Page 110 of Watching Her

“You don’t understand how excited and alive I am when I’m with him or how he makes me feel. As if I can take on the world. As if I can do anything I want.”

“Didn’t you tell me you suddenly had a lot more followers on social media this morning?”

“Yes. What are you insinuating?”

“That he has friends. He has power. He has influence. He might be luring you into his den of vipers.”

“How many dark romance books have you read lately? Den of vipers? And if he used that influence to help me gain followers, I’m supposed to be angry?”

“One manipulation can lead to another.”

Her words hit home, but I wasn’t about to put my whole belief in them. Not until I was able to talk with Christian. “I’ll keep everything you’ve said in mind, Marlee, but for once, I’m really enjoying myself and my life.”

Reaching over, she squeezed my hand. “Okay. Just don’t get hurt.”

I had no intention of getting hurt.

As I glanced out the window, prickly sensations swept down my arms. As if I was being watched.

Of course Marlee noticed. “Now I get to ask, what’s wrong?”

“I’ve had the strangest feeling of being watched lately.”

“Maybe Christian is keeping tabs on you.”

“Oh, please. He’s been on a business trip.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Now I was becoming irritated. “He called me from the plane and don’t try and tell me he faked the noise.”

She threw up her hands. “Then who else?”

I had a sickening thought in mind.

“I’ll be cautious,” I told her, but I had a bad feeling Carrington was making good on his threat.

Twenty minutes later, I was on my way home, still thinking about what she’d said. At least the knot in my stomach had left and I’d ensured no one had followed me. I’d almost forgotten I needed to grab a few things at my favorite grocery store given where my mind had gone.

I even had to double back, lost in thought as I walked inside and grabbed a basket. Given the time of day, there was almost no one inside the store.

Was it possible Christian was just like his father? Had he killed his own employee? Well, betrayal was terrible.

What are you talking about, girl?

My thoughts drifted just briefly to the guy who’d died at the conference.

Oh, come on, idiot. You’re being paranoid.

I tossed a few items into my basket and rounded a corner while snagging a box of crackers.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Even as my cart was forcibly stopped, jarring the hell out of me, it was his voice that exploded into my ears that caused anger.

“Carrington. What do you want?” Now I knew why I’d had the feeling of being followed.

“To talk to you, but I can see why you refused.”