Page 15 of The Watcher's Bride

“I just started my shift, and don’t close up until ten. Speaking of, shouldn’t you be at work?” I ask, eager to pry some information out of the mysterious Max.

He shakes his head, “Believe it or not, I’m retired. Followed in the old man’s footsteps and served in the Army. Honorable discharge after getting injured in the line of duty. Which means I’ve got all night to keep you company and wait to take you out at the end of your shift.”

“Max, I told you, I don’t date, and you can’t just hang around all night while I’m working,” I say, determined not to fall down this rabbit hole.

“What about your break? You’ve gotta eat sometime,” he says, undisturbed.

“This guy bothering you, Nora?”

My eyes flit to Mike, who looks thoroughly pissed off, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he surveys Max. I realize then that subconsciously Max and I have moved closer together, too close to be simply a customer asking for help.

Logically, I know Mike is just trying to protect me, that he doesn’t know Max and I are acquainted, but from the possessive tone of his voice, he’s not just interrupting to be helpful, he’s laying claim to me.

“No, Mike, I’m fine,” I reply, trying to hide my irritation.

“Seems like he’s getting inappropriate to me,” Mike says in a surprising display of bravado. Or stupidity.

Max is easily eighty pounds of pure muscle heavier and several inches taller than Mike, who has the slender physique you’d expect of a sensitive bookish type.

“The lady said she’s fine,” Max replies, his voice calm yet with an unmistakable threat of violence behind it. He turns to face Mike, straightening to his full height, his muscles tense and ready for a fight.

Mike doesn’t back down, though I can see he’s scared shitless. He’s read too many fantasy romance novels, and he’s decided to be my knight in shining armor.

I’ve had enough. I’m not going to continue watching them in this ridiculous pissing contest, ready to fight for my hand as though I don’t have a say in the matter.

“Mike, I’m a big girl and perfectly capable of looking after myself. Besides, Max was just leaving,” I say pointedly.

Mike looks uncertain, wondering if this means he’s emerged victorious or not. Evidently, Max feels the same, as he’s not backing off either.

“I’ll be back at ten to pick you up,” he states, turning his intense focus on me. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth; he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Fine, I’ll see you then,” I say.

He smirks triumphantly as he walks away, making sure Mike has to move out of the way to let him pass.

“Who was that asshole? Why did you agree to meet him?” Mike demands.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s my new neighbor. And it’s definitely none of your business who I spend my time with. Shouldn’t you be going home? Your shift ended five minutes ago,” I snap at him, pissed off.

Mike looks like a wounded puppy, but he can’t resist getting one final remark in. “You’re too good for men like that,” he mutters before walking off.

The library quickly quiets down and soon there’s just one person left, a student studying quietly in the corner. I collect the cart that’s stacked high with returned books and proceed to put them in their rightful places. I hear the student leave and then it’s just me and the books.

I can’t sense my watcher here like other times, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t. Like a ghost, he seems to be able to walk through walls, moving soundlessly so I don’t know he’s there until he’s right next to me. Part of me wonders if I’m going insane, if he’s even real or just some fucked up figment of my imagination. I haven’t seen him since the night he watched me masturbate. But I can sense him, even behind my closed curtains.

Somehow, I don’t feel too afraid that he might be here tonight. Max’s presence is sure to scare my stalker away. I don’t want to admit that I need protection from a man, but I’m glad I have it tonight. Though it’s not protection from my stalker, but protection from what I might do…

I’m still thinking about Max as I climb up the ladder, books in hand. As I reach the top, I hear the sound of footsteps.

He’s here.

Instinctively, I try to twist around to see and lose my balance. With the books still in my hands and my bad leg the only one now on the ladder, I’m unable to right myself.

I realize the inevitable a fraction of a second before it happens.

I fall backward.

With no way of breaking my fall and only the cold, hard tiles beneath me, this isn’t going to end well. If I hit my head, it could be fatal.

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