Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
They both turn at the same time, a blank look on his face. When I’m close enough, he says, “Who the fuck are you? You’re not allowed—”
I ignore the prick and wrap a hand around Katherine’s shoulder. I pray to God she realizes what I’m doing and won’t fight me. “Baby, sorry I’m late. I got held up at work.”
Her mouth parts, her eyebrows squishing together. I respond with a smirk and tuck a loose stray of hair behind her ear. I lower my head, pretending to kiss her but whispering, “Play along.”
I continue smiling at her, but when I swing my head to Patrick, I cast him the coldest gaze I can muster. His neck flexes as he swallows hard and staggers back a step. “Five seconds.”
His head flinches back slightly, and he runs a hand through his blonde hair. “W-what?”
“I’m giving you five seconds before I swing my arm at you and possibly break your jaw. You don’t think I heard everything you said to my girl, right? Go fuck off, you thumbsucking shit.”
Patrick tries to look like I don’t intimidate him, but even in the dim light, I can see his ashen face. He’s probably not even aware that he’s wiping both hands on his dress pants. “W-who the f-fuck do you think you are? You have any idea who my father is?”
Laughter bursts out of me, startling him. “Damn. At your age, you still calling Daddy for help? You make fun of Katherine, but you can’t even stand up for yourself. I’m betting you’re one second away from peeing in your pants. Now go before you embarrass yourself. If I see you talking to Katherine the way you just did, I’m gonna break each of those fingers from your disgustingly clammy hands.”
His hurried steps reverberate off the cold, tiled walls, his silhouette growing smaller and smaller. The sight of him running away from me, his eyes filled with terror, makes me snort. A typical bully.
“Kieran. It’s Kieran, right?” Katherine’s voice pierces through my thoughts, and I turn to face her. Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s looking at me … almost hungrily, eyes landing on my mouth, tongue peeking out and swiping along her bottom lip.
Jesus. She’s so tempting it’s not even funny anymore.
“Why are you here? Have you been following me?”
With relief, I realize she’s not angry or accusing. She genuinely wants to know, and while I have been behaving like an obsessed lunatic the entire time, I don’t have it in me to lie to her anymore. It’s time to come clean. Qué será, será, I guess. “Yes, I have.”
“Why? How long? Who asked you?”
“No one asked me. I did it because … because the moment I saw you, an obsession has taken root in me. I couldn’t stop. I wanted to see you every minute of every day, and I wanted to know everything about you.”
“Why me?”
What does she mean? Why not her? She’s everything I never knew I wanted. Is this a trap or a trick question? “Why not you?”
She tilts her chin and stares hard at me. “It’s rude to answer a question with another question.”
“I just told you I’ve been stalking you, and you’re taking issue with that?”
Her lips press into a thin line, and she’s trying not to smile. “No, seriously. Just tell me.”
“Because I’m drawn to you. I can’t explain it. There’s this almost primal need in me. I tried to shake it off and stopped for three days. You know, do my thing and let you be. It felt like death, Katherine. I need you. My body, mind, and soul know it.”
“How long?”
“Three months.”
Her eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. “Three months? Are you crazy?”
My shoulder lifts. “Possibly.”
“Oh God. Wait a minute. I’ve been feeling eyes on me. I thought I was being paranoid. Was that you?”
“Yes.”
Katherine paces and rests a palm on her chest. “And you’re actually a security guard?”
“That part is true.”
“Why did they hire you?”
“My sunny personality.”
This stops her in her tracks, and she shakes her head. “What if I tell you to leave me alone?”
“Then, I’ll do that. You won’t see me, you won’t hear from me. But it doesn’t mean I won’t keep watching you from afar.”
“What if I tell you to stop obsessing with me?”
“You might as well tell me to tear my left eye out.”
Her eyebrows scrunch. “Why?”
“Because it’s impossible, Katherine. I have no control over my feelings. Every single part of me belongs to you. Do with that what you will.”
With a voice so low that I strain to hear, she says, “My friends call me Kate.”
“I am not your friend.”
Her eyes widen at the admission, lips pressing into a grimace. “Then what are you to me? A stalker?”
“Your future husband. Well, at least that’s what I hope I’d be.”