say someone? I tried to ask Saranicely for Megan’s information but she refused to give it to me, trying to playthe ‘It’s insulting you don’t trust I’ll do my homework’ bit. Yeah, I wasn’tbuying it. I vowed the day she took me back I would never let anyone oranything harm her again.

I couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Megan that bothered me. Yes,I found it odd she disliked me so much, especially since I didn’t even knowher, but it was more than that. There was an uneasiness, trying to tell me theremight be trouble ahead.

Call it paranoia.

Call it my innate need to protect my woman.

So, Sara could be upset with me, but I was going to get my handson that information somehow. And if it wasn’t going to be from her, then I wasgoing to approach someone who was as concerned about her safety as I was.

Matt.

I arrived at Full Bloom when I knew Sara was going to be outrunning some errands. She made sure to keep in touch with me, especially whenshe wasn’t at the shop. Controlling her wasn’t my objective. Not at all. I madesure to answer my phone each time she called me, in case she needed me, forwhatever might come up.

Walking inside the shop was kind of weird at first, knowing Iwasn’t there to see Sara. There were only two other customers inside, both ofwhom were men. I didn’t even dwell on the fact my woman was sometimessurrounded by other guys, most of whom came in because they fucked up withtheir own women. Pushing my crazy thoughts aside, I approached the one person Iwas curious about.

Megan.

She didn’t see me at first because her eyes were glued to oneguy’s ass as he bent over to select an arrangement from the bottom shelf of thecooler.

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