Free The Hunted by J. D. Chase Page B

blushing?  Surely not!  Oh, yes he is!  But why would …  Oh no, no way!
     
    “Lucas, when was it that you saw them exactly?” Although I was trying to remain calm, my voice had an edge to it.
     
    “Oh a few weeks ago.  Anyway, do you want to watch TV?  Or a film?” He made to get up off the sofa but I grasped his arm.
     
    “No, I want to know when and where you first saw the band.”
     
    “In Queens, a few weeks ago - I’ve told you already,” he said, staring straight ahead.  “What is this?”
     
    “Lucas.  The night we first met, I was on my way to see the band when I called in here.”
     
    “Yeah, so?”
     
    “They were playing in Queens.”
     
    “Yeah, so?”
     
    “So, that’s a bit of a coincidence isn’t it?  And you’ve told me that you don’t socialize.  Unless you owned the bar in Queens, I just can’t figure out how you would have seen them.  So do you?”
     
    “Do I what?”
     
    “Do you own the bar in Queens?”
     
    “No,” he said quietly.
     
    Somehow I just knew what had happened.  I didn’t want to believe it and let’s face it, it was ridiculous.  But, I asked the question anyway.
     
    “Did you follow me that night?”
     
    Lucas shot up off the sofa and walked to the window.  He stood still, apparently looking out of the window but didn’t answer my question.
     
    “Lucas, did you follow me from here to the bar in Queens?”
     
    Did he just say yes, or did I imagine it?  
     
    “Lucas?”
     
    I saw his shoulders rise and then slump as he let out a long sigh.  He turned to face me and nodded.  Just a subtle movement of his head but definitely a nod.
     
    “Oh my god!  Have you followed me anywhere else?  Have you been stalking me?”
     
    “Of course not!” He had the nerve to look offended.
     
    “Well, please enlighten me as to the reason you felt it was okay to follow me.  And, did you spy on me all night?   Did you follow me home at - Oh god!  That’s how you knew my address isn’t it?”
     
    “No, Issy.  I didn’t follow you home and I knew your address from when I looked up your name on your lease - the following day.  Look, I’m not proud of what I did.  But you took my breath away.  When I walked into your office when we met, I wanted to throw you over your desk and take you there and then.  I forced myself to walk away before I did something stupid.  I got into my elevator fully intending to return to my apartment but, I’m ashamed to say, that curiosity and jealousy got the better of me. I had to see where you were going, dressed like that.  Instead, I sent the elevator into the underground garage, got my car and followed your taxi to the bar.”
     
    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I jumped to my feet and rounded on him.  “Lucas, do you know now crazy that sounds?  Rational people don’t behave in that way.” 
     
    He closed his eyes and sighed.  When he opened them again, they found mine and implored me to listen.  “Issy, after the intensity of our brief meeting, I was out of my mind.  And that’s the whole point.  I’ve never reacted like that to a woman and I’ve never pursued a woman.  But, for some inexplicable reason, I needed to know where you were going, dressed like that! And … and, I needed to reassure myself that you weren’t meeting a man.  Don’t ask me why - I just had to.  Right from that moment, Issy, I knew that you were different … special.  If you are freaking out right now, I can assure you that it’s nothing compared to how I felt when I returned to my apartment that night.  I simply could not get you out of my head.  I have never felt a connection with a woman, never wanted or needed anyone but I know that I both want, and need, you. Before we spent that night together, I wanted you so badly and yes, like you, I assumed that the connection we had was purely physical.  At least I hoped it was; I was so out of my depth.  However, that night, and every