Page 19 of Boss with Benefits

“He’s grandpa old. But not frail. He practically sprinted when I chased him.”

“You what?” Ethan placed two cups of tea down on the coffee table, then settled in his beat-up Eames chair, sipping his espresso. “That’s really dangerous.”

“I’m not gonna let some old dude scare me.”

Ethan shook his head. “Let him scare you. It’s better than being dead.”

“Harsh.” Eva threw a pillow at him, and he caught it with one hand and shoved it behind his back.

“Seriously, don’t do that again,” he said.

“I sure have a lot of men in my life telling me what to do right now.” I blew air out of my mouth, my lips vibrating.

“Who else is telling you what to do?” Eva asked.

“Derrick. He’s got a savior complex.”

Eva smiled. “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

“I have a dozen texts from him responding to my group text about my results. You’ve seen them. You’re on the text. He’s probably blowing a gasket since I haven’t responded.”

Eva pulled a blanket over my feet and leaned forward, handing me my tea.

“Why haven’t you responded to him?”

“I don’t know. It got kinda weird. I was freaking out over the lump, and so he came with me to the appointment, and it was all strangely intimate. Like relationshipy.”

“God forbid you’re in a relationship.” Eva eyed me over her mug.

“We’re very much not in a relationship. I mean, I’d bang the guy. He’s hot. But I don’t think Derrick does casual sex. Plus, he’s my boss. So, yeah. Not going there.”

“Why are you scared of relationships?” Ethan asked.

“I don’t like to be tied down. I value my freedom.”

“You’re twenty-six. Do you really know what you want?” Ethan asked.

“Don’t patronize me, sir. I know exactly what I want. Enough money to comfortably live and travel a couple of times a year. Roller Derby until I die! And lots of hot, untethered sex.” I crossed my arms and stuck out my tongue. “That’s what I want. Oh, and to find out who the hell is following me around this town.”

“Did that officer find out anything?”

“Nah. I mean, I think he tried. As a favor to Derrick. But we have almost no info on the stalker.” I sat up straight, suddenly remembering something from that morning.

“What?” Eva asked.

“I think he’s Asian.”

“Who?”

“My stalker. He wore sunglasses and that hat, but there was something about his face structure. That’s what I picture when I see him in my mind. A short, Asian dude. Like East Asian.”

I picked up my phone and called Officer Lee. It went to his voicemail, but I told him what had happened that morning and this new clue.

“Do you think he’s Chinese?” Eva asked, perking up.

That would be interesting since I was half-Chinese, but I had no idea why it would make a difference.

“I didn’t get that good of a look, and I could be making it up. He was mostly covered up. But...” There was just something in my gut that told me this little nugget was important.

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