Page 18 of His Every Move

Benji leaned back on the fountain, one arm slung lazily over the stone edge. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Jesus. He had to know what he was doing. He had to feel the same pull I did—the unspoken thing crackling between us, charged like static before a storm.

I crossed my arms and cleared my throat, trying to keep my composure. “Well, I’d love to spend all afternoon talking about how you’re using innocent puppies to flirt with me, but I think we should get to business.”

His smirk faded slightly, the teasing glint in his eyes cooling into something sharper. “Right. The message.”

I pulled out my phone, unlocking it and scrolling to the text from Nomad. The words still made my skin crawl. I sat down next to him. There was a man creating long, trailing bubbles that popped in a wave of misty rainbows. He drew in a pretty large crowd, kids running as close as they could to the bubbles without popping them, a photographer trying to capture the perfect shot.

Benji took the phone from me, his jaw tightening as he read the message. The muscles in his forearm flexed, his grip on my phone tightening.

I shifted on my feet, rubbing my arms. “So, uh. This is not great, right? How the hell did they get my number?”

Benji’s eyes lifted to mine. His expression frightened me almost as badly as the text did. He looked worried. “It isn’t ideal, but it could also be a blessing in disguise. We have a number now. I might be able to use this. They’re getting impatient, so they could be making mistakes.”

Impatient.

The word settled in my gut like a stone dropped into a well.

Benji must have noticed the way my body tensed because his voice softened, just a little. “I meant it when I said I’d protect you.”

I swallowed hard, caught off guard by the weight behind his words. I didn’t often have people in my life who were so focused on protecting me. Use me, maybe. But protect me?

No, that was new.

“That’s a pretty big promise, Detective.”

He tilted his head. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

Fuck.

I looked away, suddenly feeling too seen, like he was peeling me open without even trying.

Benji cleared his throat, shifting gears. “We need to get those cameras set up. I want to make sure you’re safe and protected. I think we should put one in your bedroom as well. Next to that flower lamp so it faces the?—”

Benji froze. I cocked my head. A curious sound escaped my mouth. “Um… how do you know about that?” I asked.

Chapter7

Benji Morrison

Fuuuuck.

I made a massive mistake. I caught myself the second the words left my mouth, but by then, it was too late. I couldn’t turn back time, couldn’t put the idiot fucking genie back into the idiot fucking bottle.

Eli cocked his head, a furrow appearing on his forehead as his brows dipped together.

“How do you know about that?” he asked.

Because I’ve been watching you for months.

Because I’ve developed an intense attraction for you.

Because you remind me of someone I lost and thought I’d never have back.

Because I’m fucked-up. I’m sorry.

My body buzzed. My muscles felt loose, my cheeks hot. Flushed not only because of my embarrassment but also because of the alcohol I drank only half an hour earlier.

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