Page 30 of Only If You Dare

“That’s more like it.”

Santana strolled away to enter the kitchenette and Julian pulled me in again. I rested my head against his broad chest, longing to stay there.

“I’m going to leave you two alone. Does Santana have family here in Houston?”

“Yes. Her mother and father live here.”

“No sisters or brothers?”

“No.” I could see the wheels turning in Julian’s head. “What are you thinking?”

“Until this guy is caught she could use some security.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yeah. I think I do. Remember, if you need anything to come see me. I’m just down the hall.”

I didn’t respond. Julian pulled back lifting my chin with his finger. “Do you hear me, Desiree?”

“Yes, thanks for… everything.”

“No thanks needed. I’m here whenever you need me.”

His words shouldn’t have touched me the way they did; in a personal way that went beyond boundaries. I wouldn’t deny that I didn’t love them or the way I felt inside with every move he made to make sure I was taken care of. This was something I could get used to, but I wouldn’t. I had to keep reminding myself that men were untrustworthy, no matter what they said.

Julian removed himself from what was now our temporary home. A whistle came from the kitchen, drawing my attention to Santana standing idle watching me.

“No wonder you were safe. I’d feel safe to with that man around to rescue me.” I smirked and went into the kitchenette. At the sink, I washed my hands in silence and thought about Jasper. When I turned around, Santana was watching me like a hawk with a worried expression on her face.

“I’m alright,” I said. “How are you? Your house was burglarized, too.”

“More like trashed,” she said. “I can’t tell if the idiot took anything because the house was literally turned upside down.”

“Who do you think it could be?” I asked.

Santana tossed her hands up. “Who knows. The four of us have done tons of stories together.”

“Yeah, but whoever this was felt like we ruined his life, so it must be someone who was maybe on trial or in jail possibly.”

I was desperate to find a solution. I couldn’t continue to walk around looking over my shoulder.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Santana said.

“You do?”

“Yeah, we’re all thinking the same thing. Is this bastard going to keep stalking us or was this just a one-time thing to scare us?”

I groaned and sat down at the table, taking my fork and playing around with the Chinese food in front of me.

“I can’t express enough how sorry I am about Jasper.”

I waved her off. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay. Tell me, what’s going on with you and Julian?”

I groaned again. Her guess was as good as mine. Something was happening. I just wasn’t sure what it was so I shrugged.

“I don’t know. Nothing officially, and everything unofficially.”

---