Chapter Two
Strangely, Clover had never been to the minuscule diner, just two doors down.
He didn’t spend a lot of time on the square.
Thankfully, it was warm. He couldn’t recall the last time he had been as miserable as he had been in that freezing office.
While he had been raised here and was acclimated to the weather, he much preferred the heat.
Not only was he cozy and warm now, but he had also decided Saint was the nicest person he had ever met.
He couldn’t stop looking at all the bright holly, bells, and ornaments that were hanging around the diner. It was so pretty. He knew it was weird for him to love the season since he was completely alone.
“Kitten?”
“Yes?” Clover didn’t know why he immediately answered to the pet name. He shouldn’t encourage Saint. The guy had called him kitten three times during their lunch, pointing out his gloves and hat. Three times. That was all it had taken for that to become his name.
“What are you thinking about? It’s like you disappeared inside your head.”
“Would it be okay if I decorated the office for the holiday?”
Saint shrugged. “Knock yourself out. If you have time once Maya starts wearing out your phone, that is. Maya Heartland is a well-known talker. She’ll make your ears tired.”
Clover’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking. That was Maya Heartland? I love her! I didn’t know she lived here. She my favorite sappy love movies’ actress.”
Saint’s eyes flashed with good humor. “You seriously didn’t know?”
Clover tried his ass off not to keep gushing.
“No. When I answered the phone, she was somewhat hysterical, and I couldn’t understand her at first. All I caught was the name Maya.
There’s no way I could’ve known it was that Maya.
Every Christmas, I curl up in an electric blanket with hot cocoa and cookies.
I spend the entire day watching her holiday-themed movies.
They’re all basically the same, but I love them.
They make me all warm inside.” Clover snapped his teeth together. He couldn’t believe he had said that.
Thankfully, Saint didn’t call him on it. “She doesn’t live here. It’s a short-term contract she re-signs every time she’s in town. She’s filming three Christmas movies back-to-back here for release next year. Why are you alone on Christmas?”
It was like getting punched in the chest. He kept thinking it would get easier. It didn’t.
Saint obviously saw something in his expression.
“You don’t have to answer that. In fact, I’ll tell you why I’m alone.
” He didn’t give Clover time to argue. “I was a runaway. When I was a teen, I left through my bedroom window and never looked back. Unfortunately, that meant I was homeless. One day, this huge motherfucker stepped into my path.” A bright smile lit Saint’s face.
“Seriously, he was the biggest man I had ever seen. Just solid muscle. He asked if I was interested in a new life. A job and a fresh start. By that time, I was damn ready to get off the streets. So, without even knowing what I would be doing—even knowing it was likely drugs or sex—I said yes without a single moment’s hesitation. ”
Clover heard the faked nonchalance to Saint’s voice.
He hated it. “My parents were deported seven years ago. I was born in the United States. I couldn’t go with them, and they couldn’t stay.
Now they can’t come, and I can’t afford to go there.
” Clover shrugged, feeling uncomfortable.
“So that’s me.” Clover set his elbow on the table and propped his chin up on his fist. “Why did you run away?”
“Terrible parents. That sort of thing.”
“They say our past defines us. I’ve only known you a couple of hours, and you seem pretty great, so there’s that,” Clover added with a chuckle.
He hated for Saint to think he flirted. Maybe he was.
Even Clover didn’t know. Saint just seemed so much like everything Clover had ever wanted for himself.
Saint opened his mouth to say God only knew what. The waitress appeared just in time to cut him off. The buxom blonde stayed completely focused on Saint. “Can I get you anything else?”
Saint looked up from stacking their plates. He focused on Clover. “I’m good. What about you, kitten? Do you want any dessert or anything?”
Clover couldn’t look away from Saint. He couldn’t believe Saint never even looked at the woman who had clearly fixed her blouse to show more cleavage since her last time around.
She tried every trick, touching Saint’s shoulder, and trying to take his coffee that he was still drinking.
Nothing worked. Finally, Clover flashed her an uncomfortable smile, and she set the bill on the table.
When she walked away, Clover broke. “Holy crap. She wants you bad. You’re killing her by not looking directly at her.”
A line appeared between Saint’s eyebrows. “Who?”
A laugh burst from Clover. “The waitress. She’s fluffed her cleavage and everything.”
Saint briefly glanced the woman’s way. “Oh. She’s not my type.”
Clover was more than intrigued. “What is your type?”
Saint’s gaze locked on him with an intensity Clover had never experienced. “You are.”
Goddamn. Lust had never hit Clover as hard. He also would have never guessed that about Saint in a million years.
Some of his intensity vanished. “Please don’t quit. I swear this isn’t sexual harassment or anything. It’s just you asked and—”
God, he was sweet. Clover had to stop his uncomfortable rambling. “I didn’t take it personally. I put you on the spot. You answered the only way you could under the circumstances. I understand.”
A sweet smile touched Saint’s lips. “You really are incredible, you know? This is definitely the best hire I’ve ever made.”
Clover felt his cheeks heat.
Saint’s phone rang, saving Clover from having to come up with a response.
He groaned when he saw the number. “This better not be them telling me they can’t make it today.
I can’t have you freezing all day.” He snatched up his phone and answered.
“This is Saint.” A smile touched his lips, making Clover fight back a sigh.
“We’ll head that way now. Thank you.” Saint disconnected the call.
He grabbed the bill and dropped some money on the table for a tip.
Clover was right on his heels as Saint headed to the counter to pay.
Saint suddenly stopped. He pulled Clover next to him and set his hand on the small of Clover’s back, steering him through the crowd.
He genuinely made Clover feel so protected.
