“Don’t worry about it. You need to meet the man of your dreams, and I’m here to protect you from anyone who’s not him.”
Tate stares at me for a moment, his mouth opening to say something, but he obviously changes his mind. A few beats of silence pass before he finally does speak. “I think my stalker may be getting bored.”
I get mental whiplash at the change in subject. “What? Why do you think that?”
He shrugs. “Just a feeling. He was worse when I was steadily dating, but this string of bad dates I’ve had the last few months seems to have caused him to back off. I can still sense him sometimes, and I still think I can hear his footsteps when I go for my morning jog in the park, but it’s not as”—he waves a hand as he tries to think of the word he wants to say—“urgent, I guess. More like he’s there out of habit. I don’t get the same sense of dread as I used to.”
“Tate.” I wait until he meets my eyes before I say what I need to. “Be careful. I know I was the only one to take you seriously about him, but I won’t hesitate to get the cops involved. They might not believe you, but they’d have to do their job if they got a call.”
He nods, then grabs his jacket from where it’s lying across the bed. “I’ll be careful, I promise, Cor.”
I sure hope so.
Chapter Two
I watch Tate leave his lovesick friend behind as he climbs into his car for his date. I’d thought I had broken his interest in trying to find a man. He’s a romantic at heart and longs to be with his one true love. I’ve seen the way he looks at the couples he passes, or in the movies he watches when he’s home alone. But none of these fools he’s gone out with are worthy of him. No one is. Well, his friend possibly, but Tate’s too far in denial to see what’s in front of him.
Even if I think Corvin could be good enough for Tate, I still have to see what happens when he comes face to face with me and what I’ve done to protect Tate. His reaction will be all I’ll need. It’s the only way I can know for certain that he will always keep Tate safe, to put him before his own thoughts and needs like I do.
I want to reveal myself, but the timing isn’t right. Not yet. Tate won’t understand. I need to wait a little longer before I approach him. So, instead of making myself known, I content myself with simply following, watching, and sabotaging. At least I’ll get a decent meal tonight seeing as this date is at an upscale steakhouse, rather than the parking lot of a fast-food joint. I didn’t even need to get rid of that one, Tate did that all on his own. Of course, I went back to be sure he’d never be able to bother Tate again. One can never be too careful. Some people don’t seem to understand the meaning of ‘no.’
I smile at the memory and follow Tate to the restaurant. I’m already planning out how to get rid of whatever man is waiting in there for him. I’m not expecting to see the man who smiles at Tate with familiarity, but I should have known. He’s shown increasing interest in Tate over the past few months, though I’m glad Tate has been mostly oblivious to his flirtatious advances.
I sit back to watch, anger boiling in my blood at the thought of Tate being with this man.
Chapter Three
Tate
I follow the directions the GPS gives until I reach the lavish restaurant where Stuart arranged for me to meet my date. I’m nervous and I have to wipe my sweaty palms on my pants before heading inside. The hostess smiles in greeting and I give her my name.
“Right this way, Mr. Browning. Your guest has already arrived.”
She leads me through a sea of tables and customers to a table tucked into the back corner of the dining room. It’s cozy and romantic. I’ll have to let Stuart know what a fine job he did choosing this restaurant and setting up the date. It’s very impressive. But it makes me worry that the man needed so much help from Stuart to be able to set up such an amazing date to begin with.
My date is sitting with his back to us as we approach, so I can’t see anything but the blond hair on his head and the white of his shirt. His grey and blue pinstripe suit jacket is hanging on the back of the chair to his right.
“Gentlemen, your server will be right with you.” The hostess walks away as I round the table and shrug out of my own suit jacket and place it on the empty chair to my right. When I look up to greet my date, I’m surprised to see Stuart sitting across from me instead of a stranger.
He chuckles at my response. “Not what you were expecting, huh?”
I shake my head and finally take my seat. “Why didn’t you just ask me out?”
“Would you have said yes if I had?” He raises a brow at me.
Would I have? No. He’s my coworker, and while it’s not explicitly against the rules, it is frowned upon. Getting involved with a coworker just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
“It’s okay, Tate. I know it’s not because you don’t like me. But sometimes, you need to take a chance when you see something you want. This is me, taking that chance.” Stuart smiles and it draws my attention to how attractive he is. How had I never noticed before how sexy he is? And my God, those
