Chapter 10
ten
THE WATCHER
It pissed him off to no end that the love of his life wasn’t keeping the bouquets that he’d taken great pains to collect for her. He took solace in knowing that she would have kept them if she’d known they were from him.
He was dying to approach her, but trailing her from a distance was a thrill he wasn’t ready to relinquish. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that after months and months of watching her movements at home, being this close to her was intoxicating—one-on-one time was just what they’d needed to grow closer.
He would surprise her on the final night. From her itinerary, he knew that she planned on splitting the last section into two days—he knew because he’d been the one to help fine-tune the excursion. It would be the night she would be able to admit her feelings for him.
His body tightened with expectation. No other man could anticipate her needs like he could. Patience. It was all about patience. He settled in for another few miles of shadowing his soul mate until she was safely settled for the night.
He hated that he’d caved to his jealousy the night before and sneaked into her room to borrow her journal. He’d watched her on the few occasions she’d sat near a window writing in it, and he had to make sure she wasn’t writing to a boyfriend. That wouldn’t have ended well for the boy.
It was a letter to her dead dad, which meant he would have to return it. She’d loved her father, and he wouldn’t cause her more heartache than necessary. He would slip back into her room by tomorrow or the next day and replace the journal.
He hoped to see his own name on those pages someday.
Watching her sleep had become an obsession soon after he’d met her.
It had been so easy to plant a camera in her bedroom once she’d moved into her own place.
She’d rarely brought her boyfriend, Harry, over, which was a blessing.
His rage had almost escaped his tight control when he’d had to endure seeing another man put his hands on what was his.
The only reason that pansy-ass boy was still breathing was because his girl hadn’t returned any of the boy’s feelings.
She was saving her heart for him. It had been obvious. Continually, and in every way, she let him know that she was keeping her authentic self for the time they could be together.
It had taken over a year, but he’d put together a life plan to suit them both.
A home. He’d found the perfect flat and decorated it with her tastes in mind.
Children. One.
Work. She would work with him. Once they were a couple, they wouldn’t want to be separated all day. She hadn’t graduated yet. She could always change her major to suit him. It would keep her in school longer, but she wouldn’t mind if he asked her to.
Eventually, she would understand that cutting ties with her family and friends was for the best. She would want to spend all her time with him, and other people would get in the way.
Over two years of careful planning were about to reap the biggest reward of his life. From the moment he’d seen her in the science of nutrition class, her first year at university, their future was as good as written.
Her father’s death had been one of the best days of his life. He would never tell her that, of course, but her father had been the biggest obstacle to their relationship. With him removed, all the pieces had begun to fall into place.
He watched her sure strides eat up the rest of Day 5’s miles, his binoculars making him feel as though he was striding by her side.