Page 3 of Now You See Me
“Well, I like it. Your voice is like dessert for my ears. And now I’m even more jealous of the customers in your coffee shop, because they get to hear your voice all the time.”
“No need to be jealous of anyone. No one in town takes notice of my voice or anything else about me. Even if they did, I’m not interested.”
“It’s selfish that I like hearing that, but I do.” Another laugh floats into my ear. “Listen to me, possessively staking my claim on you. It’s so unlike me. I don’t even recognize myself.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh, only mine is more of a grunt. I wonder if I’d recognize myself if I woke up to a reflection in the mirror.
“Do you have red hair?” A strangled gasp follows her question. “I’m sorry, that slipped out. I know appearances are off-limits. I’ve always wondered because of the leprechaun comment in your original ad, then finding out your family is Irish, but I blame hearing you have an accent for the slipup. You don’t have to answer.”
If I’m careful, what could it hurt? “I was a solid ginger all the way through high school. Less so now.”
“I’m sure you’re still handsome, regardless of your current hair color.”
“I couldn’t say.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” she says. “You’re not a cocky or self-centered man. That’s been clear since our first conversation.”
I cover the phone with my palm to mask my grunt. She has no idea howclearI am.
“I have long, light-brown hair with some subtle, soft-pink highlights. I know you don’t care, and maybe you didn’t want to know, but—”
“I want to know everything, Elise. There are a lot of things I won’t ask because I agreed not to when we started out and I’m a man of my word. But anything you choose to share with me, I’m here for it.”
“Anything? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely anything. Big or small, intimately personal or casually trivial. Nothing you could tell me will change the way I feel.” Except to make me fall for her even more. But it’s too soon to tell her that. Hell, the time may never be right.
“Okay, here goes.” She takes a deep breath, then releases it slowly. “I haven’t been in a relationship or had any kind of date for nearly ten years.”
My eyebrows rise and my cock throbs in my fist. I like that information more than I probably should. “It’s been twenty for me.” The admission I never expected to make slides from my tongue as if I’m stating my favorite color. I’mthatcomfortable with her.
“Are you serious or mocking me?”
“Serious. I’d never mock you.” Fuck it, I’ve gone this far. Might as well open the door a little wider. “There was a chemical incident in town and I was affected.”
“It changed your appearance?” she asks softly.
“Drastically.”
“Mine was a car accident. The scars are… significant. People either stare or avoid looking at me altogether. Little kids point and ask their parents if I’m a monster.”
Fury like I haven’t felt in years flares to life, launching me to my feet. The past is beyond my control, but I could change the future. I’m the invisible man. I could follow Elise and she’d never know I was there. But the assholes who treat her badly would damn sure know. I could do whatever I want and get away with it.
“Where do you live?” The question is out of my mouth before common sense kicks in. “Shit. Sorry. That was way out of bounds. Forget I asked.”
“What would you do with the information if I told you?”
“My initial impulse was to quietly stalk you and punish the people who disrespect you.”
Her laugh fills my ear, loosening the knot inside me. “You think I wouldn’t notice a ginger-haired giant leprechaun tailing me?”
“My stealth mode is pretty effective.”
“If you say so,” she says, laughing until she sighs. “I appreciate your desire to protect me, but I don’t need it. And… if ever youwereto come find me, I’d want it to be for positive reasons. I wouldn’t want you to hide. I’d want to see you.”
Just like that, the knot is back. “I’d want that too.”
“Maybe one day?” Her voice is so gentle, so hopeful.
