4. Alice

4

ALICE

T he day after Lily's stalker incident, I'm heading toward my office building when I stumble straight into someone. It's like he came out of nowhere.

Lars.

"Whoa there, Alice." His deep voice rumbles close to my ear as strong hands grip my arms, steadying me. The scent of tobacco and leather hits my nose, and it's so distinctly him.

Flustered, I step back, looking up at his towering frame. "Lars, hi. I'm so sorry about last night. Something came up with my friend Lily, and I just?—"

He raises a hand, cutting me off. "Don't worry about it." His dark eyes are so intense they make my heart skip. "I get it, life happens." A small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. "But you owe me one, princess."

I try not to stare at the rippling muscles covered in ink peeking from beneath his snug black t-shirt as he speaks.

Get it together, Alice.

"Fair enough. Name the time and place."

His eyes darken, and his expression becomes almost sadistic. I try to keep my composure as Lars leans in closer, the scent of his cologne overwhelming my senses. His lips graze my ear as he whispers, "Meet me at the Tunnel of Love ride at 10 tonight. And wear something sexy for me."

The low rumble of his voice and proximity make my knees go weak. I pull back, fighting the heat creeping into my cheeks. "You're awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?" I tease.

Lars chuckles, his eyes roaming over me in a way that makes me feel completely exposed. "Just following your lead, princess. You did agree to owe me one." He takes a step back, giving me some air. "Don't be late, or you won't like what happens."

He turns and saunters off with a wink, leaving me flustered and intrigued. Part of me wants to call the whole thing off—a date at a seedy carnival with a carnie can't lead anywhere good. But the other part, the reckless side that Lily constantly warns me about, is thrilled by the mystery and danger radiating off Lars.

I make my way to the office in a daze, struggling to focus on anything other than the deep, sexy timbre of Lars's voice.

What exactly does this man have planned for tonight? Despite my better judgment, I find myself eager to find out.

"Morning, Alice!" Kelly, the bubbly receptionist, greets. "Some guy dropped something off for you earlier. Didn't leave a name, just said to make sure you got it."

She hands me a plain white envelope, and I furrow my brow in confusion. Who would be leaving me anonymous mail at work? I mumble a thanks to Kelly and head to my desk, turning the envelope over in my hands.

Settling into my chair, I slide my finger under the flap and tear it open. Inside, I find a photograph.

With shaking hands, I pull out the photograph. It's a shot of my living room, taken through the window. Lily and I are curled up on the sofa, illuminated by the glow of the television. It must have been taken last night after I decided to skip out on meeting Lars.

A chill runs down my spine. Could this photo be from him and is that why he was so close to my office building this morning? Was he there, outside my apartment, watching us? The possibility instills a sense of violation.

If Lars thinks he can intimidate me, he's got another thing coming. I won't be scared off that easily.

I shove the photo into my desk drawer, seeing Derek, my boss, strut into the office. His expensive suit and perfectly coiffed hair can't mask the perpetual scowl on his face.

"Good morning, Derek," I say, smiling politely.

He barely glances in my direction, his eyes glued to his phone. "Alice," he grunts, not bothering to hide his disinterest. "I need those case files on my desk by noon. And make sure they're organized this time."

I bristle at his condescending tone. "Of course, Derek. I'll have them ready for you."

He gives a curt nod, still not looking up from his screen. "See that you do. I don't have time for any more of your mistakes."

With that, he breezes past my desk and into his private office, slamming the door behind him. I let out a heavy sigh. My boss is a fucking asshole and always has been since the day I started working here.

Working here is a constant exercise in patience and restraint. His rudeness and lack of appreciation for my efforts make it damn near impossible to stay motivated. But I need this job, so I grit my teeth and continue.

I turn my attention back to the case files, determined to have them perfect and on his desk well before the deadline. My mind drifts back to the photograph hidden in my drawer as I work. The unsettling image of Lars spying on me makes me shiver.

I can't let him get to me. I won't be intimidated by his stalker-like behavior. If he thinks he can scare me with some creepy photo, he's sorely mistaken.

But even as I try to focus on my work, I can't shake the feeling of unease in the pit of my stomach. What else is Lars capable of? And why is he so fixated on me?

I glance at the clock, counting the hours until my shift ends. I'll confront Lars at the Tunnel of Love tonight and demand answers. I won't let him play these twisted games with me.