Claiming Sarah (Ace Security #5)(5)

Sarah nodded.

“No means no. That goes for someone asking for a date, not just for sex. It doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or a girl saying no. You told him that you weren’t interested in dating. That you wanted him to stop with the gifts, and he hasn’t. I’d be more concerned if you weren’t worried about this guy.”

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “So you’ll help me figure out what to do if he ever decides the notes and gifts aren’t enough?”

“Absolutely. I’ll do everything I can to help you, and that includes getting Ace Security involved if it comes to that.”

“I hadn’t realized the costs involved,” Sarah said. “I think that’s why Logan contacted you in the first place.”

Cole leaned even closer, and satisfaction crept through him when she didn’t back away. “I know Logan and his brothers, and believe me when I tell you that, once they hear what the cops told you and the facts of your case, money won’t be a factor.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Cole nodded, then stood and walked to his desk. He rummaged around for a minute before pulling out his appointment book and holding it up triumphantly.

“You know, there are these new things that came out a few years ago called computers. You can even keep your schedule on them so you don’t get overbooked.”

Cole blinked at her teasing, then beamed. He much preferred this side of her to the scared, defeated woman he’d first met. “Really? Maybe you can walk me through how they work sometime.”

Still smiling, Sarah just shook her head at him.

“My partner should be back next week, so I’ll have a lot more free time. How does next Monday sound to start your lessons?”

“Good. I work until five, though.”

“That’s fine. Maybe six thirty, to give you time to grab dinner before you get here?”

Sarah shook her head. “If it’s okay, I’d rather do it right after work. Before it gets dark.”

Cole didn’t like the implications, but kept his mouth shut . . . for now. “Okay, I’ll pencil you in for five thirty. If you’re early, that’s cool, and if work runs over and you get here a little after, it’s okay too. Sarah?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for giving me a second chance. I’m usually not so harsh.”

“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “You aren’t nearly as mean as most people I come into contact with.”

With that bombshell, Sarah stood. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Next week,” Cole echoed. He followed her out of his office and watched as she smiled and nodded at Carrie and disappeared out the front door.

His mind already wandered over the things he wanted to know about her. Which hospital she worked at and what she did there, why people were mean to her . . . why she felt the need to always be so nice.

By the time he realized he should’ve walked her to her car, it was too late.

Shaking his head at his stupidity, Cole vowed to do better.

Making a mental note to talk to Blake and Alexis and see what they could find out about the assbagger Owen Montrone, Sarah Butler, and her situation, Cole took a deep breath before tackling the ten million other things he still had to deal with before he could call it a night.





Chapter Two

Sarah was feeling pretty good about the outcome of her visit to Rock Hard Gym by the time she got home. It hadn’t started out well, but she actually liked Cole Johnson. He’d apologized right off the bat and, once she’d explained her situation, seemed genuinely concerned. She was relieved that she might learn a few things to help protect herself . . . just in case.

But that good feeling disappeared in a flash when she saw the huge box sitting on her front step.

She hadn’t ordered anything recently—so she knew instantly who had left the package.

Frustration and fear shot through her. Not wanting to deal with whatever Owen had sent this time, she unlocked her front door and shoved the box inside the house, but left it in the foyer without a second glance. She’d been hungry, but simply seeing the gift made her appetite vanish.

She hated that Owen continued to show up at her house. Hated that he even knew where she lived.

Trudging through the living room, she headed straight for the stairs. There were tons of things she should be doing, including house chores, but she couldn’t muster up the energy to do them.

Her house was way too big for her, but it was the only home she’d ever known and contained all she had left of her dads. Mike and Jackson Butler had adopted her when she was six. She had been scared of her own shadow at the time, and had already lived in three previous foster homes.

Back then, she hadn’t known what being gay meant, or that it was highly unusual for two men to be allowed to adopt a child. She only knew when Mike took her in his arms, she wasn’t scared anymore. And when Jackson smiled at her with his slightly crooked teeth, he somehow made everything all right.

After they’d passed away, their smell had slowly faded from the house, and last year Sarah had finally found the strength to start going through their things to donate what she could. She still slept in the same room she’d slept in most of her life, refusing to move into the master bedroom.

But as time passed, the house was less and less the comfort it used to be. It needed a paint job, the carpets needed replacing, and the grass was perpetually too long. She was finally to the point where she could admit that it was too much for her. Not only that, but with Owen showing up to leave her “presents,” she didn’t feel safe rattling around in the big house. There were too many places for someone to hide if they wanted to.