Page 17 of Stalked

Right then, I reached out, opening my palm for him to take.

He gave me a curt nod and wrapped his fingers in mine.

Riley held my hand for a few minutes longer, allowing me to relax before I let go, releasing our touch. “Thank you for sharing that with me,” I said while standing up. “We need to do this more often than we have been.”

We locked eyes, and I saw the strength behind them and gave him a reassuring nod before we said our goodbyes for the night.

When we were both in our cars, I waved at him and turned the key, but Lily’s truck stood still.

“Oh, you stupid truck, don’t do this,” I whined. “Not today, please. Not today.”

I tried again, and nothing happened. I opened the door to flag Riley down, but he had already rounded the corner, disappearing down the road.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

I ran to the car to grab my phone, hoping I could get him to come back for me, but I didn’t see it anywhere—not in my purse or under the seat.

“Dammit,” I swore out loud that time.

Back at the cove where we had been sitting, I kneeled on the floor, my jeans digging into the dirt and rocks. I peered underneath the bench and let out a frustrated grunt when I didn’t see it there, either. Right as I clambered to my feet and wiped the dirt off my pants, I noticed a shadow on the ground in front of me. Instinctively, I stepped back and looked up into the eyes of a man standing right in front of me.

My heart leaped at the startling appearance of a stranger appearing out of nowhere. Yet, despite that, my eyes were drawn to take in the face and form of the man before me.

He was gorgeous. Beautiful even.

A smile of amusement reached his lips. “Sorry to startle you,” he murmured. “Did you lose this?”He held up my cell phone.

The guy’s voice was low and steady, but I moved back again out of growing suspicion. He looked like he had taken a step out of a magazine. All his features were perfect, almosttooperfect that it was hard to look at him. His dark, wavy brown hair reached right below the center of his neck, messy but flawless at the same time. The stubble over his chiseled jaw complimented his high cheekbones. But what stood out the most were his bright amber eyes. They were breathtaking. As his gaze penetrated mine, for a moment, a sense of familiarity washed over me.

Do I know him? No. I would have recognized that face.

I shifted my weight between my feet, ready to take off at the first sign of danger. My entire body screamed at me to run in the opposite direction. I glanced around, looking for anyone else, but we were the only two people in the park.

Fuck.Me.

His gaping stare was unnerving as a chill ran through my body. I forced out a smile to assure him I didn’t believe him to be a threat and he couldn’t frighten me. I wasn’t sure what the guy’s deal was, but approaching a woman alone in the park the way he had would freak anyone out.

“Yeah, um, thanks,” I said unconvincingly. The tremble in my voice was enough to give me away. “I’ve been looking everywhere for it.”

“Here.” He held out my phone. I stretched out my hand and grabbed it, putting it in my back pocket.

I willed myself to look away from him and focus on what he was wearing. Dark jeans, and a brown T-shirt, all fitted snugly against his body, and his maroon hoodie had been left unzipped. I tried to divert my eyes from the intense gaze he had fixed on my face.

My body also responded in a way I hadn’t expected, as a smile flickered at the side of his mouth. I felt the warming sensation between my legs while a calming, unexpected energy danced between us. For a second, I lost myself in the intensity.

Why is he staring at me like that? And what the hell is wrong with me?

A wave of dizziness flooded me, and I imagined for a moment what he might have looked like under his shirt.

What the fuck, Mercy?

I shook my head, clearing that image out of my mind. Why would I even think about that? I don’t know this guy. Something was seriously wrong here, so I glanced at my car as a plan to escape. Would I be able to make it there in time? Would he chase me? Could I even outrun him?

An awkward silence passed between us before he said, “I’m Caleb. Caleb Blackwell.”

Be smart. Don’t be an idiot and give him your real name.

“Angie.” The lie had rolled off my tongue so easily.

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