Page 50 of Talon

Talon’s expression shifts from relaxed to concerned, his eyes narrowing slightly.“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. It might not be safe for you to go out alone.”

“Come on,” I argue, frustration bubbling up inside me.“My stalker hasn’t shown up since he dropped off that stuffed animal at my work. Maybe he gave up. Besides, I just want some downtime with my best friend.”

I can see the wheels turning in Talon’s head as he weighs the pros and cons. He’s always been protective, but it’s getting a bit suffocating.

“Fine,” he finally relents, though I can tell he’s still worried.“But I’m coming with you.”

“Really?” I sigh, my shoulders slumping in defeat.“I appreciate your concern, but I need some space. Sienna and I haven’t had proper girl time in ages.”

“I understand that, but you know how dangerous this situation is. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“And I appreciate it, I really do. But we haven’t heard a peep from the guy. He probably gave up after he saw all the guys from the club watching over me. Only a stupid person would try to stalk me while I’m being protected by you and the other guys.”

“Or an obsessed one.”

“If he were still fixated on me, he would have done something else by now. Please, let me have this one afternoon with Sienna.”

Tension hangs in the air between us. I meet his frustrated gaze with a steady one, refusing to back down. The guy stalking me has already done enough to disrupt my life. I’m not letting him destroy it. I can tell Talon’s not convinced, so I try another approach.

“I’ve been doing everything you told me to do, including taking different routes to and from work. I watch to make sure no one’s following me. If anything seems strange, I call you and let you know.”

“You’ve been very good about that,” he concedes.

“Exactly, and I get why we had to do that, but I can’t stay cooped up in the clubhouse all the time. I miss girl time with Sienna. There’s such a thing as too much testosterone in one house.”

“It’s just Reaper and me now.”

“That’s enough.” I laugh.“Have you seen the guy? He’s like a walking steroid.”

“He’s never touched that stuff in his entire life.”

“Doesn’t need to. He’s basically a solid wall of testosterone-induced muscle. Anyway, it’s not just that. I also want to bring Loki with me. The coffee shop has a patio outside and they allow dogs. Loki’s been stuck inside for over a week, poor thing. He needs some fresh air and exercise, too.”

“I play with him in the yard every day.” Talon crosses his arms over his chest.

“It’s not the same as being able to explore and meet new people. Loki’s a huge people-watcher. He loves sitting on the sidewalk watching everyone go by.”

Talon’s face softens as he glances over at Loki, who’s currently rolling around on the floor, chasing his own tail. Loki senses we’re looking at him, so he stops spinning. Grinning up at us, he releases a happy bark.

“I guess he does need to get out for a bit.” Talon exhales, his shoulders dropping as he relents.“You can go. But promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I’ll be extra cautious.” I’m genuinely touched by his willingness to compromise, so I give him a quick peck on the cheek. He flushes and looks away.

With a plan in place, I finish my breakfast. I’m excited, yet a bit nervous. I choose to believe that everything will be okay, but I also hope I’m not making a big mistake.

I call Sienna to make sure she’s free. She’s thrilled that we can finally plan something and agrees to meet me in an hour.

As I gather my things and put Loki’s leash on him, Talon watches us. Concern is etched into the lines of his face, but it’s more than that. There’s a warmth there, too, a genuine care for both Loki and me that makes my heart swell.

The sun warms my face as I step outside. I’m holding Loki’s leash firmly in one hand while clutching my car keys in the other. The excitement radiating from Loki is contagious, making me feel lighter and more carefree than I have in days. Talon follows closely behind, with his motorcycle helmet tucked under his arm.

“I’ll follow you on my bike. And don’t worry, I won’t interfere with your visit to Sienna, but I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

“Got it.” I flash him a bright smile.

As I climb into my car, I can’t help but admire Talon’s protective nature. Sure, it can be a bit overwhelming at times, but there’s no denying he genuinely cares about my safety. And if I’m honest with myself, I’ve started to develop feelings for him, too. With each passing day, my desire to be with him is getting stronger, and I’m not sure what to do about it. I can’t wait to talk to Sienna and see what she thinks.

“Ready to go, Loki?” I ask, buckling him into his doggy seat.“We’re going to the coffee shop you like. Sienna will be there, too.”

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