“Fuck off,” he muttered. “None of your business.”
“Oh, but it is. The woman you followed earlier and whom you’re stalking at this moment is very much my business, Andy.”
The use of his name startled him even more and he tried to rush past me, but I blocked him.
“You are going to leave her alone. She’s not interested. She’s been polite about it, but not anymore. You leave her alone, or you’ll answer to me.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he bluffed. “I was standing here to get out of the rain for a bit. I’m waiting for a friend to pick me up.”
“It’s not raining, and your friend is really late. As in, never coming. I suggest you fucking walk away, or you’re going to find yourself in more shit than you can handle.”
I held up my phone, and he cursed, holding up his hands to cover his face from the flashlight I illuminated. I got a decent look at him, committing his features to memory. “That woman you’ve been bothering is under my protection. Leave her alone. I’ll only warn you once. I see you again, I won’t hold back.”
He made a noise between a huff and a snarl. I felt the hate rolling off him. The frustration. “You don’t want to mess with me, asshole,” I added. “Leave and don’t come back. Find another hobby besides bothering women not interested in you.” I paused. “Try bingo. I hear that’s riveting.”
With a curse, he pushed off and rushed away. I stepped away from the building, watching his retreat with narrowed eyes. I wished I had some gadgets with me. A tracker. A Taser. Something useful. I resisted the urge to follow him. I could find out more using my brain, my computer, and my hacking skills.
But first, I had to make sure Raven was okay.
Something crunched under my foot, and I looked down at the glass I had trod on. I crouched, picking up a piece, realizing it was a lightbulb. I checked out the fixture inside the door, not surprised to see the broken bulb. I made a mental note to check the cameras in the area and find out when the streetlight went down as well. I had a feeling it, as well as the light fixture, had had a helping hand in its destruction. Andy had made himself a perfect place to spy on Raven.
I returned to Raven’s building, buzzing her apartment. She let me up and was waiting at her door, looking anxious.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Before I could respond, she threw her arms around me, hugging me hard. “I was worried.”
It felt natural to hold her close. I couldn’t resist lowering my head to brush a kiss on her crown and breathe her in. Her hair smelled like summer—flowers and sunshine. It was light and airy, and I liked it a lot.
“I’m fine,” I assured her.
“Was he there?”
“Yes. But he’s gone.”
She burrowed closer, and I felt her shiver.
“I scared him, and I warned him to leave you alone. He backed off, and I hope he got the message.”
She didn’t speak, and I tucked her closer. “I need you to show me your profile on the site, okay?”
With a small sigh, she eased back and went inside. I followed her to the table, looking around as she booted up her laptop. The apartment was small but tidy. The walls were white, the furniture older but comfortable-looking. There was lots of wicker and cushions. Blankets draped over the back of the sofa, the arm of the chair. A bookcase overflowing with books. More on a table. A pile on the floor by the armchair. Various throw rugs were scattered on the wooden floors. It was feminine and pretty. Like her. The kitchen was tiny but organized. Pots and kitchen utensils hung on the one wall from a pegboard. The appliances were old, but gleamed.
“Here,” she said, pushing the laptop my way.
I studied her profile. There was no picture, just a snapshot of a sunset. Her info was basic and her memo clear. Looking for friendship in a new city. I lifted my gaze to hers. “Most people on these sites are not seeking friendship.”
“I know, but there are a few. But I wasn’t interested in a hookup.”
“Just friends?”
“I didn’t want a boyfriend. I didn’t think I was ready.”
“Ah,” I said, her words explaining a lot. “Bad experience?”
“You could say that.”
I nodded, letting it go for now. “So, no picture?”
“The site encourages people to chat and get to know each other, then exchange pictures.”
“Did you and Andy exchange photos?”
“No. We met at Roasters Coffee Bar. I had a book, and he wore a red hoodie.”
“Can you show me his profile?”
She tapped on the keyboard, frowning. “It looks like he deleted it.”
“Or made a new one.”
She sighed. “I’m going to delete mine.”
“Leave it a couple days. Please. I’m going to use it to find out more about Andy. If that’s his real name.”
“How?”
I smiled. “I have my ways.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek. “You’ve got layers, don’t you, Damien?”
I chuckled. “No. I have talent. And access to information most other people don’t have. I only use it for good, though.”
“Okay,” she said, stifling a yawn. She looked tired—exhausted, in fact.
“Are you going to be okay here—alone?” I asked.
She nodded. “I’ll bolt my door, put a chair under the knob, and keep my cell phone beside me.”
I held out my hand. “Let me program my number in there. I live a few blocks over. I can be here fast.”
She handed me her phone, and I entered my digits and called myself. Then I saved her information. She told me she hadn’t kept Andy’s number when she changed phones, but she had it on a piece of paper. I tried the number, not surprised to find it no longer working.
“No doubt a burner cell,” I observed. I tucked the piece of paper into my pocket. I doubted it would help, but I would take anything I could get. “I can sleep on the sofa if you want.”
Her eyes widened, and she swallowed. “No, I’ll be fine. The walls are thin, and Mrs. Wallace lives next door and is up all night. If I scream, she’ll call 911.”
I nodded but added my address into her phone. I showed it to her. “If you’re frightened, you call me—or text. I’ll come get you right away. Do you understand?”
She blinked but nodded.
I stood and walked to the door, turning when I got there. She was behind me, looking anxious.
“If you’re scared, nervous, or can’t sleep, call me. I’ll come right over.”
Once again, she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. I held her tight, loathe to leave her, yet knowing she needed her rest. The urge to scoop her into my arms and carry her to her room was strong. The desire to take her to my place where I knew she would be one hundred percent safe was even stronger.
But I had no right to do either thing.
Yet.
But I would be watching her. Carefully. And I would be right there if she needed me.
I drew back, looking down at her. Her wide green eyes gazed up at me, so many emotions swirling in their unique depths. I cupped her cheeks, holding her face in my hands. Our eyes locked and held, and I lowered my head, pressing a gentle kiss to her mouth. She wrapped her hands around my wrists, a low whimper escaping. I stepped closer, kissing her again, this time a little harder, our lips holding longer. Then again, her mouth opening underneath mine. I swept my tongue inside, lost to her taste and the feel of her. I slid my hands down her throat, over her arms and around her waist, pulling her tight to my chest as the kiss deepened. I had never experienced a reaction to a woman the way I did to Raven. The need to protect her, be close to her. It was unnerving.