Page 10 of Never Going to Care

My mouth pops open, but then I slam it closed because I’m not going to take the bait. He wants me to do it. I grimace internally because I almost fell for his bullshit.

What is wrong with me?

I’m totally off my game and, as brown eyes and rippling muscles barely contained by a black t-shirt swim through my mind, I know why. It’s been days and I can’t seem to shake the man. It’s annoying as fuck.

Joe slinks out of my office the same way he came in. I snatch up my purse and then I’m out the door. It doesn’t take long to get over to the SP offices. I’m not a fan of the butterflies which seem to grow bigger as I take the elevator up to the right floor.

I should have told Piper to meet me downstairs. I didn’t because she’s been a little skittish on the streets. I get it considering it wasn’t far from here, in broad fucking daylight, when she was accosted.

My mind drifts to the whole unfortunate incident. Ezra feels guilty as fuck about it because it was one of his fans who went after Piper. I have my own guilt over the whole thing considering it was my suggestion to go out for our meet-up instead of staying in like we’ve done in the past.

I wanted to celebrate Ezra’s winning season. I didn’t think about the fact that paparazzi would be tracking him down. Nor did I think they’d put a picture of Piper hugging Ezra like a fucking koala where some psycho could see it and have her switch flipped to rabid.

The guilt eats at me. It doesn’t matter how many times Piper tells me it’s not my fault.

If she would have gotten hurt, I don’t know what I would have done. She’s been like my sister for as long as I can remember. Everyone else has come and gone, our lives pulling us away in different directions until there’s just too much time and space to find the bridge again.

The elevator doors slide open, and my head snaps up before I hold the door open by throwing my arm out and leaning out to look right and left. I probably look like the worst spy in history right now. My recon really needs some work.

When all I see is Piper at her desk looking at me curiously, I’m able to breathe and stride through the doors. I hold my head up and keep my back straight before I strut to her desk like I own the place.

Piper’s voice is gentle, “Is everything okay?”

I blink at her and swallow hard. I’ve never been able to keep much from her, but she’s been distracted with the whole falling in love with her soulmate and getting married thing she has going on.

“Of course,” I tell her smoothly. “Why would you think it isn’t?”

She narrows her eyes at me and then waves back to the elevator. “Well, you just came out of the elevator and looked both ways like you were either afraid you were stepping out into traffic or running from something or someone.” She gasps and rushes around the desk. “You aren’t in danger, are you? Do you need the guy’s help? I know they would give it gladly.”

I snort out a laugh and she’s looking at me as if she might just call for them even if I don’t really need the guys backing me up. I ignore how appealing Hale riding in to rescue me sounds. I can’t think about it.

He’s the man I’m avoiding anyway.

“Nothing is wrong,” I assure her with a roll of my eyes. “I’ve just had a long day.”

She scrunches her nose up and frowns. “Is Joe bothering you again?”

“Who?”

The single word might as well be a grenade being thrown against my heart and sticking there so I’m taken down in flames and concussive force. I gasp and spin around and of course, of fucking course, it’s Hale standing there staring at me. His brown eyes are just as deep and enticing as I remember them. It feels like I’m drowning for a moment, and I could blame it on the fact he just scared the hell out of me, but I know it’s a lie.

A big fucking lie.

“Fucking hell,” I run my eyes down his body and then back up, “how does a guy your size move so silently?”

He smirks at me, and I think my panties melt away. I narrow my eyes at him as he shrugs one shoulder casually. “It’s the training.” He cocks his head to one side. “You don’t want to know the number of ways I can kill someone.”

“No, I don’t.” I swallow hard but it does nothing to get rid of the lump in my throat.

I’m in so much trouble.

Hale’s voice deepens and takes on a growly quality which doesnotgo straight to my clit. Not at all. “Who is Joe?”

“Just some ass who works in my office,” I admit while I wave my hand dismissively. “He’s harmless and we almost have enough on him to give him the boot. He’s now taken the sexual harassment refresher course twice.”

He crosses his arms across his chest and levels me with a look which has me fighting myself so I don’t squirm where I’m standing. “Let me guess,” his voice is danger wrapped in warm honey, “it’s only given him the knowledge of how to skirt the line better.”

“Yeah,” I breathe out. When did my voice get all breathy? I clear my throat and try and shake off the way I want to climb Hale and have his arms wrap around me and keep me safe. “Like I said, I’m handling it and I just need one more violation.”

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