He was also someone who’d just caught her staring.
Thankfully, the coffee gods were looking out for her, because the barista chose that exact moment to call out her name.
“Emma!”
Spinning away quickly, she played the whole ogling scene off by focusing solely on the young woman handing her the two cups.
“Careful. They have sleeves, but they’re still pretty hot.”
“Thanks.” Emma took the two offered beverages, her fingers and palms immediately heating up from the warmth seeping through the cardboard sheaths. “Have a great day.”
“You, too.”
With her gaze locked on the door—rather than the enticing man she had no choice but to walk past—Emma acted as if nothing had happened as she made her way outside and onto the sidewalk.
Using her elbow to push the button on the street post, she waited for what seemed like forever before the stoplights changed. With the electronic screen across the street giving her the all-clear to walk, she stayed within the painted crosswalk while carefully carrying the steaming-hot cups.
Footfalls reached her ears from behind, but it wasn’t until she caught her reflection in the glass doors that she realizedwhothose feet belonged to.
The man from the coffee shop.
He was walking toward her with purpose and determination. Was he following her?
The thought left her both flattered and a bit unnerved.
Criminal Minds, Em. When in doubt, always remember...Criminal Minds.
Her brother’s protective voice rang clearly through her imaginative mind.
The FBI crime show was one of her all-time favorites. So much so, Emma knew every episode forward and back...much to the disdain of her former-preacher father and retired schoolteacher mother.
Even so, the show’s mindset had definitely left her with a heightened sense of awareness for her surroundings. Something Sean had known and played upon right before he left for boot camp years before.
He’d given her the whole, big-brother speech about which boys to stay away from, what she should and shouldn’t do, and how she should always be on the defensive when she was alone.
So with that in mind, Emma ignored the instant attraction she’d felt toward the mysterious stranger and erred on the side of caution. After all, history was filled with several killers who got away with what they did for years because of their unsuspecting appearance.
Pretending not to noticethisman’s presence, she opened the door and walked into the building that housed R.I.S.C.’s office.
No longer able to see him, Emma swore she could still feel his presence behind her. She wasn’t sure if that was because she’d worked herself up with thoughts of the fictional kidnappers and serial killers, or if it was something more.
Either way, she picked up her step, determined to make it into the elevator and close the doors before he got the chance to join her.
She stepped into the empty cart, hurriedly pushing the button that would take her to the top floor—the one R.I.S.C. solely occupied. When she glanced up, she realized she’d gotten herself worked up over nothing.
The man was gone.
The metal doors closed, and Emma blew out a breath. “What the heck was that?” she asked herself aloud.
She’d seen attractive men before. Had even dated her fair share. But the instant, primal reaction she’d had tothatman had taken her completely off guard.
Shaking the bizarre experience off, Emma spent the remainder of the ride collecting herself. By the time the doors opened again, she was ready to face the day.
Balancing the two drinks in one hand, she carefully unlocked and opened the glass door leading into R.I.S.C.’s main office. Using her hip, she transferred Mac’s drink back into her right hand and entered the security firm’s reception area.
It was still early, a few minutes before opening, and it was a Friday. Though she’d only worked a couple so far, Emma was expecting a quiet, easy day.
“You’re the best!” Mac appeared out of nowhere.