Page 172 of Texting Dr. Stalker

“Ooof.” He tripped and almost took me down with him, stumbling over the grass verge bordering his property from mine.

Grabbing me around the waist to keep me upright, he held me close, our soaking skin sticking together. “Shit, Sailor, are you okay?”

I blinked.

I frowned.

I couldn’t catch my bearings.

His eyes searched mine, slowly darkening as he looked back at his house and the trajectory I’d been on. He swallowed hard, his throat slicked with rain. “Eh…I was walking you back to your place, but…did you want to come in? I just assumed it was late, and you’d want to see Peng. But—”

“No! No, you’re right!” My cheeks blazed as hot as the sun. “Of course, I want to see my kitten. I was cruel to go out for so long! I better go. Thanks again for the help and the ride and—goodnight!”

Wrenching my hand from his, I bolted up my front path.

He hadn’t been dragging me to his house.

He’d most likely taken my hand to stop me from slipping in the puddles. He was a gentleman. Not a sexual deviant. Of coursehe was walking me to my door.Of coursehe wasn’t going to rip off my wet clothes and warm me up with his tongue.

God, Lor, what were you thinking?!

“Thanks so much for the ride!” I fumbled for my keys. “And for your help. I-I already said that but thank you!”

Come on. Come on, where are you?

“You better get some rest!” I couldn’t stop speaking. “I know how tired you were earlier tonight. I’m so sorry you had to come get me!”

A-ha, finally!

Snatching my keys from the bottom of my little purse, I flicked through to find the right one only—

My nape prickled.

My heart pounded.

And Zander gently claimed my hips, then spun me around to face him.

Our eyes locked.

We both struggled to catch a breath.

He made me want to melt into the ground as he asked ever so softly, “Why are you running away from me?” His voice turned thick with gravel, sounding painfully familiar. “Is it because you’ve had a flashback from what Milton did or…”

I swallowed hard.

Don’t ask. Don’t you dare ask.

“Or?”

Dammit, Lor!

“Or because you thought I didn’t want you when every bone in my body is begging me to kiss you?”

My insides wrung inside out.

My heart turned into a chaotic butterfly.

I had no words.

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