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“Do you think you might still be able to find her?” asked Tanner.

I looked up at him. “I doubt it.”

“But is it possible?”

“They never found her body. I know it’s stupid, but that’s why I go to the park on the anniversary of her death. I keep hoping she’ll show up.”

“That’s not stupid at all.”

“I don’t know. I keep clinging onto hope, but the detective was probably right. When I pestered him about the odds of finding her, he just asked if I believed in magic.”

“And do you?” asked Tanner.

“What? Believe in magic? No.”

“Well, maybe you should. I certainly do.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not. And if you don’t believe in magic…at least believe in my PI. He’s the best money can buy. And if he’s not, I’ll buy a better one.”

“You’d ask your PI to track down Rosalie?”

“Of course. My whole family has been dead for years. And I’ve lost more friends than I can count. If there was a chance any of them were still alive, I’d do whatever it took to find them. And I’ll do the same for you and your sister.”

That was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever offered to do for me. “Thank you.” I was stunned by his generosity. But also by what he’d just said. His whole family was dead? And a bunch of his friends? That was terrible. How did they all die?

“Do you want me to come with you on the 25th?” asked Tanner.

I shook my head. “I prefer to do it alone.” Yes, it would be amazing to have him there with me. But what if Rosalie was going to finally come back? Seeing a strange man with me might scare her off.

“Just let me know if you change your mind.”

“Does this mean I get the day off?”

“Hmmm…” Tanner made a show of thinking hard about his decision. “I guess so.”

“It’s good to know that you’re not a heartless asshole.”

“Well, I do have one other condition,” said Tanner. “If I give you the day off, you’re going to have to work late for the next few weeks. This launch party for Wineflix and Chill isn’t going to plan itself.”

I slid away from him. “I take it back. Maybe you are a heartless asshole.”

“Would it help if I told you that I’ll be working late with you?”

Did he just kind of ask me out? For every night of the next few weeks?!I was pretty sure he had. I tried to hide my excitement, but it was probably written all over my tear and sweat covered face.

“It seems like that’s a yes.”

“Maybe,” I replied. But he was right. It was a definite yes. I couldn’t freaking wait to spend the next few weeks working late with him. Because if the porn collection Chastity had given me was at all accurate,working latewas synonymous with him doing filthy things to me all over the conference room table.

Stalker Problems - Chapter 41 - Archer, Mustang, and Vandal

Two Weeks Later – Wednesday – May 24, 2023

Tanner was right - I did need to work overtime if I was going to get everything in place for the Wineflix and Chill launch party. Although my overtime during the next two weeks wasn’t exactly productive. I spent most of my evening hours eating amazing takeout, secretly staring at Tanner while he worked, and asking him to tell me more stories.

Seriously, his stories were insane. He’d spent six months at a Buddhist monastery. Robes, shaved head, meditation for hours on end. The whole thing. He also showed me a scar he had from the time he got kicked by a horse while hanging out with some Brazilian gauchos. I’d yelled #HorseFacts at him and he didn’t even think it was that weird. He’d just smiled at me with that perfect smile of his.