Like conjuring up the devil, a couple shifted and Clover stared into Jacobe’s cold eyes that were locked on him.
Without thinking, Clover immediately stepped closer to Saint.
Saint glanced his way. “What’s wrong?” He followed Clover’s gaze. “Oh. There’s a ballsy bastard. Jacobe?”
Clover nodded.
Saint squeezed him to his side while he paid. “Stay glued to me. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
Clover nodded again. He couldn’t get his throat to work. Clover could barely breathe. When would this end? Likely when he was dead.
Fucking enraged didn’t cover the way Saint felt.
He took Clover on a bit of a tour around the square.
They didn’t return to work until Saint was certain they weren’t followed.
Of course, it was entirely possible Jacobe was tracking Clover somehow.
Saint would figure it out. Luckily, they got back to the office at the same time as the heat and air guy pulled into a parking spot.
They could still see their breath when they came through the door.
Saint motioned toward his office. “Grab your heater and wait for me in there, kitten. Close the door behind you so we can trap as much heat as possible.”
Clover nodded, looking defeated.
Saint hated that. “You’re not in trouble. I just don’t want to risk that guy walking by, peering into every glass surface and spotting you. Plus, we need to make a plan.”
Clover nodded again. “Okay.” He moved to his desk, gathered the heater, and rushed inside Saint’s office. Saint pulled the door closed behind him while Clover searched for a free outlet.
The moment the door snapped shut, a repairman with “Rick” stitched on the right side of his chest stepped inside. Rick was all smiles.
“Mr. Knack?”
Saint dipped his chin. “That’s me. You can call me Saint. Let me show you to that system.”
Together, they headed to the back of the building. This was one of the biggest reasons he wanted Clover shut away in his office. He wouldn’t risk Jacobe sailing into the building if he spotted Clover alone.
After pointing Rick to his job, Saint moved back to his office.
As he grabbed the doorknob, his eyes quickly scanned the room, looking for anything suspicious.
When he was certain they were alone, he stepped into the room and quickly closed the door behind him before they lost any heat.
He found Clover cross-legged, knee bobbing, and biting the side of his thumbnail. This shit had to stop.
“We should have heat again in no time.” Saint tried to keep his voice bright. He didn’t like Clover being scared.
Clover flashed him a smile. “Great. Thank you for lunch, by the way.” It was obvious he tried hiding his fear.
Saint sat behind his desk. “Did you drive here or take public transportation?”
Clover blinked at the sudden question. “Public transportation.” He looked confused.
That didn’t slow Saint. “Then he obviously doesn’t have your car tagged. Do you have any trackers on you—like to find your keys, wallet, or phone?”
For a moment, Clover looked thoughtful before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out keys. An AirTag inside a keychain hung from the keyring. “I have this.”
Saint motioned for the keyring. Clover removed it from his keys and passed it over.
He removed the keychain, popped out AirTag and removed the battery.
Even though Clover never questioned him, Saint explained as he went.
“This is likely how he keeps finding you. If he’s ever had access to your phone, he could’ve easily unpaired this from your device and paired it with his.
It literally takes seconds and then he can track your every move with you being none the wiser. ”
“I never thought about that. It’s more than just likely. I lost my keys whenever we lived together. In my heart, I know he hid them from me. Then, suddenly, he appeared with them and that keychain so I wouldn’t lose them again. I forgot all about that.”
“Was he abusive?” Saint asked the question while putting the AirTag back together sans battery. He didn’t want Clover feeling judged.
“Yes.” Clover answered so quietly, Saint almost didn’t hear him. His rage continued to build, but he refused to let Clover see it. He had obviously been through enough. Saint veered slightly off topic to give Clover time to recover from the confession.
He passed the battery-less keychain back to Clover.
“The man I told you about who saved me from the streets, his name is Steel. He owns the Steel Security brand. We have offices all over the U.S. where we have the heaviest business. To celebrate the holidays every year, he pays for all of us to travel to L.A. for a huge party on Christmas Eve. We usually get gifts and bonuses. It’s a lot of fun.
Since you’re an employee now, that includes you.
” Saint took a breath. “If you’re willing, I think you should stay with me until then and we can head to L.A.
together.” He took another deep breath, but Saint had to be honest. “I think you’re in genuine danger.
People don’t keep stalking their exes for this long, normally.
Combine that with him being abusive, tracking you, and the way I saw him look at you, I don’t think you’re safe alone.
It’s more than likely he’ll strike sooner rather than later.
We should be in control of that. If he thinks you’re moving in with me, that’ll likely be the straw that breaks him. I know what I’m suggesting is—”
“No,” Clover said, cutting him off. “You’re right. I can’t keep living like this. It’s really breaking me down.”
It was a little scary how much hope filled Saint. He needed to keep things professional. “Does that mean you’ll stay with me?”
Clover nodded. “If you’re okay with me crashing on your couch or whatever, then I’m in.”
Saint was helpless against his smile. “I get the feeling you like everyone you meet.”
Clover blushed. “Not everyone.”
“You’re trusting me like you like me and have known me your whole life. You immediately took to Maya without realizing how famous she is. Not to mention, you were obviously concerned about our waitress’ feelings.”
“I’m just observant.” The way Clover mumbled the words said a lot about how nervous he was.
Saint held his stare so Clover would see how serious he was. “I think you’re great, kitten.”
The small smile that met his words had Saint’s heart trying to flip in his chest. He had a terrible feeling he was in big trouble, and he’d just invited that trouble home with him.
Saint wasn’t sure he was strong enough for this.
He had to be. Clover was his employee. Ethics and all that.
As he looked on, he watched Clover try to put the keychain back on his keys with his tongue held between his teeth. Jesus. He was fucked.