“I couldn’t bring myself to look. Snake, remember?” A wry smile lifted her lips.
“I think we should call the police,” he said, aware at least from procedurals on television it was important to keep a record of the incident.
She shook her head. “No. This wasn’t a big deal.”
He leaned forward, placing a hand on her leg, her bones smaller and more delicate than his. “Evie, it’s important to document the incident.” In case this was just the beginning of her ex-boyfriend’s campaign and he ramped up his stalking.
She sighed. “You’re right. I just can’t believe this is happening again. I haven’t heard from him since I moved, but he’s obviously decided to show up in my life again.” She met his gaze. “I mean, why now?
He hated the idea that came to mind.
She must have caught something in his expression, because she stiffened. “What are you thinking?”
“That it’s no coincidence that your ex has come out of hiding now. You just went viral with a famous boyfriend.”
Her eyes opened wide. “And God forbid I have a good life after I ruined his,” she said, using air quotes. “That bastard.”
If Damon got his hands on the son of a bitch, he’d kill him. “You still need to call the police.”
She nodded. “I know.” She took her phone off the table and dialed. “Mack? I need you to come right over. I’ll explain when you get here.”
Mack? Who the fuck was Mack? And why was there a sudden gnawing jealousy in Damon’s gut at the thought of her calling another man?
Chapter Three
As Damon and Evie waited, she paced the floor of her cozy apartment. The place had a pretty, feminine touch, with a cream-colored sofa and bright floral pillows, matching glass cocktail and end tables in the center of the room, with watercolor paintings on the walls and a television in front of the couch.
From the way she circled the room, not meeting his gaze, he knew her revelations had her feeling vulnerable. She didn’t want him to look at her as weak, and though he viewed her as tough, she’d never believe him.
She sighed and rubbed her hands on her arms. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thanks, but I would like you to sit down and try to relax. Maybe we can talk some more.” He wanted her to trust him, not pull away.
She joined him on the sofa, and he slid closer, the now familiar scent of her perfume a reminder of how good she’d tasted when his tongue slipped between her lips. A rush of arousal threatened and he cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. This wasn’t the time or the place to react to her as a soft female.
Especially because she was eying him warily. “So, let’s talk about who might want you off the playing field instead.”
He leaned close and tapped her on the nose. “I know what you’re doing and I’m not going to let you change the subject.”
“There is no subject,” she said, those luscious lips pouting.
She obviously felt more in control discussing his case than she was dealing with her own problems, but he wasn’t going to let her get away with deflecting.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Your ex having a grudge against you is the subject.” He glanced around the small apartment and thought about how quiet her building seemed to be. He hadn’t run into anyone when he’d arrived, he’d come up by himself on the stairs and hadn’t seen people waiting near the elevator. “I’m worried about you staying alone here,” he said again.
“What?” Her voice rose. “I’ll be fine. As you know, I have a deadbolt, and believe me, I use it. I also have a concealed-carry permit. I’ll be fine.”
Before he could respond, a knock sounded.
“Mack is here.” She jumped up and headed to the door.
Damon followed close behind her.
Before she could look into the peephole, he heard the sound of the locks being opened, and the man let himself in, key in hand. “Jesus, Evie, what happened? You scared me when you said to come right over.” He pulled her into a hug she eagerly returned.
Folding his arms across his chest, Damon stared hard at the guy he presumed was Mack, wondering what the odd feelings were flooding his system. One thing he knew, he didn’t like them one bit.
“Holy shit. What’s Damon Prescott doing here?” The man, who was as built and muscular as Damon himself, held out a hand. “Hey, man. Mack Wolfe. Evie’s brother.”
“He’s a detective with the Miami PD,” she said.
Damon shook his hand, his entire body relaxing at his introduction. “Good to meet you. I’m Evie’s—”
“Client,” she chimed in before he could say anything else, presumably like fake boyfriend or real boyfriend if he’d wanted to perpetuate the ruse even with her family.
He shut the door behind him and Evie immediately turned the deadbolt.
“Okay, what’s going on? Why the panicked call?” Mack asked.
She blew out a long breath. “I received a package today.”
His expression hardened. “From John?”
She nodded. “No one else can cause that kind of reaction, as you well know.”
“Son of a bitch. I’m going to kill him.” He curled his big hands into fists.
“What’s John’s last name?” Damon asked Mack because he already knew Evie wouldn’t want him to know or get involved in any way.
“Coltrane,” Mack said to a glaring Evie.
She glanced at Damon. “You have your own issues to worry about. I can handle my ex myself.”
Mack looked from Evie to Damon and grinned. “Well, this is interesting.” But he sobered quickly. “Where’s the box?”
With a groan, Damon said, “I didn’t know there was a stalking issue. She was upset and I tossed it.”
Mack winced.
“I put it down the trash chute.”
Mack pulled out his phone and asked for a patrol car to meet him at Evie’s address. “We’ll find it and check for a card or at least find out what florist it came from.” He turned to Damon. “Now as much as I’m a fan and respect you, I want to talk to my sister.”
It took everything inside Damon to walk away, but first he had something to say. “I don’t think you should stay here right now,” he said to Evie again, watching as a scowl took hold of her pretty face. He glanced at her brother, hoping for backup.
“The man’s got a point,” Mack said.
“Seriously? I can take care of myself and I’m armed. I’ll be fine.”
“And I have a gated community, a lot of space between neighbors, and cameras everywhere,” Damon said, realizing his house was the safest place for her. “I just want you to be safe.”
Mack raised an eyebrow. “Or she could move in with her brother, the cop, instead of a client she barely knows.”
Clearly Mack had shifted to big-brother mode, something Damon recognized because he’d feel the same way about Bri if the situation were reversed.
“You have to work. I’m home full-time right now,” Damon said, frowning at the reminder of his own situation. “Besides, I’m telling you my security system is second to none.”