Page 37 of Recklessly Yours

“You and I obviously have different understandings of whatgoodmeans.” She sounded defeated, and her whole body sagged as she sat on one of the stools at the island.

I read the text he’d sent, cursing under my breath. Damn, no wonder she was so upset.

He’ll never have you. You are mine. Soon, you’ll see that.

Although that message was not ideal, it did mean that my plan was working. Word that Hattie and I were dating had gotten around. Now we were aware that the stalker knew it too.

“I’m staying home today,” she said, gaze focused on the granite in front of her.

“I don’t think?—”

She lifted her head and hit me with a pleading look so pitiful I knew I’d give her anything she asked for in that moment. I stepped in close and gripped her shoulder. At the mix of dejection and fear in her expression, I pulled her up and into my chest. “Okay. I’ll let Aiden know that I won’t be in.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“If you’re about to suggest I leave you here by yourself today?—”

“Right. No. That’s probably not a good idea either.”

My stomach twisted painfully. “It’s fine, Hattie. I can work from home.”

“You sure?”

Was I sure? Mostly. Regardless, I’d say what I needed to in order to convince her that it was fine. If staying home today would make her feel better, then that was what we’d do.

“Yeah. I can even find another true crime documentary to bore you with if you want.” I sent her a wink.

For the first time since stepping into the kitchen five minutes ago, she cracked a smile. “Or…I can introduce you to the world ofThe Kardashians.”

I cringed at the tortuous idea but responded with, “Sure.”

Whatever it took to make her smile and forget about the stalker who’d just threatened her.

HATTIE

I hadto give Dylan credit. He made it through one whole episode ofThe Kardashians. I half expected him to get up and leave the room within minutes, but not only did he stick out the entire episode, I even caught him chuckling a couple of times.

Fresh bowl of popcorn in hand, I shuffled back to the living room. “That wasn’t too bad, was it?” I sat on the sofa across from him.

One corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “Depends on what your definition of bad is.”

Amusement threaded through me. “Come on, admit it. You laughed.”

“Yeah, the way you would laugh at someone who trips and falls.” He shrugged and went back to working on his computer.

I picked up the remote to play another episode and popped a kernel of popcorn into my mouth.

“Where did you find the popcorn?” His brows pulled together.

Frowning, I assessed him. “In your cabinet…”

“Interesting.”

Interesting? Wasn’t that where most people kept their popcorn? In their cabinets or pantries? “Huh?”

“I don’t buy popcorn anymore.”

Confused, I tilted my head, working through that strange choice of words.Anymorewould imply he used to.

---