Page 66 of Texting Dr. Stalker

And then, chemical reaction overrode common sense. I enveloped her in the tightest hug I’d ever given. My fingers wove through her hair as I pressed her cheek to my heart. My spine curled to curve around her, sheltering her the best I could, all while my other arm fit snugly around her waist, pinning her in place.

She shuddered a little as if silently crying, but she didn’t push me away. Didn’t ask me to release her. We stood there, on the spot where she’d almost died, and didn’t say a word.

My eyes closed as I rested my chin on the top of her head.

My heartbeat grew thick and loud, pounding through me.

I lost track of time. I didn’t care how many minutes or hours passed. I had her in my arms. She was safe in my protection. I never wanted to let her go.

A shimmer of light danced on my peripheral as if someone’s shadow passed by in the corridor. The old box TV suddenly turned on, spewing snow and hissing loudly.

Sailor jumped out of my embrace, pressing a hand to her chest. “Oh my God.”

Snatching the remote off the coffee table, I turned it off. Partly because the noise was awful but also the light would be my downfall.

She blinked as I tossed the remote onto the couch and shifted toward the dining room. “I better go.”

“You probably should. This house is haunted.”

“Excuse me?”

She smiled. “By my nana. I think it was her who turned on the TV. Probably doesn’t approve of me hugging a skull-masked stranger in the dead of night.”

“She’s wise, and you should probably follow her suggestion.” I backed up slowly. “I hope I didn’t scare you. That wasn’t my intention when coming in here. I promise I won’t—”

“I won’t move the key.” She dropped her eyes as if embarrassed. “I might second-guess this in the morning, but…I’m glad you were able to get in. You stopped a particularly awful nightmare.” She shuddered as she looked at the carpet again. “I should know better than to fall asleep in here. It’s where the memories are the worst.”

My gaze dropped to the floor. “Are you sure you want to stay here? Maybe a change of scenery would—”

“Don’t you start.” All softness bled from her tone. Crossing her arms, she stood straight and brave. “I’m not letting him chase me out of my home. I’m happy here. Or at least I was. And I’ll remember how to be again. Besides—” she shrugged “—there’s a ghost looking over me. I’ll be okay.”

“And there’s a stranger on the other end of a text message too.” I smiled, not that she’d see it behind my mask. “Anytime.”

“But you won’t let me see your face?”

I shook my head with a sigh. “No, I won’t.”

“Ever?”

A prickle of despair worked its way down my spine. “One day, you’ll know.”

“You sound as if that will be a bad thing.”

Bowing slightly, I ignored her fishing comment. “Goodnight, Lori.”

She sucked in a breath. “I don’t know why hearing you call me Lori makes my heart skip.”

I stiffened. I’d grown used to her honesty on a screen, but to have it in person?

Shit, this couldn’t be any worse for me.

I’d never cared for the games girls played. The secrets and flirting—saying one thing and meaning another. It was partly why I didn’t date—that and my brutal work hours. I wanted straightforward and simple. If I pissed someone off, I’d rather know than be told otherwise. If I impressed her or made her happy, I’d like to see her reaction rather than her hiding it from me, thinking it made her weak.

Reaching for my glasses to nudge them up my nose, my hand stilled as I remembered…I’m not wearing any.

Colin’s warning came back to mind that fiddling with my glasses was one of my biggest tells. I would have to be careful the next time I saw her.

Fuck, next time?

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