Page 23 of Deadline for Love

“Maybe… But it’s a fact a guy who knows where you work and where you live is running around and now he's vandalizing your property. People like that are unpredictable.’’

I couldn’t disagree; he was absolutely right. I was amazed that he remembered everything I hurriedly told him when he held me in his arms. He was very attentive.

“So, your hobby is martial arts?” I asked, running my left hand through my hair as he still held my other hand—I didn’t mind his closeness, which amazed me...

“Yes, I box and have taken a fair amount of Jiu Jitsu, nothing too crazy.’’

There was silence for a moment; we both looked at each other with our heads leaning against the back of the couch. His brown eyes sparkled beautifully with the light from the living room.

“You look tired; you should go to sleep.”

“I can’t sleep now,” I admitted.

“Even if I promise I won’t go?”

I shook my head.

“If we’d known each other longer, I’d offer to sleep next to you, but I think it’s too soon.... and…” He wanted to say something else but interrupted himself.

“And what?” I asked curiously.

Nathan sighed and added quietly, “I know you said you weren’t really ready for anything since your last relationship."

I bit my lower lip lightly, causing Nathan to let go of my hand to stop me. But I snatched his hand before he touched my mouth, placed it on my lap.

“That’s not quite true... I went to therapy, and I think I’m pretty much over it. It’s just that I've been afraid to start a new relationship after that…”

Nathan listened to me quietly and let me express my thoughts, which I appreciated and made me feel safe.

“It was … kind of toxic, and unfortunately, he played me. I was just too foolish and forgave him too often even though there was nothing to forgive.”

“You’re not foolish.” His grip on my hand tightened. “Foolish is the one who treated you like that.”

He kissed my hand gently and then brushed his thumb over it. “And thank you for being honest with me.”

“I think if we’re going to get to know each other, we shouldn’t hide things like that,” I mumbled and then yawned.

Nathan had a nice smile on his lips after I said that; even his dimples were showing again. But his features quickly turned serious. “But this can’t be the man secretly sending you these letters, right?”

I shook my head and giggled. “Believe me, Robert isn't that clever. He’s not the type to do that.”

“People can change,” he objected, but I shook my head again.

“Robert… is not a man of words, and he got married a week after he left me. He lives in Australia with his wife and their kids. I doubt he’s back here to write secret letters, let alone kill women.”

Nathan’s head shot up, his eyes looked dark as if he were upset, and his muscles also looked tense. “That bum has a wife and kids?”

“Like I said, I was foolish. I didn’t know he was in a relationship with someone else. The other woman didn’t know either.” I was a little ashamed at the memory. But I didn’t feel bad anymore as I continued, “I suspected he was cheating on me, and he gaslit me into thinking that I was delusional and that I was actually the problem.” Then I sighed and shook my head. “In the end, the other woman and I found out, but the other one took him back. She was pregnant with twins, and she didn’t want to lose him…” I just shook my head at the memory. “Well… it happened, and I should just forget about it. He’s living his life and wouldn’t risk giving up everything he has now. I was the one who got played.”

Nathan took a long breath. “He’s a jerk, and he should suffer, not you.”

He pulled me closer and held me in his arms, gifting me warmth and comfort. I closed my eyes to stop the tears from escaping my eyes.

Hearing those words made me feel less tense. I breathed in his beautiful scent, which calmed me down even more. A few thoughts flew through my head, but eventually, everything calmed down, and I fell asleep.

Chapter 8

A loud click followed by giggling made me open my eyes forcibly. The bright light made me blink several times, and I saw a camera first. Immediately afterward, a smiling Amara was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

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