Page 2 of Pucks, Lies, and Sticktape

She had a stalker.

A touchy-feely-stalker.

A sexually-harassing stalker who was getting bolder with each passing day.

“C’mon Jeannie, I’m just being friendly…”

“You need to find another friend, another place to eat, and anotherbuildingto live in.”

“Hey Mary,” Jim hollered past her, looking coolly at Jeannie – who swallowed in awareness. He was trying to get her in trouble and showing her he held all the cards. “You’ve got a real gem in ol’ Jeannie. I come herejust… for… her.”

“Stop it,” Jeannie hissed under her breath, feeling a wave of panic flutter within her. She couldn’t lose this job because she didn’t have a car, didn’t have much money saved up, had put everything into her website, using this to keep the bills paid – and going back to Philly wasn’t an option.

Both of her parents had remarried, were disappointed that she didn’t go to college, frustrated that she moved clear across the country, and that she refused to be in politics like them. She refused to schmooze, kiss butt, and smear other people into the ground – and drew that line long, long ago.

“Now, be a good girl,” Jim ordered quietly, knowing that he practically had the upper hand at this moment and had found her weak spot – money and a steady income. “You do what I say, and I’ll make sure you get a nice tip… both here and at home, sweetness.”

“In case you didn’t understand me, you pervert,” Jeannie hissed, feeling tears well up because she was going to have to start her job search again – and move. It was a lot of expenses she didn’t need because of one slimy guy. “You need to leave me alone, quit following me everywhere, and just go to…”

A hand shot out and grabbed Jim’s hand where he was trying to touch her once more, flying around the corner of the booth almost like a snake surging forward in an attack. The impact of skin on skin made a slight pop that she would never forget in her life for as long as she lived – and her horrified eyes turned and met the bluest ones she’d ever seen as a tall, well-built, blond man unfolded from the small booth and stood up, still clutching Jim’s wrist.

“She’s already asked you, and now I’m gonna do the same,” the stranger said quietly as he turned back to look at Jim, and Jeannie continued to stare completely taken aback at this unexpected twist. “If you touch mywifeagain or any other woman without permission, I will crack your wrist like an egg.”

Wife?

What did he say?

“Get your hands off of me… and she’s not married.”

“Yes, I am,” Jeannie blurted out, grasping desperately at the offer of protection in a panic. “It’s okay…honey.”

She had no clue what this guy’s name was – but as she stared at his profile, she couldn’t help but compare him to what she imagined a guardian angel would look like.

All that blond hair, a slight curl to it, bright blue eyes, a calmness that hid everything, dressed in a white T-shirt and pale jeans… oh yes, if he sprouted a pair of white angel wings right now and a halo began to glow, she would not be shocked in the slightest.

“The things he said to you arenotokay with me,” her angel growled protectively. “It’s filthy, disgusting, and it gives all men a bad image when someone like this gets away with this sort of garbage. I have a younger sister, and I can tell you right now that if it was Katie that I wouldn’t be holding his wrist or threatening it. I’d break his freakin’ face.”

“I’m gonna call the cops…”

“I wish you would,”her angel snarled, obviously upset that Jim wasn’t backing down. “I’m not in a good mood already, so if you want to throw gasoline on the fire… bring it.”

“Honey,” Jeannie started, trying to calm the stranger down as she heard silence from the rest of the diner around her. She felt every eye was on them and knew there would be so many questions… if she wasn’t fired for all of this. “Let him go.”

“So he can do this again?” those incensed blue eyes turned to look at her. “No. If I let him go, then we’re leaving.”

Jeannie gulped.

This man was bigger than her, obviously stronger, and while he had stopped Jim from his blatant sexual harassment, she also knew it wouldn’t stop him forever. The idea of going from thefrying pan into the fire with another person didn’t sit well, and she had no clue how to explain that without giving away the lie to everyone or undoing this moment.

“Trust me to handle this,” her angel said sternly. “Take my keys out of my pocket, go get in the car, and we’ll discuss this job over dinner somewhere else.”

“I can’t leave…”

“You can’t stay if he’s following you.”

“I don’t know what to do…” she whispered, her eyes searching his.

“Trust me.”

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