Page 27 of Hayden's Stalker

I keep my eyes down but swallow heavily. Okay, so Jesse was giving her weird looks, too.

“I’m just curious to see how you work. It’s different, that’s for sure.”

I’m staring at the words on the screen, but I’m also fascinated by the conversation my security team is having in the front seats.

“How so?”

Yeah. How so, Jesse?

“Well, we don’t use clients’ first names for a start. But also, you seem to have a knack for handling people. Hayden definitely seems to like you.”

My stomach flutters, and heat rushes to my cheeks. He’s not wrong. I do think Tatiana is awesome, and it would be hard not to realize that I’m sexually attracted to her. It’s embarrassing that it’s so damn obvious, though.

“Well, I have to be able to put my clients at ease. People skills are kind of a part of the job,” Tatiana says.

A timely reminder for me that I’m a job for Tatiana Swanson. I have a boyfriend, anyway. So it doesn’t matter how hot she is because I’m not a cheater.

We’re pulling into the underground garage of Sebastian and Lita’s apartment building as Jesse says, “I’ll be interested to see how your people skills stack up to Sebastian Fox.”

I onlyjustmanage to stop myself from bursting into laughter, and I’m grinning down at my phone as Tatiana laughs, “I’m sure I can handle him.”

When we get upstairs, we find Sebastian sitting on the sofa in the living room, holding his newborn baby, Mirabella, in his arms. His phone is next to him, and white noise comes from it, filling the room with its buzz. His head is against the back of the sofa, and his eyes are closed as I walk toward him.

“Hey, S—” I say before Sebastian’s eyes fly open, and he gives me a horrified look.

“I just got her to sleep,” he whispers quietly.

I lean over and look at the tiny baby. She’s wrapped in a gray blanket and has her eyes closed, looking utterly adorable.

“She’s gorgeous, Seb,” I say softly.

Sebastian sounds completely entranced as he says, “She really is.”

It’s strange seeing Sebastian like this. A father. A year ago, I never would’ve believed it would happen, but when he fell for Lita, he fell hard and fast. I look at the little baby who, on the surface, was the reason behind it. I know that’s not it, though. He was different with Lita from the night he met her.

I want that. I’ve always wanted that, and I can’t believe Sebastian found it before me. Blake is my boyfriend, but I know it’s not that with him. This knowledge makes me sad, and I push it away because at the very least Sebastian has found happiness.

“I’m going to try and transfer her. I’ll be back in a second,” Sebastian whispers.

He grabs his phone before he stands and carries Mirabella out of the room. The white noise fades as he makes his way down the hallway to the bedrooms.

I watch him go, then realize that Tatiana is over at the side of the room and smile at her. “Sorry. I’m meant to be sitting next to you, aren’t I?”

She smiles and shakes her head at me. “It’s not that literal. I’ll let you know if I ever need you to move. I would like a walkthrough of this apartment if Sebastian is amenable, but I know that’s not possible every place we go.”

Jesse walks up behind her to ask, “Can I have the car keys? I’ll go get dinner while you guys are here.”

Tatiana nods before pulling the keys out of a pocket at her hip. It pulls my attention downward, and I can’t help looking at her legs below the hem of her dress. If she’s carrying a gun, surely that must be where it is right now? The top of her dress is tight with no sign of a weapon. The dress lies flat against her legs on the outside, so does that mean the gun is between her legs? Is that safe?

“Hayden, it’s so good to see you,” Lita says as she appears nearby.

“Hi, Lita,” I stand from the sofa to hug her.

“I hope you’re hungry. I’ve made gnocchi,” she says with a smile.

Lita makes thebestItalian food, and I grin at her. “I’m starving.” I look over at Tatiana and realize I should introduceher. “Lita, this is Tatiana Swanson, my security specialist. Tati, this is Lita. She’s Sebastian’s fiancée.”

Lita walks over to Tatiana and holds out her hand. “Nice to meet you. Hayden calls you Tati?”

---