Page 24 of Blindsided

“Fine,” I grumble. “But I am not staying with you indefinitely. I will be searching for a new place, whether you want me to or not.”

Desmond narrows his eyes as he considers my position. “Can I at least see the apartments with you?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, but you don’t get an opinion. I will choose the one I like best, whether you hate it or not.”

“Defeats the purpose of seeing the apartments, but fine. I accept.”

“Now, I’m going to bed.” I lean over Sergio to kiss Des on the cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Goodnight, pest.” Desmond’s smirk negates his taunt.

I walk down the hallway to my room, my shoulders slumping with exhaustion. I’ve got my own bathroom, thankfully, and I go through my routine to get ready for bed. I’m hoping I can get some decent sleep tonight. I can’t afford to go to my shoot tomorrow with bags under my eyes.

When I get into bed, I grab my e-reader to finish the chapter I was on when Desmond interrupted me. Before I get too deep into the story, my phone rings. Matthew’s face fills the screen, making me smile. He sent me a selfie of him glaring when he got to the cliffhanger of a book I recommended. It’s now his contact picture.

I grab my headphones to keep Desmond from hearing Matthew’s voice and then answer his video call.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Matthew’s concerned gaze sweeps over my face.

“I’m okay. Exhausted. I haven’t been sleeping very well.”

“I wish I could make it better for you.”

“Even if it meant having to cuddle with me all night?” I tease.

Matthew smirks. “I obviously didn’t mind being pressed up against you the next morning.”

I snort in disbelief. “It didn’t seem that way to me. I don’t think you could’ve gotten out of my room faster.”

“Then you weren’t paying attention.” Matthew’s gaze turns serious, a heat flickering behind his eyes that I’m not prepared for. It gives me the bravery to say the first thing that comes to mind.

“I was paying plenty of attention.” My voice is a little raspy. The image of Matthew’s boxers bulging out is practically burned in my brain.

“Fuck,” Matthew mutters, dropping his head and breaking our connection.

In all the time we’ve been texting, we’ve never flirted this close to the line of inappropriate. When we talk about the sex scenes in whatever book we’re reading, it’s always more joking than anything direct.

When Matthew looks back up, his eyes are shuttered, and I know he won’t push the conversation further. I’m both disappointed and relieved.

“You have a shoot tomorrow, right?” he asks, changing the subject, as I expected.

“Yeah, Versace has a new line coming out. I think we’re supposed to be shooting in Central Park, which is going to be a madhouse.”

“Why?”

I tell Matthew how crazy it gets when we’re trying to do a shoot in public. Everyone wants to know what’s going on and whether they know anyone getting photographed. It gets hectic and chaotic.

His voice is soothing, and I find myself scooting down in bed, relaxing back into my pillows.

And for the first time in days, I fall asleep without a single thought about my stalker.

CHAPTER11

Tilly

Ishiver into my coat, cursing whoever decided it would be a good idea to shoot an outdoor ad at the beginning of March in New York City. Nothing about this is fun. All I want to do is sit in my comfy chair in my apartment with a mug of tea and my book.

I want all the stalker shit to be gone and to have my space back.

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