Page 43 of Stalkers Anonymous

“The sensors on the windows and doors will alert you if they’re opened when the system is armed,” he says, demonstrating on my bedroom window, which leads to a fire escape. “You can set it to “Away” mode when you leave or “Home” mode when you’re here but want to be alerted if someone tries to get in.”

I nod, trying to absorb all the information, but I’m still too consumed by him to focus. Even his scent draws me in. Everything about him has me feeling weak in the knees.

While he installs the video doorbell, I can study him undetected. His hands move confidently over the equipment, and I impulsively lean closer when he dips two fingers into a tub of lubricant, sliding them through the gel before burying them between the hinges of a sensor mount. My mouth waters at the way his fingers glide back and forth, so controlled. I press my legs together, shifting back and forth.

All this focus and attention? It’s for me.

The chill that settled into my bones when I saw that fucking word keyed into my car has melted away, Cole’s care pulsing through me like the rays of my personal sun.

“There,” he says, snapping me out of my thoughts. I blush as I watch him step back from my front door. “All set. Want to test it out?”

He walks me through the app on my phone, showing me how to arm and disarm the system, how to view the doorbell camera, how to engage the smart lock remotely. It’s surprisingly easy once he explains it.

“This is amazing,” I say, watching the live feed from my doorbell camera on my phone screen. “I can’t believe you did all this in an afternoon. I’m not sure my landlords will love it, but when I explain the situation, I don’t think they’ll care.”

The truth? Even if I lose my deposit over this, it will have been worth it. The smoke show of watching Cole install the equipment was worth the money.

“I wanted to make sure you had it installed as soon as possible.” He starts packing up his tools, and I realize with a pang of disappointment that he’s getting ready to leave.

“Let me pay you something,” I offer again. “For your time, at least.”

“Hailey.” He stops, turning to face me fully. The intensity of his gaze makes my breath catch. “I don’t want your money. I want you to be safe. That’s it.”

The simplicity of the statement, the fierce sincerity behind it, makes my throat tight.

“Thank you,” I manage. “Really. This means more than you know. I’ll figure out another way to repay you.”

“You’re welcome.” He zips up his duffel bag, slinging it over his shoulder. God. Even though his movements are slower than usual, weighted down by exhaustion, he makes everything sexy.

We walk to the door together, the space between us charged. He’s standing so close I can almost feel his warmth. It makes me want to lean in closer.

I’m pressing my thighs together again before I know what I’m doing.

Fuck, I need to calm down. I can’t be so damn obvious.

“So,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I guess I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah.” He doesn’t move toward the door. Instead, he stares down at me. There’s something that looks a lot like longing on his face, and it’s mixed with another expression I can’t quite read.

“Cole?” My voice comes out a whisper.

“There’s something broken in me,” he says suddenly, the words tumbling out. “Something that makes me want to fix things. Protect people. Sometimes too much.”

I reach up, cupping his stubbled cheek with my hand. His skin is rough against my palm, but it feels good as I run my thumb over it. “We’re all a little broken. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

He closes his eyes briefly, leaning into my touch. When he opens them again, the heat in his gaze nearly overwhelms me.

“I should go,” he says, but he doesn’t move.

“Do you want to go?”

“No.”

The word hangs between us for a heartbeat. Then he’s moving, closing the distance, his duffel bag hitting the floor with a thud as he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, cradling my head while he pulls me into him.

“Tell me if this is too fast,” he murmurs, his lips inches from mine.

“It’s not.”