Dahlia's Kiss

“I’m going to have a police detail go to the bar and stake the place out. They’ll arrest him and figure out if he’s our guy.” Sterling began to type furiously into his phone, his tongue pressed between his teeth. “I’m not going to let him get close to you.”

“How are they going to know who to arrest?” I asked. “I doubt he’ll be the only guy there.”

Sterling looked up from his texted conversation. “We have our ways. Besides, he’ll probably be the only creep there alone looking at all the single women. Let me go home with you, Dahlia. Let me keep you safe.”

“I suppose you’ll want to sleep in my bed too?” I asked.

“Of course,” he replied. “The closer I am to you, the better I can protect you.”

“No, thank you.” I started the engine. My fear was already wearing off, and I wanted him to go before I made a decision I couldn’t come back from. “I’ll be perfectly fine. You can follow me to my apartment if you want, but don’t get out of your car. Don’t try to follow me up. I don’t need you to inspect my rooms for me. I promise, my panty drawer is safe. Please get out of my car, Sterling.”

His eyes narrowed. “You sure your panty drawer is safe? This guy got two pairs from you somehow and I doubt he knocked on your door and asked nicely.”

“Get out of my car.”

He put both hands up. “Fine, you win.”

I didn’t wait for him to settle into his vehicle before I hit the gas and peeled out of the parking lot. He’d have to keep up with me if he wanted to know where I lived. Either that or pull me over. I took each street as if I owned it, squealing my tires and watching in the rearview mirror to see if he kept up. When I finally pulled into the parking garage and the arm swung down behind me, I grinned. “Too slow, copper,” I whispered.