Page 35 of Too Hot To Touch

“What is wrong with you? Who do you think you are? You can’t just go around kidnapping people!”

“I didn’t kidnap you. You willingly got into my car.”

“Yeah, because I thought that we were just going to sit in it for a minute and talk!”

“I’m not watching you on a date with some other guy. You want to go on a date then it will be with me.”

“Not a chance.” I spit at him.

He just smiles at me like I’m adorable.

“I would never date you. Steve, my date, he was nice, polite, sweet, everything that you are not. HE is my type, not some brutish, alpha asshole, who thinks he can tell me what to do.”

“I’m your type.” He says as he pulls up outside the townhouses.

“No, you’re not.” I say as I pull on the door handle, climbing out of the car.

“And you are mine.”

I shoot one last glare at Lincoln before I slam the door closed and start walking down the street. I’m already pulling my phone out to call an Uber when strong arms wrap around me from behind and lift me into the air.

I’m carried back to my house and up the stairs before he sets me down. I spin around to face him, ready to rip into him again, but he’s already talking.

“Your date? He’s probably already left by now. You’ve been gone for about fifteen minutes; he probably thinks that you’re not coming back.”

He digs around in my purse, pulling out my keys and unlocking the door for me. I stand there and consider his words and realize he’s right. It was our first date and sure Steve was nice but he probably does think that I just ran off with another guy. What a great first date.

I snatch my purse and keys from Lincoln before storming into the house and slamming the door in his face.

CHAPTER 8

Lincoln

This door slammingthing appears to be becoming a pattern. At least she didn’t slap me tonight, although she was definitely not happy with me. I suppose I’ll owe her another apology tomorrow but this one will be decidedly less sincere. I’ll never be sorry for keeping guys away from my girl.

I should head back to the restaurant and continue my surveillance but I’m nervous that Adeline will sneak out and I won’t have eyes on her. I cross the street, heading for my own home, as I pull my cell phone out and call my partner.

“Linc.”

“Hey Bryson, can you cover surveillance for me tonight? Something came up.”

“Sure thing.”

I give him the details and tell him I’ll see him tomorrow before disconnecting the call. I go upstairs and into the guest room that faces Adeline’s room. I’ve been coming in here since I moved in. It comforts me to know that I only have to look out the window to see where she’s at. I sit down on the chair I dragged in here and watch the light across the street.

God, tonight is going to be a long one.

* * *

Like yesterday,I wait outside of Adeline’s house for her to come out. She pauses when she sees me at the bottom of the steps before she locks the door and heads past me.

Ahh, the silent treatment today then.

We walk down the sidewalk together and I take her obvious distraction to study her features. She’s dressed similar to yesterday, only she’s wearing a neon pink animal shelter shirt today and black jeans instead of blue. Her hair is pinned up out of her face so I see the scowl she sends my way when she catches me staring.

“You look beautiful.”

She just rolls her eyes and tries to walk faster. I’m at least a foot taller than her though and she could never outrun me. She ignores me the entire way to work and I decide to let her cool down some more before I apologize and bring up the idea of us going out on a date. I’ll be back when she gets off. I turn and head for my own office, already counting down the hours until I’ll see her again.

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