Page 19 of Stalked to the Altar

I also had an alternative reason for drinking coffee in the student coffee shop. Every day, like clockwork, Eden would grab a cup of coffee after her literature lecture. She never ate lunch. She skipped it even though she had a full day. I never saw her eat until dinner. I would have to fix that once I claimed her.

I looked at my watch. I had another hour to wait.

A few professors from the science department sat down at my table. Mostly, I ignored them while I formed my plan for Eden, typed in code, on my laptop. It was something my brothers and I came up with when we were young. That was before my younger brother went missing. It was something only we knew. Since I was dead to my family, I didn’t have to worry that anyone would translate it. Another way to keep my obsession safe.

My ears perked up when I heard Eden’s name. I tuned in to the conversation, curious about what they were saying about my little neighbor.

“She was phenomenal.” Professor Greer was saying. He was one of the two Biology professors on term right now.

“I heard about that experiment. Was she the only one to get it right?” Professor Holt sounded like he was fangirling over my woman, and I bit back a growl at the audacity.

“The only so far this entire semester.” This was Professor Black. She was one of the few female professors in the science department. “I can’t wait to have her in my class next semester.”

“Yeah, you’re lucky right now, aren’t you, Caputo?” Professor Greer nudged me with his elbow.

I blinked slowly at them, like I was just hearing my name. “Huh?”

“Oh, leave him alone, Paul. Clearly, he wasn’t listening to us drone on about our favorite student.” Professor Black chuckled.

I smiled at her like I didn’t know they were talking about my obsession. My future wife. The mother of my children. “Who are you guys talking about?”

“Oh, Eden Johnson. I think you have her in your Italian class, right?” Professor Holt chimed in.

I nodded but didn’t comment. I wasn’t sure if I could control myself. There was something in Holt’s eyes I didn’t like. I didn’t know him that well, but he looked like a man who wanted a woman, and no one was going to covetmywoman. No one. I would have to find a way to deal with him if he didn’t watch himself.

I shouldn’t be surprised that Eden was making a name for herself. She was as brilliant as she was beautiful.

“There she is right now.” Professor Greer pointed at my little Eden, standing in line.

“Oh, yes, such a bright student. I was thinking about putting her name in for the Bodies for Change internship,” one of the professors mused out loud.

“You should,” I agreed. “She would be perfect for it. She is ahead of all the other students in my class.”

“That is the year internship in Italy, yes?” another asked.

I hadn’t thought about the ramifications of Eden winning the internship. She would leave for a year. Back to a hostile place where I could not follow her. She would leave me to go gallivanting around the world with no protection.

The rage that simmered in my gut daily reared its ugly head. I tuned out the rest of the useless chatter and focused on Eden. I was so in tune with her, I could tell the moment she felt my gaze by the way her body language changed. But before her eyes could find me, they got snagged on something else.

I almost snarled at the interruption. First my family, now this?

Following the direction of her gaze, I found it was Professor Holt who had distracted her. He was leering as he took her in, licking his lips. Without thinking, I let go of my coffee, spilling it on him to break the hold he had on my Eden.

CHAPTER NINE

Eden

Before noon,I ran to the student coffee shop, like I did every day. I hate stopping for lunch, but I couldn’t finish the day without at least three cups of coffee. It’s not like I could get any sleep between the porn studio that was Silas’ apartment, the stalker who haunted me, and all my studies.

I felt eyes on me as soon as I entered the shop, but I ignored it. I walked up to the cafe counter and smiled at the girl popping her gum.

“What can I get you?” She tapped her nails on the counter, the cheerful tone of her voice not reaching her eyes.

“Can I get a large caramel mocha with a double shot of espresso?” I was pulling out my wallet to pay when a small hand touched mine.

“Add an iced coffee to that, and I’ll pay,” a delicate voice added from behind me.

I turned to decline and looked down at the girl standing there. It was rare that someone my height had to look down. I was usually one of the shortest people in the room. The words caught in my throat as she smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but grin back.

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