I broke out into a full-scale run then. I'd been an athlete in high school. It had been a while since I'd run for anything other than exercise, but they weren't kidding when they said the instinct for fight or flight takes over. I took off.

I made my next turn blindly, not even looking. And I banged into a brick wall hard enough to toss me on my ass. Once again, I saved the camera before I saved myself.

I tucked it to me, arms protectively around the lens, then I took the brunt of the fall on my ass and moved back, trying to keep my head up so it didn't slam on the ground. "Fuck!"

"Jesus fucking Christ!  Are you all right?"

That voice. Why was that voice familiar?

I laid there, probably far longer than I should have, my jeans getting wet from the puddle I'd landed in. My first concern was that my camera was okay.

My brain gave the command to my hands, and they finally moved as I silently checked my equipment. It was fine.

Fuck.

I rolled up into a sitting position, trying to catch my breath, but the fear was still biting at me, telling me to get up and run. Did I dare look behind me?

I glanced behind me, but I didn't see Easton.

I looked over my other shoulder. Had he crossed the street? Had I missed him?

Shit.

Or, maybe you imagined it.

My head started to pound, and I groaned as I looked up at the person kneeling in front of me, talking to me.

My vision came into focus and I gasped. "Xander?"

“Ms. Nartey?”

"What are you doing here?"

He chuckled low. "Well, considering you're in my neighbourhood, that's my question for you."

"This is your neighborhood? But I left you at school a few hours ago."

He chuckled then. "Yes, and I had some student appointments, and now I'm home. And um, only to find that my students are following me."

I scowled then. "I am not following you. God, you're so full of it." He chuckled again.

"I see you're feeling better. Here, let me help you out."

I had no choice but to take his hand. My backpack and my ass were still in the puddle, and I still wanted to protect the camera. I let him help me up, and I groaned when I assessed the damage. "Jesus, I'm soaked. How awesome."

Standing that close to him, I realized just how much taller than me he was. I wasn't short, but he loomed over me at over six foot two. Bloody fabulous. And he was warm.