Page 20 of Burning Truth

Severn knew she was trying to protect him from more scrutiny, and he appreciated the effort, but he didn't need it. He was supposed to be protecting her.

"I'm fine with it, babe," he said. Smile turning a little forced, she looked at Severn. Saying nothing, he lifted his left arm for her to nestle against his side.

The woman's eyes widened as she fumbled to adjust her phone. "Oh my gosh! This is like... amazing!" She snapped a few quick shots, and Severn stole a glance at Addie, who was trying to mask her discomfort with a laugh. It was the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes that worried him.

“Hey, it’s okay, right?” he said, leaning in closer. “Just a fan, nothing more.”

Addie nodded briefly, but her gaze drifted past the woman, scanning the store as if expecting someone else to appear.

“Thanks!” the woman chirped, oblivious to the tension in the air. “You two make a great couple! I’m glad you weren’t hurt last night.” She offered a wave and darted off, likely sharing her encounter with her own social media followers.

Severn hesitated before letting her slip away, the warmth of her presence leaving a gap by his side. “You alright?” he asked, his voice low enough for her ears only.

Addie bit her lip, shrugging slightly. “Yeah, it’s just… You know, it’s not just the fans. It’s people knowing my business. They think they know what’s happening without really being in the loop.”

“I get that,” he murmured, hand brushing against her arm protectively as they moved toward the checkout.

And then it hit him — a flicker of movement at the edge of his vision. He turned quickly to scan the surroundings, but found nothing out of place. Just a couple finishing up their shopping, a tired-looking cashier scanning groceries, and an older gentleman shifting his cart in the same direction they were going. Nothing seemed wrong, but the instinct at the back of his mind told him to remain vigilant.

They finished up their purchases, Addie loading the bags into the truck while he checked the area again. He couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on him, an echo of restless energy coursing through his veins as they climbed inside.

“You good?” Addie asked, her brow furrowing.

“Yeah, just a little paranoid, I guess.” He turned to her, forcing the tension from his expression. “Let’s get back to your house and get a little something to eat. Sound like a plan?”

“Absolutely. I’m munchie!” she replied, grinning like the sun breaking through clouds.

Severn put the truck in gear, and they rolled out of the parking lot. As they drove under the fluorescent lights, he finally decided the best way to keep her safe might just be to confrontwhatever metaphorical shadow was lingering — before it became something too much to handle. "Did I make you uncomfortable wrapping my arm around you?"

"No, not at all!" she said, shaking her head. "It's just a little strange, you know?"

As they pulled up to the house, the streetlight flickered above them, and for a brief moment, Severn thought he saw a figure at the end of her street. But when he squinted to get a better look, it was gone. Was his paranoia getting the best of him tonight?

“Did you see something?” she asked as he pulled the keys from the ignition.

“No,” he lied.

Addie narrowed her eyes at him, and he wanted to smirk at her, but he didn’t. She was a sharp cookie.

He hesitated, debating whether to voice it. “Nothing. It was probably just my imagination. Let’s get these groceries in and make something to nosh on.”

They stopped at the front door and Severn keyed in the code on the new lock, pushing it open.

“Wait,” Addie said, staring in confusion. “That wasn’t...”

“I had one of our guys come over and do some modifications. You were a sitting duck in this house and you needed security. I’ll show you how to change the code and set the alarm system.”

“Alarm system,” she asked incredulously, stepping into the foyer. The bags hung in her hands, forgotten, as she looked at the new keypad on the wall.

Severn gave her a crash course on the new deadbolt and the alarm keypad. “You have to set it every time you leave, but Bear set you up with a key fob, and you’ll have an app on your phone as well.”

Addie keyed in the final code and secured the front door, then picked up the bags of groceries and headed to the kitchen. Once she had them on the island, she turned to look at him.“I’ll reimburse you for the cost of the system. Or just have the company invoice me. I’ve thought about getting a security system, anyway.”

Severn doubted she would ever have gotten a system as secure as what Bear had just installed. It was top of the line, and would be monitored twenty-four hours a day. She probably hadn’t even noticed the cameras that had been installed, including the Ring doorbell. He would tell her about those once she was a little more relaxed.

“What do you want to snack on?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“Nothing heavy,” he said, although his mind was elsewhere. He rummaged through the bags, pulling out the various ingredients they had chosen together while trying to distract himself from the odd sensation still prickling at the base of his neck. "It's too late for anything big. Grilled cheese? Or maybe a fruit salad."

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