Page 133 of Texting Dr. Stalker

He stood cloaked in darkness. Black tee, black jeans, black boots. The boots looked similar to the ones Zander wore when we went riding, but that was where the similarities ended. X’s glossy blue-black hair caught the glow of my outside fairy lights. The glint of silver through his eyebrow seemed a little out of place and his balled hands spoke of a thread of violence that Zander would never have.

Zander would give his shirt to anyone who needed it.

X would most likely make them work for it to prove they deserved it.

My stomach soared and dived, leaving me a little breathless. “You know…this is the fourth time you’ve been in my house and the first to actually be invited.”

His dark brown eyes crinkled as he smiled, his mouth hidden beneath the familiar mocking skull mask. “I apologise. Next time I hear you screaming, I’ll use the doorbell.”

I stood taller, feeling better than I had in so long.

I could no longer tell if it was thanks to X teaching me how to let go or Zander proving I was stronger than I looked. Either way, both men had been the catalyst to finally guiding me out of the dark.

“You cancomeanytime you want.” I grinned, shocked at my blatant flirting.

He staggered a little, then his eyebrows came down, shadowing his rich dark eyes. “Careful, Lori. I’m like one of those vampires who need an invitation into a house. Grant me the right tocomewhenever I want, and you won’t be able to keep me out.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Leaning outside, I grabbed his wrist and jerked him over the threshold. He tripped against me, sending us crashing against the doorframe.

I sucked in a breath as one of his hands went to my hip to steady me and the other slammed above my head to stop us from tumbling over.

He stopped breathing. His eyes searched mine. His chin tipped lower, and for a second, I had the stupid idea he was going to kiss me.

But then the moment was gone, and he shoved himself away.

Peng meowed, sending X almost tripping again. Backpedalling to avoid stepping on my tiny orange soulmate, he scowled and grabbed Peng from the floor. “Both of you are trying to kill me, I swear.”

Peng immediately began purring, trying to claw his way out of X’s hold to rub himself all over the skull mask.

I’d heard some animals were affectionate to everyone, but the way he stared at X spoke of full-blown love, not just first attraction besottedness.

“He really seems to like you,” I murmured, heading toward the cooling cake dripping with gooey fudge.

“I seem to have that effect on animals,” he muttered, trying to extract himself from the forced loving Peng delivered.

“Oh?” I cut two big pieces of cake and put them into flower-printed bowls. “Vanilla, rockyroad, or butterscotch?”

“Uh, vanilla. Thanks.”

I couldn’t contain my smile as I headed to the freezer and took out the tub of ice cream. If he wasn’t wearing a mask and I knew his name, this would be any other night with any other couple. This was normal. Nice. Addictive.

Ladling a generous scoop into both bowls, I giggled as Peng clawed his way up X’s t-shirt and snuggled into his neck.

X squirmed as Peng headbutted his chin.

I laughed. “I think he might be telling me he’d prefer to be adopted by you. Either that or you’ve smuggled in some catnip.”

He chuckled, sending a wash of goosebumps over me. “He’s just happy. Aren’t you, Penguin? Finally found your forever person.”

The spoons I’d grabbed from the drawer clanked against the bowls as I dropped them.

Spinning to face him, my heart took off at a dead sprint. “Zander?”

I had front-row seats to his reaction.

With smooth, unhurried motions, he reached up, plucked the kitten from where he’d made a home for himself on his shoulder, and held him out to me. Our fingers brushed as he plopped Peng into my hands, then backed up and leaned against the table. Crossing his arms, he cocked his head. “Zander?” His voice thickened with extra gruff. “Who’s that?”

I frowned, searching him, not entirely convinced. “He’s my neighbour.”

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