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He pushed himself off the doorfraht" At least he was honest Message, loud and clear If they slept together, she would never seen hiain "You don’t date"

"No, I don’t Not very dateable, I’ood looks, your own company, and the penchant to save waitresses in dark alleys, women must run away in horror," she teased "Come on, you know you could have your own season of The Bachelor and fill Texas Stadiu lips had an edge of resignation to them this time "Women like me on paper But the reality isn’t as bearable I work frohts I’races leave a lot to be desired"

"Meaning, you can be an asshole"

He shrugged, unapologetic "My tolerance for others is lilare he’d sent that customer who’d interrupted them today could’ve bent the silverware "Yet you visit "

"You’re exceptionally tolerable," he said, stepping inside finally and picking up the note that must have fallen to the floor when she’d set her purse down

His co him only a pace away frorating for aeven closer and e herself, she went for the safety of humor She tilted her head and batted her eyelashes in her best southern belle is You should write poetry"

He chuckled and handed her the paper, his hand lingering against her fingers for a few extra seconds "I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms LeBreck Try to stay out of trouble until then"

"Will do my best" The loss of the skin-to-skin contact left her feeling even more alone than she had athe paper in her hand to have so the lapels of his jacket and taking the kiss for herself "Thanks again for everything today I’et inv--"

Her words stuck in her throat like a wad of taffy as she stared down at the drawing on the page--a very familiar, distinctive D

"Kelsey?" Wyatt’s voice filled with concern When she didn’t respond, he caone white"

She closed her eyes, a wave of nausea and raging anger rolling through her A fir her She took in a deep breath through her nose, trying to keep the temptation to lose her shit at bay She’d been here before She could handle it

Of course, before she could’ve taken a shot of whiskey and sarette But neither of those options were available anymore This time she was on her own in every way

"He ca flat

Wyatt took the paper froain her internal co around and screaet out of here"

"Wait, what?" Wyatt asked as she pulled away froer operation--the D-Town Players" She headed toward the closet on the far side of the living roo brain How long had they been standing here talking? What if so this way? Where the fuck was her suitcase? "That note is letting me know they knohere I live"

"Fuck, Kelsey," Wyatt said, lines deepening around his ?"

She shook her head, squatting down to move a few boxes at the bottoanized than that I don’t exactly kno big it is I was never privy to that" She dragged her overnight bag out of the back corner and turned around "I justdated so runner for them back when I was too stupid to know better"

She watched the distaste cross Wyatt’s face, and her heart died a little One of the things she loved most about her brief times with Wyatt was how he looked at her like she really was the sweet, innocent thing he believed her to be Like she was soile Unlike everyone else she knew, he hadn’t looked at her through the filter of her past and all the h the even darker glass of being a victim Only a handful of people knehat she’d endured at the hands of her mother’s murderer last year But once someone knew, that was all the person saw--assault victiht little bubble of space between her and Wyatt

"Where are you going to go?" he asked, shutting the front door behind hi it "My company has corporate apartments we rent You can stay in one of those if you need a place"

She shook her head The last thing she wanted was some handout "Thanks, I appreciate it, but I can stay at my sister and her fiancé’s place"

That was a lie She wasn’t going to put Brynn and Reid at risk on her behalf Not again Reid had taken a bullet the last time he’d rescued Kelsey, and her sister had almost ended up dead But Kelsey couldn’t tell Wyatt where she was really heading He’d already found out enough of her secrets today The last thing he needed to knohat she did as her night job

Wyatt frowned, obviously not thrilled with that plan, but he nodded "Pack your bag, and I’ll drive you"

"I have a car downstairs I just take the bus soas"

"Then I’ll follow you there to make sure you’re safe"