Unlike Quinton, Lincoln took the fall, even when he hadn’t committed the crime.

He’s nothing like Quinton.

He’s the man I wanted Quinton to be.

“Stay.” I grab his hand and place it back over mine. “Always stay.”

The initial shock has dissipated, reality bleeding through in its place. No way will I lose him over something like this.

His tense shoulders slump, releasing pressure, and he kisses my forehead. “I’ll always stay … for as long as you’ll have me.”

And just like that, I know this is a man I can trust.

This is a loyal man who I can tell my secrets to and who will keep my secrets.

But what happens if I’m not ready to tell him all of mine yet?

What happens if he wants me to be as open with him as he was with me tonight?

I’m not sure that’s possible if I want to protect us.

Knowing how Lincoln is, if he finds out Quinton is messing with me, he’ll intervene. If he’s a felon, it’ll send him right back to prison. Lincoln isn’t getting in trouble over Quinton’s dumbass. I’ll handle his stalking on my own.

Chapter Fifteen

Lincoln

“Have fun at your dinner, babe,” I tell Cassidy as we walk to our cars. “And drive safe.”

With a smile, I do a quick scan of the employee parking lot, making sure the coast is clear since we’re still keeping our relationship a secret. I press my lips against hers and wrap my arms around her waist, somewhat pushing her against the car. My hips grind into hers while I release a groan. My heart speeds at the taste of her when my tongue slides into her mouth.

I had the day off at the bar, but Cassidy worked the mid-shift, so I stopped for lunch and hung out with her.

She releases harsh breaths when I pull away. “I don’t want to be late.”

“Nope.” I smack a kiss to her forehead.

“I’ll be texting and calling,” she says, “so make sure you’re available at all times.”

“Aren’t I always available to you at all times?”

“Good point.” She stands on her tiptoes to present me with another kiss, wiggles her fingers into a wave, and gets into her car.

Puffing out cold air, I rush to mine, rubbing my hands together to create warmth. Neither one of us remembered to turn our auto-starts on, so our cars are freezing. Sitting in my running car, I wait for Cassidy to reverse out of her spot and leave. It’s what I do every time.