Blaze: A Small Town, Nerdy Girl, Opposites Attract, Protector Romance (Ghost Ops Book 1)

Chapter 7

Blaze Connolly’s gaze sharpened.“What’s wrong? Has someone threatened you?”

The way he said the words, all rough and soft at the same time, stroked her senses. But it was the way he cut straight to the chase that unnerved her.

“I d-don’t know.” She cursed herself for the hitch in her voice that made her sound like a squeaky wheel in need of grease. And for admitting something she hadn’t intended.

She hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive, though. To see into the fear she tried to keep hidden.

Truthfully, she didn’t know that Simon was a threat anymore. She hadn’t heard from him in the last few weeks before she’d left Chicago. It was as if he’d finally gotten the message and decided to leave her alone. She hadn’t breathed any easier though. She’d known she wouldn’t until she’d left the city behind.

She’d only been back in Alabama a handful of days but the feeling she was being watched hadn’t dissipated. It was probably nothing, and yet that subtle prickle on the back of her neck wouldn’t let her rest.

The only other time she’d felt it was when Simon was lurking around outside the hospital or her apartment.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” His tone was gentle.

Emma hesitated. She hadn’t told anyone. But since the moment he’d disarmed the robber and put him on the ground, she’d been thinking about how confident he’d been. He hadn’t hesitated. He’d done the job, and they’d all survived.

Clarence was back to smoking meat again, a bit bruised but suffering no ill effects from the mild concussion he’d gotten from falling to the floor. Britney’s young life hadn’t been cut short by an asshole looking for money, and Emma was standing there now, scared to say more but able to do so. They all had Blaze to thank for that.

“I lived in Chicago for four years. I kept meaning to take a self-defense class, but I never seemed to have the time. I thought I should rectify that now.”

He gazed at her expectantly. “That’s a good plan. But you said you didn’t know if someone had threatened you or not.”

Her throat tightened. “It’s nothing. Really. I had a bad relationship that ended before I moved home. I haven’t heard from him, but I sometimes wonder if he’s out there. Watching me. It’s crazy to think he followed me back here.”

Her face flamed at how ridiculous she sounded. All she had was a vague fear, not evidence. It was nothing more than PTSD from what she’d experienced still reverberating through her life. It was normal, and she had to get used to it. One day, if she was lucky, it would fade. End of story.

She expected him to give her a pitying look. To tell her she was obviously wrong if she had nothing but a feeling to go on. And he’d be right.

“How does it feel when you think he’s there?”

The way he asked the question made her limbs go soft inside, like sinking into a tub of warm water. It was a comforting feeling, one she hadn’t had in a long time. “You believe me?”

“Yes.”

Said without hesitation. She had to resist the tears welling up inside.

“Now tell me the feeling. How does it differ from usual?”

The bands around her chest loosened. “Like a prickle at the back of my neck, a coldness in my heart. My granny called it feeling like someone was walking across your grave. It’s unsettling. But I don’t know that I’m right. I’ve made a lot of changes in a short time, and I might just be feeling the effects of them.”

He pushed a hand through his hair. His nostrils flared, and her heart skipped a beat. He was tall, muscled, and rugged in a way that had heat flaring in parts of her that needed to sit down and shut up.

She didn’t need to be attracted to this man. She’d already proven that her judgment was suspect when it came to men.

Simon had been nice. Handsome, impeccable manners, treated her like a lady. He’d opened car doors and sent flowers.

He’d been playing a role. He was none of those things when her guard went down. When she felt like maybe she’d met a guy who could be The One with a little more time.

He was not The One. Not even close. He was a nightmare.

“I’m probably overreacting,” she blurted as panic squeezed around the edges of her vision. Breathe, breathe. “I’d still like to take a class, though. I assume I can sign up online, or do I need to stop by in person?”

“Either is good. Now breathe,” he ordered, echoing her thoughts.

She did as he said, nodding when the panic started to recede. It was still there, still ready to roar to life, but she could hold it together for a little while longer. “I’m okay. Just tired.”

His frown hadn’t eased. “If your gut tells you something’s wrong, listen to it.”

“Is that what you did in the military? Listened to your gut?”

“I probably wouldn’t be alive today if I hadn’t.”

She thought a flash of anger crossed his features, but it was gone too quick to know.

“I, um, I should leave you alone. I’m sure you have plans that don’t involve standing here talking to me. Thank you for the information, though. I’ll sign up for class soon.” She fumbled her phone in her hand as she started to walk past him.

“Doc.”

His voice was filled with command, and she stopped, turned, and faced him again. She pasted on the bright, utterly fake smile she always had ready. Her heart tapped a drumbeat in her chest as she tried to appear casual. “Yes?”

“Listen to your gut. Don’t ignore it or rationalize it if you feel like someone’s watching you. Don’t live scared to step out your door, but be aware of that feeling. If it happens again, note what you’re doing and what you see. Then I want you to tell me about it, okay? Knock on my door. Call me. I don’t care. But don’t go through this alone.”

She swallowed the giant lump in her throat. “Okay. Thanks.”

He took his phone from his back pocket. “Give me your number and I’ll text you so you can capture mine.”

The look on her face must have given him pause because his expression softened. “I asked if you were hungry the other day because I wanted to know you better. You said no. I accept that. I’m not asking for your number to blow up your phone with a bunch of bullshit. I want you to have mine so you’ll have someone to talk to when that feeling hits again. I won’t ask you out. Promise.”

“Of course.”

She gave him her number, and her phone lit up a second later. But her brain got stuck on the part where he said he wouldn’t ask her out again. Why did it bother her that he’d given up the idea so easily, especially when she didn’t want to go out with anyone?

She went through the motions of adding his name and saving him to her contact list, though it didn’t stop her from obsessing about what he’d said. He was gorgeous, and she’d turned him down. Of course he wasn’t interested in her. He’d had a momentary lapse brought on by the shared experience of the robbery, but he was over it now.

“I’ve got you now,” she said. “Thanks.”

The way his sky-blue eyes studied her made her stomach tighten. In a good way. She thought of those eyes roving her body as he peeled her clothing off. Heat pooled in her belly. What was wrong with her, mentally undressing him and thinking about what sex with him would be like?

She offered her bright smile again to cover her discomfort. “I’m meeting a friend over at the Dawg. I better get going. Have a good night.”

“You too, Doc.”

“You can call me Emma. I think of Doc as my dad if I’m honest. It was fine in Chicago, but it’s a little odd here. I mean I am a doctor, but I’m not Doc. I hope that makes sense.”

She clamped her mouth shut to end the babbling.

His grin sent another flutter through her that landed solidly in her core and made her ache.

“Have a good night, Emma. Call me if you need me.”

Her ears were hot. She thanked him again, needlessly, and fled.