Sadly, it was Axl’s work and I couldn’t ask.

Instead, I inquired, “So why did you say ‘Shit’ when you saw Sly?”

“He was supposed to come when I texted that I was going.”

“And you’re upset he’s early?”

“I’m upset about the look on his face.”

I stopped looking at Axl and started studying Sly, who was walking our way.

He didn’t seem any different than normal. I’d noted he tended to appear to be in a bad mood, even when he wasn’t. And that was what he looked like now.

I got out. Axl got out.

And Sly was all about Axl.

“She doesn’t go in,” he stated immediately.

Oh no.

“What happened?” I asked, feeling a freak-out burgeoning.

Did this guy who was harassing me go from ick to gross to breaking into my house and doing something extreme?

Sly didn’t even look at me when he kept speaking.

“On the welcome mat. Outside her front door. I’ll stay here with her.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Axl looked a mix of grim and pissed as he stalked the four car lengths to the walkway of the house.

When he disappeared inside, I turned my attention to Sly.

“Again, what’s happening?”

He focused on me and his voice got soft.

Uh-oh.

“Chill, doll, it’s a continuation, not an escalation.”

“And you’re saying that’s good.”

“I’m sayin’, when you got some asshole bein’ an asshole to you, that sucks. But him just continuing to be an asshole is better than the alternative.”

Well, that semi-explained it.

“What is it? More pictures?” I pushed.

“Maybe your man should—”

“It’s my life, my apartment, my stalker, Sly,” I snapped.

Yeesh.

I mean, I didn’t want to be ugly, he was looking out for me, and although Brett was paying him, it was still nice.

But seriously.

He finally told me.

“Rope. Red rope. Like the chick was tied up in, in the pics he sent. Coiled on your welcome mat with a note that says, ‘Waiting for you.’ ”

“Fabulous,” I hissed.

Axl came out, looking less grim and more ticked.

When he made it to us, before I could say anything, he declared, “You’re going in the back way. You’re packing a bag. And you’re moving in with me.”

Well.

Uh …

I really loved his house and I was all in for Cleo to dislike me from afar on the off chance one day I might earn a cuddle.

But …

Yikes!

“It’s just rope, Axl.”

“He knows where you live, where you work, and your cell number. The first and second are easy. The last, this fucker has time and dedication or resources. And this is three days, three hits. Right?”

I thought there might be a day added in there.

But yes, essentially.

I nodded.

“So he’s not letting up,” Axl concluded.

“But, if he’s following me, he can follow me to your place and then he’ll know I’m there. So …”

I trailed off.

Axl picked up the trail.

“So, I got an alarm. I got a gun safe with six guns in it. I live a block away from Aug, so I also got backup close if I need it at night when dicks like this act like bigger dicks.”

These were all definite pluses to staying at his place.

Him being there when he wasn’t working was another.

His place being as awesome as it was, was a third.

But he’d shown me his (essentially), I wanted to show him mine.

That was, my apartment.

To share all this, I said, “Um …”

“We’ll go in, we’ll eat. I’ll take off. You’ll pack a bag. Do whatever you were gonna do. I’ll find you later and give you a key. You text me where you are so I can pick you up for dinner tonight. We have a reservation at six. If I’m meeting you here, I’ll pick up you and your bag. If I’m meeting you at my place, be sure you bring your bag with you.”

“I’m uncertain I want to get ready for our first date in front of Cleo. She’s judgy.”

Axl stared at me.

Then he did something insane.

That being insanely good.

He caught me by the side of the neck, jerked me to him (it was a gentle jerk, it was still a jerk), this movement including him making me list to the side.

He then kissed the other side of my neck, righted me so I was no longer listing, but laughed into my skin before he said in my ear (still laughing), “Then I’ll pick you and your bag up here later and that means we don’t have to reconnect for me to get you a key. I’ll give you one tonight.”

When he pulled away (but did not let my neck go), I caught his eyes and noted, “I’m okay with seeing the rope, Axl.”

“I’ve called for one of the guys to come, have a look, take some pics, and do some dusting for prints. I don’t want to disturb it until that’s done. Zane’s gonna be here in fifteen. So we go in the back way.”

That made sense.

I nodded.

He slid his hand from my neck so his arm was around my shoulders.

Sly was there.

Whoops.

Forgot we had company.

“Sorry, we didn’t get you a bagel,” I said to Sly. “We didn’t know you were here.”

“Cisco told me to show. I showed,” Sly explained.

“Food, fuck,” Axl muttered, clearly remembering we’d left it in his car.

He let me go to head back to the Jeep as Sly warned, “You eat in front of me, you’re gonna have to watch me eat later. I’m hungry.”

“Probably not as exciting as what I let you watch yesterday, but it won’t kill me.”

Sly smiled his agreement to this, which I didn’t think I’d yet seen him do, the smiling part. It turned him from looking like a lovable bruiser to a cute, lovable bruiser.

Axl re-joined us. We walked down the side yard to the back. I let us in.

And once we all got through the utility room, I watched Axl, trying not to let on I was watching him.

He certainly looked around, perhaps not with avid interest—ogling my shock-of-color art and my fantastic beanbag—but he definitely took things in.