Page 55 of Hunting Pretty

Like the police chief said, her favorite Balmain biker jacket was gone.

As was the Chanel vintage quilted backpack she was so proud of thrifting that she never went anywhere without.

Suddenly two strong hands grabbed me from behind.

I dropped my phone from the shock and it somersaulted around the closet until it fell harmlessly on its front, muffling the stream of light against the carpeted floor.

I was shoved up against the walk-in closet’s full-length mirror, my back thudding against the glass, my breath whooshing out of me in a rush.

I went to scream but a gloved hand covered my mouth.

In the dim light, I was met with the same electric blue eyes that haunted my daydreams.

It was him.

My stalker.

And once again, he was pressed up against me so that I could feel every single hard muscled inch of him.

My body erupted into flames, the exhilaration of fear and desire running through my veins like a current. I felt awakened after a lifetime of being asleep.

I felt alive.

I felt…

Ifelt.

It was only now that the heat of him rolled into me, setting me on fire, that I realized I’d been moving through life numb. Cold. Frozen to my bones.

Before I could rethink my next move, he peeled his hand off my mouth and scowled, his dark brows furrowing with obvious displeasure. “What did I say to you?”

I snapped back before I could stop myself. “Well, you just havesomany clever things to say that I just can’t remember them all.”

I shouldn’t be talking back to my dangerous stalker. But something about him just made me want to cover myself up with sass and bravado.

Maybe it was my messed-up reaction to being cornered.

Or maybe it was the unnerving way he seemed to stare right into my soul.

Whatever it was, way to go, Ava, for baiting your stalker.

“Stubborn girl.” He smirked, something between amusement and annoyance passing across his eyes.

Then it hardened into a simmering fury. “Stupidgirl.”

I made an indignant noise. “Who are you calling stupid?”

“I told you to stop investigating and what do you do?” His hot breath fanned my forehead, the slight sweet scent of mint on his breath mixed with the spice and musk of his cologne. “You snoop around Liath’s bedroom?”

“Sorry not sorry if I don’t respond to threats the way you want me to, asshole.”

“God, you make me crazy.” He grabbed my upper arms and shook me, literally shook me, causing my teeth to rattle. “Ava, you need tostop.”

“What?” I tried pushing his hands off me, but his gripjust tightened almost to the point of pain. “Scared I’ll find something you don’t want me to see?”

“Yes.”

Prickles raced across my skin. He knew something about Liath’s disappearance. I had to make him confess.

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