Page 42 of Stalkers Anonymous

“It’s not too bad.” He steps inside, and I immediately notice the dark circles under his eyes. His hair is slightly disheveled, like he’s been running his hands through it, and the tension in his shoulders wasn’t there at dinner last night.

“Are you okay?” I ask, closing the door behind him. “You look exhausted.”

“Didn’t sleep great last night.” He sets the box down near the entryway, then drops the duffel beside it. “Work stuff on my mind.”

I want to press, to ask if he’s sure that’s all it was, but I don’t want to pry. We haven’t known each other long enough for me to feel like I can push too hard for answers. Even if I want to know everything.

And I do want to know everything.

“Well, I really appreciate you doing this,” I say instead. “Can I get you some coffee? Water?”

“Coffee would be great, actually. Black is fine.”

I head to the kitchen while he starts unpacking equipment. My apartment is small—a one-bedroom with an open-concept living room and kitchen—but it’s bright and comfortable. I’ve tried to make it feel like home, with plants on the windowsills and paintings and framed photos on the walls.

“Nice place,” Cole calls from where he’s laying out various components on my coffee table.

“Thanks. I got lucky with this unit.” I return with two mugs of coffee and hand him one. “So, what’s all this?”

He takes a long sip before answering, and I notice the slight tremble in his hands. Definitely exhausted.

“This is the mid-range system we talked about,” he explains, gesturing to the array of devices. “Door and window sensors, a smart lock for your front door, and a video doorbell. Everything connects to an app on your phone, so you can monitor it remotely. If this isn’t enough, we can get more.”

“And you’re sure you can afford this? Because I looked up prices online and—”

“My buddy owed me,” he interrupts smoothly. “And I called in the favor. Consider it an early birthday present.”

“My birthday isn’t until July.”

“Then consider it an unforgivably late birthday present.” His lips curve into a small smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. There’s something haunted in his expression, something that makes my heart ache with concern. He’s different today.

“Cole.” I set my coffee down and move closer. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem… I don’t know. On edge.” Seeing him like this makes something ache inside me. Like his pain is mine to share. Like his pain is my fault.

You’re overreacting, Hailey-bear. My dad’s favorite catchphrase plays on a loop in my head on days like today, when the bright light of day makes my fears and anxieties seem less urgent. Even when I have physical proof that something really disturbing happened, it’s hard to believe it’s as big of a deal now as it seemed to be last night. Especially if my reaction caused Cole to go from the funny, attentive date he was to…this.

He’s quiet for a moment, staring down at the equipment like it holds all the answers to questions I haven’t asked. When he finally looks up at me, the intensity in his hazel eyes nearly takes my breath away.

“I just hate that someone did that to your car,” he says quietly. “That someone made you feel unsafe. It’s been bothering me.”

The honesty in his voice, the raw protectiveness, spreads warmth through my entire body. He barely knows me, yet he’s here installing security equipment because he’s worried about my safety. Cole doesn’t think this is an overreaction. In fact, if I’m reading him right, he’d like to install an iron gate, a moat, and a drawbridge around my building. Three guesses who would volunteer to be my fire-breathing dragon.

I’m still not entirely convinced he’s real. I mean, where did this man come from? He’s criminally hot, wildly protective, and highly intelligent. The past men I’ve dated seem so boring now that I know men like Cole actually exist.

“That’s sweet,” I say softly, taking his hands in mine to draw his attention to me. “But you don’t need to lose sleep over it. I’m going to be fine.”

“I know you are.” He straightens, rolling his shoulders like he’s trying to shake off the tension. “Especially once we get this system up and running. Come here, let me show you how it works.”

But he lingers for a moment. His eyes look pained, like he has more to say.

“What?” I ask, tracing my fingertips along his jaw.

Cole sighs, then swallows. “I hate that this happened to you. I know it has to feel so violating, and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. But I’d really love to hold you. Just for a second, if you’ll let me.”

A smile tips my lips upward, and I can’t help but pull myself into him. “You can hold me any time you want. Especially if it’ll make you feel better.”

He doesn’t hold back or hesitate to wrap his arms around me, letting his chest expand while he drinks me in. We stay like that for several minutes before he releases me with a happy sigh, which in turn eases my own anxiety.

For the next hour, I watch as Cole transforms my apartment. He moves like he’s done it a hundred times before, drilling holes for sensors, syncing devices to the hub, testing each component. Every so often, he explains what he’s doing in an attempt to make sure I understand how everything connects, but to be honest, I’m too distracted by his appearance to actually listen to the words coming out of his mouth. In one ear and out the other. All I can focus on is how muscular and toned he is. How his eyebrows furrow just slightly as he focuses through the more difficult parts but still easily gets the job done. I’m not sure if he’s trying to impress me or not, but color me impressed.