Chapter 2

2

Scout

She has a stalker.

Hearing those four words out loud really makes the situation real.

I’ve been hiding my predicament from my brother for months, but seeing his reaction is making me even more scared than I already am. I’m not surprised that being in the presence of Cash is already making me feel better, though. More protected. Safe.

My honorary big brother is like Goliath. From the Bible. If he had on leather sandals and dented armor, it wouldn’t even look strange. His height soars well over six foot three. He’s broad and strong and…drop dead gorgeous. I mean, seriously. Every girl on campus wants to hook up with the star baseball player, although none of them ever seem to succeed.

I pretend not to like that so much.

After all, Cash sees me like a kid sister.

He looks out for me, keeps the creeps away at parties. Makes sure no one puts anything dangerous in my drink. Drives me home. Reminds me to lock my door.

He’s my hero. Everything will be fine now that I’m with him.

Obeying my instincts, I drop my backpack and walk straight to the wall of muscle that is Cash Jenner. He must not be expecting me to embrace him—or maybe he’s still stunned by the distressing news that I have a stalker—because he sucks in a breath as my arms wrap around the sturdy trunk of his torso, the crown of my head barely reaching his chin. Slowly, though, his arms lift and close me in tight.

Reallytight, actually.

His chest rises and falls on a shudder.

Oh, my goodness, he’s such a sweetie. Clearly, he’s worried about me.

Secretly, I’m worried about myself.

Because while the stalking scares me, there’s something else…an emotion inside of me that stirs up and spins around whenever I receive a letter or an email. Almost like I’m…excited?

Shameful. Isn’t it? I should be terrified. No. I am.

“It’s okay, Cash,” I say, resting my chin between his thick pecs, so I can look up at him. “You won’t let anything happen to me.”

His Adam’s apple moves up, down. He addresses Russ, even though he’s looking down into my eyes, his arms keeping me locked to his body. “A stalker?”

“Yeah.” Without turning around, I know Russ is beginning to pace. “She’s been keeping it from me, but I found a folder full of threatening messages while I was checking my email on her laptop. She’s been getting physical ones, too. For fucking months.”

My brother’s fearful tone of voice makes me tremble.

“Calm down,” Cash says, his voice low. “You’re scaring her.”

“She should be scared!”

“Russ.”

That single growled word from Cash and my brother stops pacing, taking a fortifying breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that the timing couldn’t be worse. I’m going out of town for a science conference. As in, this afternoon. I don’t even have time to go to the police, which she should have done months ago.”

He’s right.

I should have.

I don’t think I wanted to believe it was really happening.

And maybe, just maybe, a teeny tiny part of me didn’t want it to stop.

“Why…me?” I say quickly, to banish the humiliating thought. “Why do you think they chose me?”

It’s very quiet, very subtle, but I think I hear Cash scoff. “Scout.” He shakes his head at me. “You can’t be serious. You’re the most incr…” He seems to realize something, like maybe his train of thought wasn’t appropriate to speak aloud, because it would scare me more? Whatever the reason, he trails off, shaking his head. Hard. “I mean, it could happen to anyone, right? If someone is stalking you, he’s not…reasonable. He’s not normal.”

“Right,” Russ agrees. “That’s what scares me.”

I cuddle closer to Cash. “Why are you assuming it’s a man?”

He’s silent for several beats. “You’re right, I shouldn’t assume that.” His fingers begin toying with the ends of my hair. “I suppose it could be anyone.”

“Are you able to keep an eye on her over the weekend?” asks Russ. “I know it’s a lot to ask during baseball season. Don’t you have a game tonight?”

“Yeah,” he rasps. Oh, my goodness, Cash is so worried about me, I can feel his heart slamming against my cheek. For some reason, though, his worry doesn’t exacerbate my own, it calms me. Because he’s taking this seriously. He’s going to keep me safe. I’m so glad my brother brought me here. Cash equals safety. “I, uh…maybe Scout should go home to your parents while you’re gone.” His lips brush against the peak of my forehead and I feel a funny little tingle between my legs that is probably turning my face the color of a flamingo. It’s so weird that Cash is the only one who makes my face get hot…but the tingle? That is new. Is it because he’s been holding me in his arms so long? Longer than ever? “I don’t know if I’m the right man for the job, Russ.”

“You’re the only one I trust with her,” Russ says. Then reluctantly, “But if you don’t think you’ll be able to guard her properly—”

“I didn’t say that,” Cash cuts in, his darkening eyes tracking up to my brother, a muscle snapping in his jaw. “I can guard her better than anyone.”

No one says anything for several seconds. The atmosphere in the room has grown charged, but I don’t totally know why. I only know that ticklish feeling within the depths of my sex is growing more exaggerated the longer I spend in Cash’s embrace. Especially when he says things like I can guard her better than anyone.

And he’s right.

I can’t even fathom the thought of going anywhere else.

“I don’t want to leave campus,” I say. “I…don’t want to run away scared.”

Cash scrutinizes me, strokes my hair. “Does he scare you, angel?”

“Yes,” I whisper, honestly.

He swallows audibly, then leans down to speak quietly in my ear. “You should run home to your parents, little girl.”

The funny sensation spreads. So intensely and so fast that I’m now embarrassed to be feeling it in front of my brother. Little girl? “No,” I say back, lifting my arms to wind them around his neck, sighing when he corrals me closer. “I want to stay with you. You said it yourself that you can guard me better than anymore.”

“Scout…” he says, sounding winded. Pained.

I look up at him and employ the Scout Method, putting out my lower lip and blinking back the moisture in my eyes. “Please?”

His eyes close. “God help me.” When he opens them again, they are trained on my face and full of fire. Like he’s vowing to protect me with his life. “I’ve got her, Russ.”

I pull my lower lip back in and beam at him, blinking away my tears.

Which only seems to make that fire burn hotter.

Behind me, Russ breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks, man. I’ll try and come back early.”

“You do that.”

My brother approaches to my left, laying a hand on my head and ruffling my hair. Curiously, Cash’s gaze narrows at the action, his pupils seeming to expand and encompass the entirety of his eye. “Do everything he says, Scout. All right? When I get back, we’re going to handle this with the police.”

“Okay, Russ. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” I rub my cheek against the center of Cash’s chest, enjoying the rapid pound of his heart. “I’m in good hands.”

Without another word, Russ leaves the apartment, the door clicking shut as he exits.