“I’ve got…” Words escape me as his tongue flicks my nipple. My back arches as I struggle not to lose my footing. “I’ve got to get back to work,” I finish, alarmed. Shit. I’d let this guy distract me. If my boss, Preston, realizes I’m gone, there goes my job.
He stares at me in disbelief, then laughs. “You really know how to kill the mood,” he comments.
“Sorry,” I wince, “but I can’t afford to lose this job.” I pull away from him, fixing my clothes in the process.
He leans against the wall behind him and laughs, his eyes shining. “Maybe we’ll need to continue this later? I’ll hang around until you finish.”
I grin and cock my head. “I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
The shift creeps along at a snail’s pace. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of Conrad, which sends my heart racing. Near the end of my shift I spy some blonde trying to chat him up. My hands clench into fists by my side. The irrational side of me wants to pound her head into the wall she’s leaning against. I study his face for a moment. He’s being polite and laughing, but his eyes catch mine and he winks. Immediately I relax and force myself to look away.
At the end of my shift I punch out and go in search of Conrad. I’m nervous as fuck because it’s been a while since I’ve been with a guy. Even though he claims this is all to annoy my stalker, I know he likes me and the feeling is mutual. This whole thing would probably be easier if I was one of those girls who could have sex with random guys—and girls—at the drop of a hat. But I’m not.
After crawling through the club in search of him, I start to wonder if I’ve been stood up. This prompts me to check my messages, where I see a text waiting from him.
Conrad: Sorry, I got called out to a case. Maybe we can continue this tomorrow?
I’m both relieved and disappointed—disappointed that I’m not going to be fucked senseless by him and relieved that I have a day to prepare myself.
Me: Sure, I’ll see you later.
I stop off for some dinner on the way home at another fast food place that is open all night. I can’t stop thinking about Conrad and what he wants from me. Was it really a coincidence that he showed up at my work? He’s a cop; it wouldn’t have been too hard for him to figure out where I work.
I sit down in a booth at the back of the diner with my tray of food. For five a.m., the place is surprisingly busy—mainly with young people starving after a night out partying. I quickly eat my food and then head for my car. It’s hard not to let having a stalker rule my life. Every moment I wonder if he’s out there, watching me. It’s so easy for me to freak myself out, especially when I’m alone at night.
Chapter Six
It’s Monday, and I wake early that afternoon and spend a few hours studying, aware that I’m underprepared for the exam I have next week for one of my classes. It’s nearly three p.m. when I close my books. My head feels like it’s about to burst and I’m in desperate need of caffeine.
Walking into the kitchen, I turn the coffee pot on only to realize I’m out of coffee.
“Shit,” I mutter. I weigh up my options. I either go down to the grocer’s or I walk the two blocks to the café and treat myself to a double mocha. I decide on the latter. After a quick shower, I change into a pair of jeans and a sweater then grab my purse and keys as I head for the door.
I’m lucky that one of my favorite cafés in the whole town is literally a few doors down. It’s a small place just off the main road, and walking past it you probably wouldn’t even realize what it was. I push open the door and walk inside. For midday, they’re pretty quiet, which suits me fine. I contemplate drinking here or taking a cup back home so I can keep studying. In the end I decide on the latter. As much as I want to slack off, I know I’ll regret it when I’m sitting in that room staring at my exam paper.
“Hey, Raven.”
I smile at Steven and lean against the counter as he prepares my coffee. I love that he knows my order without me even needing to ask. Yep, I’m a double-strength mocha kind of girl every time.
“How’s things?” I ask.
Steven always makes me feel relaxed—another reason why I like this place. He and his wife own and run the business, and their two little girls can often be seen running around the shop. Both are adorable and make me miss my cousins back home.
“Great. The usual chaos with two young kids,” he jokes, but his eyes are smiling and I can see how much he loves his family. “I hope you’re not studying too hard,” he warns, pushing my cup across the counter.
I smile and take the coffee, the smell of the beans making my mouth water. “Unfortunately, around exams I always study too hard,” I laugh. I push a bill across to him and head for the door. “Say hi to Kary for me.”
My coffee in one hand, I unlock the front door and walk inside, closing it behind me. The eerie silence of my apartment is freaking me out, and I find myself wishing I’d left the television on or something. I walk through to the kitchen, stopping in my tracks when I see what’s sitting on the table.
Most women would be thrilled to receive a huge billowing array of flowers. Me, not so much. My stomach turns as I approach them. They’re pink roses, my favorites. Next to them sits an envelope with my name on it.
Do I open it or call someone?
I grab my phone and dial Conrad, not wanting to contaminate any fingerprints that might be on the envelope. My heart races as his phone rings out. I sit the phone on the table, unsure of what to do now. I’m dying to read the letter, but terrified at the same time. My phone rings and I scream. My heart on my chest, I pick it up and laugh. It’s Conrad.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asks, his voice expressing mild concern.
“I just arrived home to flowers on my kitchen table. There’s a letter too. I haven’t opened it—”