Page 10 of Detective Daddy Next Door

I clutch on to the strap of my bag as if it has the power to save me. Could he be telling the truth? I mean, he doesn’t know my full name. I didn't even tell him I live in Long Beach. There was no way he could have found me. The universe is playing the cruelest joke right now. Why would it bring the man I never wanted to see again to my doorstep? Well, not technically to my doorstep, but close enough.

He crosses his arms over his chest. I look at the little girl beside him. She's beautiful. Could she be his daughter? And the woman standing beside the girl. Is she his wife? Was he married when I had sex with him? I want to puke. I don't do married men. But she looks older than he does. She looks old enough to have given birth to him, even though he looks older than me.

"We'll be late. Mr. Miler," the woman says.

"Just a minute, Garcelle," he says to her.

Then he turns back to me. "I don't know where you got the idea that I'm stalking you. But I'm not. Especially not after the way we parted. But I promise you I'll stay out of your way."

I nod. "Good. Stay out of my way," I say, and look at the little girl, who doesn't seem to approve of how I'm speaking to her dad. Her pouted lip tells me that much.

"Good. And you do the same," he spits out.

"I will," I reply, and walk to my car. I get inside and fiddle with the key. It drops and I bend down to pick it up. When I come back up, he's gotten into the car with the little girl and the woman and is driving off.

On my way to work, I can't stop thinking about what just happened. Maybe he's telling the truth. A stalker wouldn't have been as calm as he was. He was just too cool for my liking while addressing me and he seemed unbothered. And if he was truly stalking me, he wouldn't have brought along the little girl I presume to be his daughter. Would he? I can't wait to get to work so I can tell Ava all about it. It's taking all the strength in me not to pull out my phone and call her right now, but I fear I'd get so carried away I’d drive into the next lane.

When I get into the building, I rush to our office, and thankfully Daisy isn't here yet. I don't wait to sit. I pull my phone out of my bag and just as I’m dialing, the office door opens. It's Daisy.

"Jeez. Why are you standing in here with your phone in your hand? Have you forgotten we have a meeting this morning?”

"Shit. Yes, I forgot."

"What's wrong with you? You never forget things like this."

I put my phone back in my bag. "I woke up late. And slept in," I ramble as I check for my file in my drawer.

"You're not making any sense. Micha is waiting for you," she says, leaving the office.

I curse under my breath as I search my drawer. When I find the file, I grab it and run out to meet them in the conference room. Myles is trying to destroy my life when I've done absolutely nothing to him, I think to myself as I run down the hallway.

At lunchtime, I tell Daisy I'll meet her at the restaurant. I tell her I want to use the bathroom. When she leaves, I shut the door and dial Ava's number. She doesn't pick up after the first batch of rings. I dial again. I need to get this out or I’m afraid I'll combust.

Thankfully, she picks up.

"I saw him this morning."

"Who?" she asks.

"Who else? Myles?"

"Who's Myles?"

I forgot that I never told her his name. "My next-door neighbor."

"The supposed stalker?"

"Yes. Well, you were right. I don't think he's a stalker. For some reason the universe thought it'd be fun to torture me by bringing this man to where I live."

Ava laughs. “Maybe he's your husband-to-be and you just don’t know it yet."

"Eww. Stop joking about that. I need to know who he is, though, and why he moved to my street."

"Fine, I'm busy, but I'll help you find out later. Okay? Are you satisfied now?"

"Yes," I say, but I’m not satisfied. I want to know who he is, but whatever or whoever he turns out to be, I promise myself that I'll stay out of his way.

Chapter 6

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