CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Jack
The next few weeks went by in a blur. I spent them getting to know Daisy Tiller and found myself falling more and more in love with her each day.
Yes, I was obsessed with her body. Yes, I wanted to fuck her twenty-four, seven.
But there was so much more than that. I loved the way I’d find her puttering around the kitchen humming and dancing as she made some wonderful meal for us.
It was never because I asked her to. Hell, I didn’t care if she could boil water.
I just wanted to be around her. I would have taken her out or ordered in for every meal.
But she truly seemed to enjoy cooking, getting a kick out of it whenever I enjoyed a dish she’d made.
I couldn’t think of even one other woman I’d ever gone out with who seemed into anything besides their status and social media profile.
And I sure as hell couldn’t imagine them cooking.
I loved the way I often overheard her talking to her sisters.
She was so loving with them, so kind. She was the same way with her friends, and I enjoyed getting to know Nia and Jelly.
Which was really saying something. I never enjoyed meeting new people.
But for Daisy? I think I’d meet the whole damn town of West Bay with a big smile on my face.
And I loved watching her.
That was a problem. I sighed and stretched, standing up from a cushy gaming chair I had parked in front of my ‘Daisy monitors’ in a secret room in my home at the Estates at South.
I watched as she puttered around the apartment, getting ready for a girls’ night.
I couldn’t stand the thought of not being with her tonight, but I recognized her need to be alone from time to time.
I couldn’t let her know I thought about her all the time, whether or not I was with her.
I was gone over her. This wasn’t just lust, fascination, or obsession.
It was love, too. I was in love with her, and I knew I was never getting my heart back.
I could only hope that when it was time for us to split according to that contract I’d signed with Carmen Salazar, that I could convince her to stay with me.
I leaned back in my chair, running my hands through my hair. How had this happened to me? How had I gone from a guy who fucked and ran to a guy ready to propose marriage after knowing a woman for less than two months? What was wrong with me…
My eyes opened wide as I sat up straight in my chair, all of my attention suddenly on the screens in front of me.
There was a random guy on Daisy’s floor of Salazar Heights.
I leaned closer, but I couldn’t get a good look at him.
I frowned as he approached her door. He wasn’t a food delivery guy. He was carrying flowers.
“Oh, fuck no,” I said standing up and starting to pace as I watched his actions.
I picked up my phone, ready to dial the police at the first hint of trouble.
He laid the flowers at her door, then walked to the elevator.
Right before he disappeared inside the elevator, he looked up and focused right on the camera I’d hidden there. He grinned at it, and I gasped.
It was him! The stalker. My blood ran cold.
He was letting me know he knew I was watching Daisy.
And he knew what the fuck he was doing, too.
His ball cap covered his face completely except for his shit-eating grin.
I couldn’t make out much of anything about the guy.
He wore a bulky jacket, so I couldn’t be sure whether he was made of muscle or a total spaghetti noodle.
There was no one in the hallway to compare his height with, so I also didn’t have a clue how tall he was.
He gave me a little salute before going out of sight. Then he was gone. I didn’t have cameras on the other floors of the luxury condo high-rise. I thought I didn’t need to, but I was second guessing that decision now.
I stood still for a moment, unsure of what to do. Should I go over there and risk spoiling girls’ night just to make sure Daisy was safe? Or did I stay here and keep watch from afar?
As I was trying to decide, Daisy opened her door.
She was on the phone, and she looked upset.
I saw her look down, see the flowers, and realize who they were probably from.
She closed her eyes and leaned against the door frame.
I longed to be there for her. To pull her into my arms and comfort her, keep her safe.
Why wouldn’t she admit to me that she had a stalker?
I couldn’t be the one to tell her I knew she had one. Because then she might put two and two together that she had more than one stalker.
That I had stalked her. Was still stalking her, I realized, as I stared at her through the feed my hidden cameras provided me.
And I couldn’t risk that.
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. I couldn’t bear thinking about the look of disappointment, fright even, that would cross her lovely features if she knew who I was. What I was.
***
The next day Daisy and I were just lying around on the couch watching romcoms together. I didn’t even mind the lame plots and ridiculous emphasis on love anymore. I actually understood where they were coming from now. I even felt a certain kinship with the characters.
