Page 41 of Stalker

She took a deep breath like I told her to. “I just don’t want to order something wrong and then waste it.”

“Then I’ll order for us both, and you can try a couple of different things. Explore your options a little.” I knew what I meant by that, but she didn’t.

“It’s a lot of money to chance.” She held my stare.

I grinned, unable to keep my usual stoic face. “I’ll worry about my fortune, and you worry about what kind of dessert you’re going to try first.”

She smirked, pressing her lips together to hide it, and flipped her menu to the dessert page. I knew my girl had a sweet tooth, but I was going to enjoy getting to see her experience it first had.

“Ma’am.” The Maître de leaned over to her side politely. “There’s a package for you at the front desk.”

“Me?” She stammered, “I think there’s a mistake—”

“Peyton Everett?” He clarified and her lips parted in surprise before she nodded, chancing a glance over at me. “The front desk, Ma’am.” The man stood up and held his arm out toward the front entrance, waiting for her to follow his directions.

“I—” She paused, looking back to me and blushing.

She knew exactly who had something delivered to her. Dane.

“Go ahead.” I leaned back and took a sip of my water, challenging her to leave me for her stalker. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She scurried from her chair, following the man to the front desk, and I smiled to myself. Hook, line and sinker.

Time to play with my pretty little Puppet.

Chapter 16 – Peyton

As soon as I stopped at the front desk of the fancy restaurant, I already knew exactly who had something delivered for me.

Dane.

He challenged me when I informed him he could not interrupt me during my workday with Mr. Bryce, displaying once again his disregard for boundaries.

The Maître de retrieved a small red box from behind the desk and handed it to me with a polite smile.

I leaned forward and asked quietly, “Do you know who delivered this?”

The man’s eyebrows rose, but he simply shook his head, before turning to someone checking in for their reservation, dismissing me.

I walked away from the desk in a daze, catching the dim hallway to the bathroom in my peripheral. I guess a dark hallway was a better place than the table to find out what kind of unhinged gift he sent this time.

Because I knew it would be unhinged. He had no other speed.

I glanced around to make sure no one was in close proximity and pulled the small envelope off the top, flicking it open to reveal the card inside. I paused as I ran my thumb over the handwritten card, as if the manly script made it feel more personal somehow. And then I read the message.

Put this on immediately and do not take it off until I tell you. If you disobey, I’ll make you regret it.

-Your Stalker

My heart was racing as I lifted the top of the box, revealing its contents, and instantly slammed the lid down on it.

“No.” I whispered in horror. My face was the shade of a tomato as I looked around again and then ran into the restroom, locking myself in a stall before I dared to open it again.

To hell with dinner and Mr. Bryce’s sudden niceness. I was going home. There was no way I could do what Dane demanded of me.

No way in fucking hell.

I lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down, cradling the box on my lap, and peeked under the lid again. And as expected, the high-end sex toy I’d had in my cart online for months now sat atop a satin cushion like a prized jewel. “Fucking hell.” I whispered.

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