Page 50 of From That Moment

“You know I’m trying to do you a favor, and now you’re making me picture having sex with my man.” She paused. “Well, I’m going to hate you for that only because I’m surrounded by other people, but I’m going to thank you for it later.”

“Great, nowI’mpicturing it,” I lied.

“Stop picturing Cross naked.”

Sadly, it wasn’t Cross who came to mind all naked and hard and wanting.

No, it was his brother.

Fuck. I was so screwed.

Or rather,notscrewed.

“Thank you for sending someone. And jump his bones later. Only not in public. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail.”

“You’re so sweet. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I ended the call, and then let out a breath, doing my best to slow my racing heart because I kept thinking about Prior in ways I shouldn’t.

I was losing my mind, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

I knew I could count on Hazel, so I went back to my to-do list and got started on a few other things I could do around the house while waiting to see who she sent me.

I was out on the back porch, sweeping off the old leaves and dirt that had gotten there thanks to the wind, and froze, looking over my shoulder.

Why did it feel like someone was watching me? There were trees behind my house and a large fence that nobody could see through since it was made of metal and adobe. I was grateful for where my house was located in the subdivision because I was on the end, and it was hard for anybody to see through my windows or anything like that. It was one of the main reasons for my purchase.

But it felt like somebody was watching me.

Dread rolled in my belly, and the hair on my neck stood on end, so I quickly swept the rest of the porch, trying not to let my paranoia ruin my day. Then I went back into my house, locking all the doors.

I went as far as closing the blinds on that side of the house. I let out a deep breath, telling myself that I was just overreacting.

Nobody was watching me.

It wasn’t as if anyone could be.

Then I remembered the attack, and the fact that my dad was out, and my mom.

Maybe somebody was watching.

I almost called my detective, but I didn’t want to bother him.

Before I could wrestle with that decision, someone knocked on the door, and I froze before shaking myself out of my reverie and walking towards the front of the house.

I looked through the peephole and could have cursed.

Of course.

Of course.

I unlocked the deadbolt and the other two locks before opening the door to Prior.

He stood there, his hands in his pockets, his hair looking a little windblown, and the stubble on his face looking way too sexy.

I wanted to reach out and touch that chest of his, to see if it was as hard as it looked. I wanted to go up on my tiptoes and bite at his chin, just nibble and taste and lick.