Page 67 of Endeavor

“Mr. Daniels? You want to come to look at the window before we wrap up?” I hear my contractor yell.

“Listen, I have to go, but…”

“I’ll go with you. But you have to promise to let me get some work done,” she says.

I grin for the first time today. “I promise.”

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Please be careful. I may send a security guy over to stand guard at your building,” I tell her.

“I…no, you’re right. That’s probably smart as much as I want to decline the offer, it would make me feel safer,” she admits and, again, I shudder from the fact that I’m causing trouble in her life.

“I’m sorry about all of this.”

“Just don’t turn out to be an asshole, OK?”

I chuckle. “I’ll do my best, but you have met me, right?”

“Haha. I guess that first night should have been my warning, huh?” she retorts, and I know she’s smirking.

“You know it.”

“Get going, my little bad-boy rocker.”

“Sweetheart, as you have learned, there’s nothing little about me.” And with that, I hang up to her giggles, which help to soothe my nerves.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emma

The knock on my door makes me jump. Hell, I’ve been on high alert ever since I spoke to Grady yesterday. I even texted with both Kate and Quinlan. I didn’t give them every detail because I didn’t want to freak them out, but I said enough to get their honest take on it. They both expressed concern about everything. They also both suggested I could try to take a break from dating Grady until things cooled down with the stalker situation. Neither of those conversations left me feeling warm and cozy about my choice to go away for the weekend with the very man who was possibly going to put me in danger.

I also might have lied a little to my parents and told them a friend from school and I were going to her home in Temecula to study for the weekend. I wasn’t ready to have a conversation with them about Grady.

I peek through the peephole and see Grady. My racing heart slows as I open the door.

“Ready?” he asks, looking around to see my one small suitcase and backpack. “That’s it?”

I laugh. “Uh, we are coming back Sunday night, right?”

“Yeah…”

I lean forward so we are mere inches apart. “Here’s a little secret; I’m low maintenance.”

Grady’s panty-dropping smile graces his face and he leans in and plants a kiss on my lips. “You just keep getting better and better.”

I laugh again. “Come on, Casanova. It’s time to hit the road.”

He picks up my suitcase and we head down to his car. I notice that a security guy is in a car behind us.

He watches my gaze and clears his throat. “They wouldn’t let me leave without a security detail. He won’t be in our way. He’s just going to stay near us for the weekend as a precaution.”

I nod and fiddle with the music selection as he gets us on the freeway.

“How’s Muffin?” I ask.

“Good. The Johnsons are leaving in the morning for a three-week stay in Palm Desert, so that has me feeling a little better.”

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