I sighed and cuddled Daisy closer to me.
She was lying on top of me, her back to my chest, and she giggled when I buried my face in her hair and tightened my arm around her waist. “God, you make me so fucking happy,” I said.
“And horny.” I thrust my cock against her ass so she could feel the effect she had on me.
She laughed. “Jack! We’ve done it like eight times today already.”
“And your point is…”
She turned her head. “My point is that sometimes we could just talk, you know?” Her cheeks got a little pink, and she didn’t look me in the eyes.
I sat up, holding onto her so she didn’t fall off the couch. “Hey, I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t ever want you to think I’m only interested in fucking you. I mean, I’m always going to want to do that, but I really enjoy talking to you. Just being with you at all, really.”
Her eyes swung up to meet mine. She looked as if she was weighing the options of asking me something, and I desperately wanted to know what it was. I reached over and put my hand under her chin.
“What is it?”
“It’s just… I mean, that’s all this is for, right? Sex? I shouldn’t be asking for more.” She tried to stand up, but I tightened my hold on her.
“What if that’s not what it’s all about?” My eyes searched hers, hoping for answers. If she wanted to talk to me, then maybe I stood a shot with her.
She looked confused. “Isn’t it, though?”
I dropped my hold on her and turned so we were facing each other.
“Can I be honest with you?” I almost cringed as I said it, knowing that I wasn’t exactly being truthful.
I wasn’t about to drop a truth bomb on her, though.
What would she say if I was like ‘I’ve been stalking you for weeks now and watch you even when I’m not with you?
’ She’d probably scream and run. I swallowed hard.
“I’ve always wanted more than just sex with you, Daisy. ”
Her eyes widened. “You have? But why?”
I cocked my head at her. “What do you mean? Have you seen yourself?”
She got a carefully guarded look on her face. “My looks. Right.”
Shit. I was messing this up. “It’s more than that. I think you’re so kind, and smart, and just real.”
“But you’re a billionaire genius who also happens to be hot. You date famous models. What would you want with me?”
I snorted. “Those famous models are a pain in the ass. They all want the same thing—to be seen on my arm and hopefully get as much money out of me as possible. You’re not like that.”
Her face turned red, and she stood up. “You bid ten million dollars for three months with me. I think it seems like I’m exactly like those women.
I didn’t want to be. I didn’t set out to work at Sugar, you know?
It just turned into the best option… kind of the only option…
for me. I couldn’t just let my family fall apart. ”
I watched her as she headed towards the kitchen. I was losing control of this conversation fast. I was fucking up. “Hey, you said you played CaveSphere, right?”
She stopped and turned to look at me. “Yes.”
“Wanna play?” I tried not to sound like a hopeful little kid, but I was afraid that’s exactly how I was coming off.
But a huge smile came over her face. “Are you serious? You want to play CaveSphere with me?” She hurried back over and plopped down beside me. “Do I want to play the best video game of all time with the guy who created it? Um… hell, yeah!”
I was astonished by her excitement level, but I hurriedly looked around for her gaming system.
There wasn’t one.
“What do you play on?”
She looked embarrassed. “My laptop.”
“That’s fine. Where is it?” I looked around, not understanding why she was acting shy about it.
“It’s not exactly great. It’s pretty slow, actually.”
I frowned. I could tell she was suddenly wishing she hadn’t said anything.
“You know what? Let’s just have sex again, okay?” She walked over and put her hands on my chest, standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. For the first time, I was going to turn her down.
Maybe the only time.
“No.”
Her eyes got big. “No?” She was flabbergasted.
“Nope.” I grinned at her. “We’re going shopping.” I grabbed a baseball cap, plunked it down on my head, stuffed my keys in the pocket of my well-worn jeans, and grabbed her hand. “Ah, shit. I should put my contacts in.”
“Don’t,” she blurted out.
I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t?”
She shook her head. “I think they’re sexy as hell,” she admitted.
Huh. “I might never wear contacts again.”
“Fine by me,” she pulled her hand out of mine. “Hold on,” she said. “I need to put a little makeup on…”
“Nah, you don’t need it.” I reached for her and grabbed her hand again, pulling her towards me.