Saint Sloan (Saint Sloan #1)(28)

“Okay. They didn’t find anyone, did they? No sign of anyone, right?”

She shook her head, getting very sick to her stomach.

“See. No one was there. No one is stalking you. It’s whatever you’re taking making you see these things. Honey, it’s alright. We can help you. My mom did the same thing.”

It felt like he’d punched her in the stomach. His mother, Susan, had been a known drug user, and to be compared to her hurt worse than she could ever have imagined.

“I don’t know what’s going on with me,” she said, fighting not to let her voice quiver. “I have no idea, but I know that I’m not taking drugs. I know that, and you have to believe me. I’ve just been taking some aspirin.”

“And whatever Darcy gave you yesterday,” he added.

“Just a pain pill. And I saw the flowers on Sunday before I took anything from her. I swear to you, I haven’t taken anything else.”

Her legs started shaking, and she knew what it had to mean. “So either whoever this is can get into my house whenever he or she wants, or I had a worse head injury than I thought when Boyd attacked me… or I’m crazy.”

Aaron did something she would never have seen coming in a million years. He pulled her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I don’t know what’s going on, but I promise I’ll get to the bottom of it. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

She settled down in his arms, furious at him, but happy to be held, because, frankly, she felt like she was falling apart. From the corner of her eye, she saw Ray peeking out the window. When he noticed she’d seen him, he averted his eyes and walked away.

“The flower shop!” She jumped out of Aaron’s arms, making him jump as well.

“The what?”

“The flower shop! They should have a record of who sent the flowers to me this morning. That would prove I’m not crazy, right? Do you think they are still open?”

“I doubt it. It’s already after seven. You know this town rolls up before the sun goes down.”

She knew it all too well. “We can call them in the morning.”

Aaron nodded. “In the morning. Think your mom will let you stay home from school?”

“I think I don’t care if she does. I’m going.”

“Sloan…”

She was determined with this. “No. This is important to me. I missed way too much after Boyd attacked me, and I’m not missing it now. Mrs. Knight got all snooty with me for missing Biology today and next week is pig dissection, and I’d like to actually be there for that, strange as it sounds, and…”

“Okay!” He held his hands up, defeated. She could swear he had a hint of amusement in his eyes. It was nice to see him going back to his old self instead of the intense, slightly jerky guy he had been. “Go to school. Do what you want. Just be careful, okay?”

“So you think I’m not crazy or making it up or it’s all in my head?”

“I think we don’t know what’s going on, and it’s best to be safe.”

It was as good of a plan as any.

He held out his hand. “Can you come in and tell your mother what’s been happening? She’s sort of lost. I am too, to be honest. I mean, Ray filled me in on some of the details, but I don’t think any of us know everything.”

Sloan let out a long breath. “Will you believe me if I take the time to tell you, or will you all think it’s in my head?”

“Would you rather be crazy or have a stalker?”

Good question. “Neither, if I had a choice.”

He smiled and pulled her toward the back door. His hand reached for the doorknob, but he hesitated and turned toward her. “Ray wanted to come out here and check on you, but I beat him to it.”

“Okay…” She dragged the word out, very confused.

“I’m telling you that because you should know that I know he’s like crazy… for lack of a more tasteful word… for you.” Aaron stepped a few inches closer, so close she could climb on her tiptoes and kiss him if she wanted.

Sloan swallowed very hard. Was this all part of her hallucination too?

“I’ve sat back and watched him woo you. He’s doing a good job. Taking you to prom and all. He’s nice. He’s a great guy, and any girl would be happy to have him. But…”

“But?” She gulped. The way he looked at her. The position of his body to hers. This couldn’t be happening. Not now.

“But I want you to know that it’s not the best timing and I realize that, but know one thing about my brother.”

“What?”

“He’s not me.” He bent down and took her lips with his. At first, Sloan stood in shock. There was no way Aaron Hunter’s lips were on hers. No way he was kissing her outside her house after accusing her of doing drugs.

His tongue wasn’t parting her lips…

His fingertips weren’t barely touching the small of her back, pushing her toward him…

He wasn’t kissing her…

He wasn’t…

But he so was.

When it hit her, really hit her, she gave in and closed her eyes, enjoying something she’d wanted to do since the first time she’d met Aaron on Brown Hollow Road in December. Everything else slid away, and her mind went totally blank. It was the most relaxed she’d been in months — and the most excited.