Page 53 of Seduction in Spades

“Why’s that?”

“Big, burly, SEAL is a momma’s boy and his sister’s therapist? Kind of out of character.”

“Stereotyping me, are you?”

“Of course I am.”

“My niece and nephew see me for who I am.”

“And who is that?” I laugh as I pick up a sushi roll with my chopsticks.

“A badass military uncle who gives them lots of presents.”

“So they see you as Superman with money.”

“I guess you could say they’re my kryptonite. Katie has me wrapped around her little fingers, and Theo follows me around like a loyal puppy.”

“Lots of pressure not to be an ass in front of them, huh?”

Nolan isn’t offended. I’m pretty sure he enjoys it when I taunt him, if only because he’s the exact opposite of what I accuse him to be.

“The struggle is real.”

He tells me more stories of his childhood and boasts about how intelligent his niece and nephew are. I can hear the love in his voice and how much he cares about his family. Nolan grew up in the perfect household with supportive parents in small-town America. We’re opposites from our upbringing to our goals in life, and I’ve been leading him on.

I may have been telling him with my words that I don’t want a relationship, but I’ve allowed him to work his way into my heart. I either need to cut ties with him completely or bring us back to a purely sexual relationship.

We finish our meal, and he walks me back to my apartment. He may pretend the struggle is real to be well-behaved in front of his niece and nephew, but the struggle is ridiculously real to not fall at Nolan’s feet and let him break my heart.

I catch him scanning the overhang and lift my gaze to figure out what he’s looking at. “What’s up there?”

“Nothing.”

I turn my back to the still-closed door and face him. “What is it?”

He lets out a deep sigh. “I installed cameras around your apartment a few weeks ago.”

“You what?” I push at his chest. “That’s a major infringement on my privacy!”

“Mostly outside. The perimeter of the building, the doors and windows.”

“Mostly?Elaborate.”

“There are only two cameras inside. One is angled at your entry door. I can only see a few feet in front of it. The other is above the window. I can’t see inside your apartment.”

I process for a moment. The only windows I have are next to my bed.

“When did you do this? Last night? While I was sleeping?” I was surprised I didn’t hear him do the dishes, but installing cameras requires some major stealth silence.

“The night the six of us went to the Yard House. After I walked you home from the museum.”

My jaw drops. “You’ve been watching me for two weeks?” I should feel creeped out, but tingles dance up my spine at the thought of Nolan watching me.

“Not you. Your apartment.”

“Show me.” I jam my key into the lock and open the outside door stomping my way down the hallway to my apartment. When we’re inside, I tilt my head to the ceiling. “Where is it?”

Nolan points to the recessed light. “I can only see the door. As soon as you step away from it, you’re out of range.”

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