Mason Lloyd. Her heart skittered and she stepped back, but he moved, too, trapping her between the building and a concrete planter. His smile vanished as he loomed over her.

“You’ve been talking about me,” he said in a low voice.

Leigh tried to step around him, but he blocked her path.

“Better watch that sweet little ass of yours.” He stepped closer. “Or I’ll sue you for libel.”

Her heart hammered and her throat felt dry. But she found her voice.

“Are you implying I wrote something about you?”

He frowned.

“Libel is defamation in printed form,” she said. “I think you mean slander. I suggest you get some legal advice before you file a lawsuit.”

She tried to go around him again, but he shifted.

“You don’t have a clue who you’re dealing with, do you?” His lip twitched as he eased closer. “I could squash you like a bug.”

Leigh kept her gaze on his, but her chest tightened with panic. Bile rose in the back of her throat. She tried to make her face neutral, and she desperately regretted that initial flash of fear. Men like him got off on it.

He reached out and traced the tip of his finger over her neckline. She forced herself not to wince as his finger grazed her skin.

“Nice sweater. Too bad it hides your tattoo.”

Leigh bit the inside of her mouth. She shifted her weight to create more space between them.

“If you touch me again,” she said calmly, “I’ll have you charged with assault.” She stared up at him. “Now, move out of my way.”

He gave her a slow, smug smile. Several seconds ticked by before he stepped aside.

Leigh strode across the street to the sidewalk, grateful for the break in traffic, because she hadn’t even looked. She walked quickly toward her car, praying she wasn’t going to catch the heel of her boot or slip on the slick pavement. As she neared the Mustang, she dug the keys from her purse and popped the locks.

With a glance over her shoulder, she slid behind the wheel and tossed her bags in the passenger seat. She yanked the door shut and hit the locks.

Leigh’s heart jackhammered as she looked at the rearview mirror. The raindrops created prisms on the back window, making it impossible to see. She checked the side mirrors.

He was gone. No sign of him, no sign of his vehicle. With trembling fingers, she started the engine and backed from the space. Usually, she drove past the Thai restaurant, but this time she turned the opposite way and circled the block, checking her surroundings for any sign of someone following her.

Holy shit.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.