Page 7 of Don't Leave Me

“Drive straight to the police station and if the person followed, I should lay on my horn until a cop came out to see what was going on.” I roll my eyes. I get it, I screwed up, but that doesn’tmean he needs to call me out in front of everyone. Especially Pecker.

“I rest my case. Listen to Colt or come home.”

“Fine!” I huff and stand to my full height. I'm tired of being bossed around. I understand Uncle Mason and Dad are trying to protect me, but I'm not a child anymore.

I stare out the bay windows at the backyard, keeping my arms folded tightly around my waist. I tune out the rest of their conversation as I watch a few fawns follow a doe through the backyard. Snow, Colt’s dog, is sitting in the window watching them, but she doesn’t whine or bark like I’d expect a dog to do. She just watches them with interest.

I'm so focused on the deer, I don’t notice someone’s approached me until a large hand settles onto the small of my back. I glance up and stare into Pecker’s blue eyes. His brown hair is a little messy, like he’s been running his hands through it. Somehow that makes him look even more adorable.

“C’mon, let’s take a walk.”

Chapter 5

Pecker

The way she stares up at me has me feeling like I'm the only man in the world. I keep playing it off and acting like there’s no way Sophia’s interested in me, yet when she looks at me like this, it’s hard to believe. She looks like a woman in love, but she can’t be in love with me, we just met.

“Why are we going for a walk?” She asks quietly when we’re a dozen yards away from the house.

“A few reasons. It’s a nice night, a little chilly, but still nice. Leslie wanted to talk to Colton alone. And I sort of wanted an excuse to spend more time with you. Alone.”

“Why do you want to spend time with me?” She arches a brow, daring me to lie to her.

“Well, you’re new to town and so am I. I don’t really know anyone other than my sister and her kids. It makes it pretty lonely. I'm guessing you probably feel the same way.” I shrug, taking the easy way out of the conversation.

There’s no way I'm going to admit I want to know more about her. That I'm dying to ask her a million questions and beg her to go out with me.

When she told me at dinner how much she wants to own a bakery, I nearly wept with excitement. Sydney owns the bakery in town. I know the two of them will get along so well. I can’t wait for them to meet.

“Huh, I didn’t expect you to hide behind a bullshit answer.” She glances at me, then keeps walking.

I’m left frozen in my spot for a second before I shake my head and jog to catch up with her.

“How is that bullshit?”

“I just don’t believe you. I'm not moving to Maple Springs, Peck. I'm here visiting my cousin. I'm not lonely and I don’t need someone to hang out with.”

“Just because you won’t be living here doesn’t mean you can’t get lonely while you’re in town,” I murmur, trying to keep pace with her.

For being a tiny woman, she sure does walk fast. She moves until we reach a large stone and takes a seat. She folds her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them. She’s still staring off into the distance and I can tell there’s something going through her head.

“What are you thinking about?” I slowly lower myself onto the rock next to her.

“Jimmy. What if he’s really in town?”

“Then we’ll protect you and Leslie. We’ll make sure you’re safe and hopefully we can catch him.”

“He’s dangerous,” she whispers. “The things he’s done to her… I can’t even imagine.”

“That’s ok, I can be dangerous too.”

“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes.

“What? You don’t think I could be dangerous?” I ask with amusement, but it makes me wonder how she truly sees me.

“I think you’re too sweet to want to hurt anyone.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to hurt anyone, but I could do it if I needed to protect someone… Are you scared?”

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