Page 17 of Stalker's Valentine

My cutie.

Mine. Mine. Mine,the beast inside me started to chant.

I’d known there was something special about her, but even with how obsessed I was, I hadn’t realized just how much I underestimated her. She was sweet and funny. Slightly dorky but in the cutest of ways.And she is mine, curse be damned.After putting in our coffee orders along with some pastries, I led the way to a table. I had just pulled her seat out when they called our order, but I told her I’d get it.

When I returned, walking right towards her, I doubted we looked away from each other for even a moment. She was my very own lighthouse. The light from those beautiful dark eyes would lead me home every day for the rest of my life if I had anything to say about it.

“Here is your Secret Admirer.”

“Thanks.” She blushed, and I had a feeling she was thinking about whoever had sent her the arrangement. She was thinking about me. I sat a little straighter, puffing my chest out with male pride. I liked her thinking about me even if she didn’t know it.

“What did you get?” she asked, and I grinned.

“Cupid’s Arrow.” It had gone right through me when I’d first seen her, so I felt it fitting. We sat and sipped at our drinks. The look of appreciation on her face after tasting it let me believe she liked her drink. “So, what do you think?”

“About?”

“Your Secret Admirer?” I was playing a dangerous game and knew it.

“How did you know about–––“ Her eyes turned into saucers, and she snorted again. “You mean my drink,” she corrected, and I fought the need to smile. “It’s good. Really good.”

“Is there a secret admirer?” I asked. She stilled, and her eyes met mine just as she was about to take a bite of her almond croissant.

“No!” she quickly denied. “I mean, do those still exist? I mean, out of romance novels, and I mean, why would anyone––“ I loved to listen to her ramble nervously. Fuck, one good wind would make me come in my pants like a damn untouched teenager.

“Merri?” a deep all too familiar voice said behind me, and I winced.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, not missing the fact that Scarlett had caught my reaction. I turned around, and sure enough, it was Austin.

“Scarlett?” he said, and a muscle under my eye ticked. I didn’t like him talking to her.She’s mine,the possessive beast inside growled.

“How do you guys know each other?” His eyes bounced back and forth between us. To anyone else, he seemed relaxed, but I knew my brother—he wasn’t. Austin was putting things together, along with my surly attitude the last couple of weeks.

“We don’t!” she blurted, suddenly standing up and accidentally hitting the chair behind her.

She was obviously nervous, and I had blown my shot at trying to get her to go to dinner with me. Damn it! The beast inside growled.

“Sorry! Excuse me,” she apologized to the ladies at the table next to us. “We don’t know each other,” she said again, and I didn’t like it.You know me, cutie. You know me. I know you do.

“Until a couple of minutes ago when we were in line,” I shared. My brother’s brow rose with suspicion. “I recognized her from the brewery and introduced myself.”

“Right.” Austin nodded, but by the way his eyes bounced between us before they settled on mine, I had a feeling he had cottoned on to my crush on his best friend’s little sister.

“I should actually go. It’s late, and I still have to work.” She squeezed by the chair and stopped in front of me. “Umm, it was nice to meet you, Merritt Hart,” she said in the most endearing way.

And I lost my mind.

Forgetting about my brother’s watchful gaze or the hustle and bustle of the coffee shop, I reached for her again, and it felt like coming home.All from simply holding her hand.I covered it with the other, and her pretty, dark eyes widened for a split second before they dropped to where our hands were connected then came back to me.

“It was really nice to meet you, too, Scarlett Trejo.”To finally meet you again.The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I choked them down. I had been right. Touching her, even if it was just her hand, would be the thing that broke me. I’d need more than sweet little touches.

“Well, umm…” She cleared her throat before she tried to pull her hand away, but I couldn’t get myself to let her go.No! She’s ours!the beast in my head argued, and my heart didn’t fight back. When Austin cleared his throat, it snapped me out ofmy internal fight. I begrudgingly let go, immediately missing its softness and warmth.

She took a step, but when I called out her name, she turned. “Don’t forget about your Secret Admirer.” I wasn’t sure if I was talking about the coffee or me. Either way, it earned me a honey-coated giggle and a shake of her head.

“Right! I’m such a nerd.” She reached for her drink then scurried out like the cutest little bunny to ever live.

My brother and I stood next to one another as I watched her exit the coffee shop. “What the hell do you think you are you doing?” he asked, low enough for it to be for my ears only.

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