Page 42 of Tinsel Time Treasure
He shook his head. “No! I couldn’t ask that… I’ll be ok.”
I smiled. “I want to stay with you. I know I wouldn’t want to be alone if our situations were reversed.”
“Thank you,” he murmured, a hint of pink dusting his cheeks above his beard.
“Maybe we can find a camera system in town,” I suggested. “I can take you to a store if you find one you like. That way you don’t have to wait for shipping.”
He thought about it. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Good.” I paused. “May I give you a hug?”
He studied me, lip quivering the tiniest bit, then he nodded. “Yes.”
I opened my arms, and he walked straight into my embrace, relaxing against me in a way that said more than words ever could.
It was also more raw emotion than Linden had displayed with me in years. The simple act of a hug conveyed absolute trust in a way I never knew that it could.
I wanted more. I needed to know what Justin was like when he felt free.
And I wanted that version of Justin in my life.
Chapter 15 - Justin
Icouldn’t explain it, but there was something about being near Max that soothed me to the depths of my soul.
The insecure part of me insisted that he was just being nice to me without being a creep, and that I was seeing something that wasn’t there because he was protecting me. But there was a tiny voice deep inside that hoped there was something more.
Even though I’d only known him for less than a day, I could tell that Max’s kindness was genuine. He made me smile, even when I wasn’t sure I could, and he was handsome too—with his long brown hair and smiling green eyes. He was just the kind of alpha I wanted.
Could I trust myself though? I didn’t have the best track record with alphas, and my current situation just reinforced that assessment.
I stood on a stepstool and screwed in a security camera that fit the porch light fixture, hoping that it was discreet enough that Frederick wouldn’t notice.
“Ok,” I said once it was in. “See if the app can find it.”
Max held my phone in his hand, poking at the screen. “It’s online,” he declared after a couple minutes. “Try aiming it.”
I pointed the camera at the door, hoping that it would have a clear view of the knob.
“There,” Max declared.
I stopped and made sure he didn’t need me to adjust it any further. Once it seemed that he was happy I climbed down from the stool and approached the doorknob, acting like I was being secretive about opening it.
Max sighed. “It’s not the greatest angle, but I don’t think it’s going to get any better. Let me see what it looks like when you use a key.”
I nodded and pulled out my key, pretending to unlock the door.
A low growl escaped his throat. “I’m not happy, but it’ll have to do since we can’t move the light fixture.”
“You don’t think adjusting the aim will do?”
He shook his head and handed my phone over so that I could watch the screen as he approached the door. “See, it’s not got the best view of the hands. We’ll just have to hope he sucks at picking locks and it takes him long enough to be obvious that it’s not a key he’s using.”
I sighed, seeing what he meant. “Still, I think it’s the most discreet option for above the door. We don’t have to try to attach anything else, which might be a giveaway if he noticed. But the light is something every apartment has, so he shouldn’t question it.”
“Agreed.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my arms.
