AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He blinked at her as if she was speaking Martian.
She stepped backward, nerves on high alert, palms turning sweaty. “Are you some kind of stalker?”
Caitey was tempted to throw her bagel and drink into his face, but the man quickly stepped backward as if sensing danger, holding up his hands.
“Whoa, there. I’m just a customer like you.”
When Caitey called him a stalker, the rest of the line whipped their heads toward them. One woman took a quick step back, distancing herself. The other customers just seemed grumpy at the delay.
A man said, “Move out of the line, please!”
Embarrassed, Caitey clutched at her order and steppedaside, her face burning. The room blurred and then cleared as she spotted an empty table by the picture windows.
She walked toward it, head down, doing her best to ignore the rest of the room. Thankfully, it wasn’ttoobusy. Mid-afternoon was in between the lunch and dinner rush. Setting down her drink and bagel plate, she sank into the chair and put a hand to her hot face.
Her body stayed rigid. Caitey desperately wanted to glance behind her, but she did not want to letthat guyknow she was looking at him.
Setting her handbag on the empty chair next to her, she blew out her breath and took a big drink. The burn of cold Dr Pepper was a rush of sanity and slowed down her pounding heart.
Opening the two sides of her bagel, she spread the cream cheese on it and took a tiny bite.
She sensed a shadow moving in close and jerked her head up mid-chew.
It was him again.She had hoped he’d get his order and leave. Caitey couldn’t get rid of the image burned into her eyes of that man staring at her from the shadows of the woods.
Talk about freak-out!
“May I sit down?” his low masculine voice asked.
Caitey gulped and almost choked on the bite of bagel. “No!”she blurted out on instinct.
His features and voice softened. “I’mterribly sorry I startled you back at the house. I didn’t mean to. I’mnota stalker. At all.”
He paused, gazing at her, his eyes roving her face appreciatively. It had been a long time since Caitey had been looked at in that manner. It was disconcerting but also nice to be admired.
His chocolate brown eyes latched on to hers and held them for a tiny moment. His lips turned into a smile with perfect white teeth, and suddenly this guy looked like a Boy Scout. Impish, friendly, puzzled, and apologetic.
“May I explain?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across the table from Caitey.
“Um, I guess so,” she finally murmured. “Itisa public place. I don’t intend to makeanotherscene.”
He slid into the chair opposite her. “Neither do I. By the way, I’m Marcus Hearst—well, actually, Stirling. I mentioned Hearst so you’d know who I’m connected to.”
Caitey sat up straighter. “Hearst? You’re related to the Hearst family that owns the estate? Youarethe guy I saw.What were you doing lurking in the woods?”
“I wasn’t lurking, just doing reconnaissance.”
“Huh?Reconnaissance? Is there going to be a skirmish?” she quipped. “How are you connected to them?”
“Logan Hearst is my best friend. I take care of the cameras and video for the estate’s security, especially when there is a big event, party, or meeting. Or family reunion. Which doesn’t happen that often. Mostly weddings and funerals are when family gets together, right?”
A smile crept over Caitey’s lips. That was funny. She blew out her breath. “You were installing cameras,” she stated.
He nodded. “Putting in new ones, checking the old ones. Not just the woods, but the rear grounds and the house, too.”
“But it’s a gated estate with a keypad for security. Does it require so many cameras?”
Marcus chuckled. “You’d be surprised at some of the sneaky hooligans who manage to get in, but when the family isn’t in residence, it’s necessary to take precautions.”
