then we take a step back.
“Not much, getting older every day. What about you?”
“I’m here to see if Taylor is in her office or court today. Do you know where she’d be?” I ask him.
“I don’t, but I can lead you in the right direction.” He turns, starts to walk, and I fall in step beside him as we make our way to the reception desk, something I could have done without him.
“Magdalene, do you know where Miss Daniels happens to be?” Eric asks. I guess he figures I don’t need to talk for myself. I watch him evaluating everything around him. He’d be a major asset to my team. I’ll have to see in the coming weeks if he’d be interested in transitioning over, but in the meantime, I could see if he wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on Taylor when she’s here and I’m not in the area.
“She’s in her office. Want me to call her and let her know someone is here for her?” she responds to Eric.
“That’s okay, I’ll walk him on up.”
“Thank you, Magdalene,” I tell her, seeing how Eric didn’t bother.
The two of us walk up the flight of stairs, shooting the shit, me asking if he’d keep an eye out for anything more suspicious that could possibly happen in a courthouse. He doesn’t bat an eye when I ask; in fact, his eyes light up, like he knows exactly why I want him to. Little does he know that she has a stalker getting progressively worse.
“I’ll see you around,” I tell Eric when we get to her door.
“Later, I’ll let you know if I see anything.”
“I appreciate that.” I shake his hand one last time before stepping into her office. She doesn’t notice me with her head bent down staring at the notes she has on her desk.
I clear my throat, then Taylor looks up and realizes I’m standing in her office. Her smile brightens. “Hey, what are you doing here so early?”
“I was in the area.”
She rolls her eyes at that, Taylor knows better. The ticking in my jaw probably set her on high alert. “What happened now?”
I rub my hand down my face before walking toward her. She sits back in her chair, and I sit on the edge of her desk. My hand finds hers and I entwine our fingers together. “You got another letter. This time, it was taped on your front door. This stalker’s actions seem to be escalating. My first thought was coming to you, whisking you away until we can find this person, but I knew you wouldn’t like that. Anyways, I needed to come myself to make sure you were safe.”
Taylor shocks the shit out of me. She stands and her free hand cups the side of my cheek. Her heels put the two of us almost at eye level. Her lips meet mine, giving me a soft kiss. I don’t deepen the kiss, even though I want to.
“Are you okay?” she asks me.
“Baby, I’m more than okay. Are you?” Taylor, she’s so fucking selfless.
“I’m fine. I know you’re in my corner.” She pulls back, our hands still entwined.
“You got that right. Are you free to take a coffee break or an early lunch?” I ask her.
“I wish I could, but I need to get these documents taken care of, but if you’re offering to bring me back coffee, I wouldn’t object.”
“You got it.” I give her one more quick kiss, a squeeze to her hip.
“I’ll text you what I’d like?” she questions.
“I already know what you like, unless you want something else?”
“Nope, that’s it. Slade, if I haven’t said it yet, I’m saying it again. Thank you.” She sits back at her desk.
“Anything for you, Trouble.” I leave her with that, it’s time to get my girl her coffee, then I’m going to run a few errands before she gets off work.
Twelve
Taylor
“You ready to work out?” Slade asks as we both walk into his home gym. He’s in a pair of gym shorts and sneakers, while I’m in a pair of tight spandex shorts and a sports bra with sneakers.
“Yep.” I’m throwing my hair up in a ponytail while walking toward the treadmill. I’ve been dying all day to get on and go for a run, especially after the news that Slade delivered. I stayed calm and collective as he told me what happened at my condo; it sent chills down my spine and left me feeling thankful Slade stepped in when he did.