Page 17 of Saved from Obsession

GEORGIA

Today it’s a little harder than usual to smile when Leo comes through the door.

Even though, in the week and a half that I’ve been staying at the duplex, Leo’s visits have become the highlight of my day. Each day as the time draws closer to four P.M., my spirits lift and I feel like I have something to look forward to. Not that Rylan and Cole aren’t nice, but being around Leo is different.

When I’m around Leo, I can actually forget about all the crap going on in my life and just enjoy spending time with him.

And I’m intrigued by the contradiction of him—the big, tough, quietly intimidating man who is also kind and gentle and loves playing board games. On the outside, he’s someone all eyes would be drawn to, with his ruggedly handsome features and kaleidoscope eyes ever changing from green to bronze. He’s the kind of man who would never have trouble finding a woman for whatever he wanted.

But when it’s just the two of us making dinner or laughing over one of our games, he becomes so much more than that. He watches me, not in a creepy way, but in the sense that he always wants to make sure I’m okay. And he’s sensitive—he always seems to know when a wave of self-consciousness hits me and gives me the space I need to gather myself.

At least a hundred times over the last week, I’ve thought about how I wish things were different. That I met Leo six months ago, back when things were normal, and he could have gotten to know me as an attractive woman and not just someone in need of protection.

Protection from a stalker who decided to ramp up his threats again, which is why I’m having a hard time smiling. I’ve been getting texts every day from him—I’m sure it’s a man, I don’t know why but I just have a feeling—but I’ve been getting better at not letting them get to me. When a message from the stalker comes in, I give it the quickest of glances and then pass the phone over to whichever Blade and Arrow guy is with me.

Leo suggested that I just give my phone to them to hold, so I wouldn’t have to deal with the stress of the messages. It would be easier to pretend the messages aren’t coming, but after I thought about it for a few minutes, I told him, “I need to know. I’ve never hidden from the truth before, and I’m not going to start now.”

I said the same thing when the letters came today and Rylan tried to keep me from seeing them. I told him I didn’t want to be coddled, and I wanted to know what the letters said. As I peered around his shoulder at the vicious words on the paper, angry slashes in red ink promising to do terrible things to me, I wasn’t so sure I made the right decision.

But I wasn’t going to fall apart, even though the letters terrified me, not after I made a stink about seeing them. Instead, I grabbed a book and burrowed into the corner of the couch and stared at the pages without reading them. The words are still imprinted in my mind, even though I’m trying hard to erase them so I can enjoy my hours with Leo and not let the stalker ruin another thing for me.

“Hey.” Leo’s low rumble comes toward me, and he sits down on the couch cushion next to me. He’s been talking to Rylan for the last five minutes, speaking in quiet, solemn tones, and I’m assuming Rylan was telling him about the letters.

“Hi.” I force the same smile I gave him when he came in. My voice sounds weak even to me, so I try again, pushing an enthusiasm I wish I was feeling. “Are you still going to teach me how to make that pasta dish?” Even trying, my words sound flat.

He scans my face, his gaze darkening and brows coming down. Shifting so he’s facing me, he asks me quietly, “How are you doing, Georgia?”

“I’m fine. Good.”Smile. Sound happy. I don’t want to ruin the time I get with Leo already.

“It’s okay to be upset, Georgia.” His eyes capture mine, soft and understanding. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” It comes out harsher than I meant. Softening my tone, I say, “There’s not really anything to talk about. I wanted to see the letters, and I have to deal with the repercussions of that. I don’t…” I swallow past the lump in my throat, “I don’t want to talk about them. I just want to have dinner and play a game and not think about any of the other stuff.”

“Okay, Georgia.” Leo pats my arm, the heat of his big hand searing into me. His voice is so gentle it makes me want to cry. He pauses, his forehead creasing, as if he’s trying to decide something.

“I got you something,” he says. “But I’m not sure if this is the right time to give it to you. I didn’t get it because I knew you were having a rough day, so I don’t want you to think that’s the reason. I just thought you might like it.”

“You don’t have to get me anything, Leo.” Although there’s a little spark of excitement kindling inside me, chasing away some of the chill that’s been lingering all day.

“I know that.” His gaze dips before coming back up to mine. “It just seemed like something you’d enjoy.”

The tiniest of an actual smile tugs at my lips. He looks almost embarrassed, and it’s melting the icy coating around my heart. “Well, you have to give it to me now. Or I’ll bug you all night to tell me what it is.”

His mouth curls up, eyes crinkling. “Well, when you put it that way.” He reaches behind him and pulls out a small box, handing it over to me. “I haven’t seen you with one,” he explains, “but you love reading, so I thought this would be nice. You can get as many books as you want now.”

He bought me a Kindle.

And not just a basic one—a fancy model with wireless charging and the charger and cover and everything. I used to have an old one, but it got lost during one of my moves. And then with all my bills and not working, I didn’t think I should spend the money on another one.

But Leo got me one. He saw how much I love to read, all the books I have scattered around, and he did this for me. I can’t stop myself from reaching over and hugging him.

“Thank you, Leo. I love it. It’s too much, butthank you.”

“You’re welcome, Georgia.” There’s a strained note to his voice, and suddenly I realize my arms are still wrapped around him and my head is buried in his neck.

“Sorry!” I jerk away from him like I just touched a scalding hot stove. My cheeks are also flaming hot as I clutch the Kindle in front of me and stumble over my words. “I didn’t mean to throw myself at you like that. I was just… I love it. Thank you.”

Leo’s jaw is tight, a little muscle twitching at the corner.Crap. I shouldn’t have hugged him like that. The heat in my cheeks spreads to my neck and chest, and my heart starts thumping double-time.

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