“I’m not using her as bait.”
“That’s not what I’m suggesting. But we’re going to have to keep her on our radar until we catch this guy. What’s your interest in her?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem pretty invested.”
“She’s in trouble.”
“Is that all?”
“Um, hmm.” I dance around what he’s getting at because I’m not ready to reveal the mixed feelings I have about her. She’s too much of a princess for a guy like me, but I’m not ready to give her up either. We haven’t even known each other for twenty-four hours, but I want to get to know her better. It’s not just because she’s drop dead gorgeous. There’s more to it. I’m not exactly sure what, but she’s in my life for a reason. Fate brought her to me and I’m going to keep her by my side for as long as it takes to figure out why.
Chapter 8: Jessica
I kneel to say goodbye to Loki. He looks up at me with his big, brown eyes, wagging his tail despite the impending separation. Loki knows I’m going to work; however, he’s not whining or barking like he usually does when I leave. It’s surprising. He must really like Tucker, the prospect Talon assigned to dog duty. I’m grateful for the help. I don’t like taking Loki with me to the shelter because he gets massive anxiety. He thinks I’m going to leave him there, which I would never do, but he doesn’t know that. I rescued him from the shelter, and I’ll never give him away. I give Loki one last hug before standing up.
“Be a good boy, okay? Tucker’s going to take care of you.” I scratch behind his ears. Loki seems to understand. He gives Tucker an approving sniff before sitting at his feet.
“Hey there, buddy,” Tucker says, bending down to greet Loki with a friendly pat on the head.“We’re gonna have a blast together.”
“Ready to go?” Talon asks.
I nod, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. I smile as he tells me we’ll be riding his motorcycle today. I’ve never ridden one before, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like.
As we walk toward his bike, I admire Talon’s strong, sexy body beneath his leather jacket. It’s hard not to feel a stirring of attraction, especially knowing I’ll be wrapping my arms around him during our ride.
“Here, put this on,” he says, handing me a helmet. I take it, appreciating his concern for my safety. As I secure the straps, I catch a glimpse of his piercing green eyes. My heart skips a beat.
“It’s buckled,” I murmur, trying to hide my flushed cheeks as I swing my leg over the back of the motorcycle. Once settled, I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling the heat of his body against mine. I push aside my desire for him, focusing on the road ahead.
“Ready?” he asks over his shoulder.
“Yep!”
The rumble of the motorcycle’s engine fills my ears. Tucker’s playing with Loki in the yard. I give him a thumbs up as Talon and I speed off toward my workplace.
As the wind rushes past us, I’m grateful for Talon’s protective presence. The thought of someone stalking me is terrifying, but with him by my side, I’ll be safe. And as we ride together, the world around us blurring into a whirlwind of colors and sounds, I allow myself to forget my fears, if only for a moment.
When we reach the non-profit’s office building, I reluctantly let go of Talon’s waist. The warmth of his body leaves a lingering sensation on my fingertips, making it hard to focus on anything else.
“That was fun,” I say, trying to sound casual as I remove my helmet and hand it to him.
“Maybe I can take you for another ride later.” His voice is low and smooth like honey, and I wonder exactly what kind of ride he’s talking about.
“I’d like that,” I murmur.
“Remember, I’ll be close by, keeping an eye out for anyone who seems out of place.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely. I’m touched by his dedication to my safety. Even though we barely know each other, he’s completely disrupting his life for me. He’s a different kind of man, that’s for sure.
Talon watches me closely as I walk toward the entrance of the building. He doesn’t turn away until I make it in safely.
Stepping inside, I glance at the security cameras in the lobby, hoping they’ll capture any suspicious activity while I’m at work. My gaze lands on Ginny, the receptionist, whose mean streak has always made her difficult to deal with. I try to slip past her unnoticed, but she catches sight of me and calls out.
“Hey, Jessica! Rough morning?” she asks, her eyes raking over my less-than-classy outfit with obvious disdain. Normally, I wear a suit to work. Today, I’m dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a crimson, V-neck t-shirt. It was the only thing they had at the clubhouse. In our haste, I completely forgot to grab my bag when we left Sienna’s house. Talon said he’s sending a prospect to get it, but he won’t be back until later.
“Something like that,” I admit, trying to brush off her judgment.“I’m staying with a friend for a bit.”
