Page 43 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

Evan reached for her bag and offered her an arm. “Come on, Janice. Let’s get you to your game.”

When she turned, the back of her shirt came into view. Embroidered on it was a large blue bowling ball with a cute yellow bird perched on top of it. Underneath, it said:Bowling, Alabama’s Other National Sport.

“That might have been a clue too,” Noah muttered to Violet.

“What kind of security team is this?” the woman asked Evan in a shaky voice as they walked away.

“The jumpy kind,” he replied.

As they made their way down the street, Rochelle caught Noah’s eye. She was all business. “When he gets back, start tracking the money. You’re right. If we don’t do something about the Demon Brothers, there’s a good chance we’ll shoot the next stranger who comes to our door.”

As Noah nodded, a window opened above them, and Logan stuck out his head. “Where’s Evan going?”

“Bowling alley,” Noah said.

“The one beside the Mexican deli?”

Noah nodded.

Logan whistled loudly, and when Evan turned, he shouted, “Get churros!”

Rochelle pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes closed.

Noah patted her on the shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll get better, Boss,” he said in an attempt to reassure her.

“I struggle to see how it could get any worse,” Rochelle said as she headed for the entrance.

Chapter Fifteen

Annabelle and Noah had fallen into a comfortable bedtime routine. She’d get ready first, sticking to her Wonder Woman pajamas, seeing as the building was full of people. Once she was secure in the panic room, Noah would get ready. He dressed for bed in a T-shirt and sweatpants so he could be up and running instantly if needed. And he kept a worn pair of boots by his bed, ready to slam his feet into and run. His gun sat on the nightstand, next to an iPad showing the security cameras’ video feeds.

Every night, he checked the windows in her apartment, making sure they were well covered and locked before ensuring the other door to the panic room was secured too. After that, he’d call whoever was on guard duty for a security update on the rest of the building. When satisfied that everyone was doing their job and the warehouse was locked up tight, he’d ask her if she needed anything.

It was becoming increasingly difficult not to reply,“You.”

Yeah, her hero worship had morphed into a full-blown crush. Her therapist would probably tell her she was mistaking feelings of gratitude for attraction. Or that she’d developed an unhealthy bond with the man because he was her protector. Annabellehad been through enough therapy to know the routine, and she didn’t require a professional to help analyze her feelings. For that, she had the internet, and according to the many search engines she’d consulted, Noah was suffering from “White Knight Syndrome” while she was craving a “Rescue Romance.”

The internet sucked.

The truth was, Noah Merchant fascinated her. There was nothing else to it. He wasn’t the best-looking guy in the building, or the tallest, or the youngest, but he was… solid, confident, capable, and caring. She loved the way he interacted with his kids and the bittersweet look in his eyes whenever he talked about his wife. There were even moments when Annabelle experienced a pang of jealousy over the love and loyalty he’d given Therese. A horrible thing to have to admit. Maybe she did need to talk to her therapist after all.

“You need anything?” Noah asked from the open doorway between their rooms.

Annabelle swallowed the answer on the tip of her tongue. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

She closed the sketchpad, balanced against her legs as she sat with her back to the sofa headboard and the bedding tucked up around her.

“What’re you drawing?” He folded his arms over the faded T-shirt he wore to bed. His sweatpants hung low on his hips, and his feet were bare.

He took her breath away.

“Just sketching,” she said. “Nothing important.”

“Can I see?” His eyes sparkled, and she knew he suspected she’d been drawing his team.

He wasn’t wrong.

“Okay,” she said somewhat reluctantly.