Tackling Her Obsession with the Tight End

Chapter 14: Complicated

Special Agent Quentin Sharp

“Make sure we have her under watch around the clock this week. I want nothing to slip through. And nothing had better happen to her.” I bark out at my team. They all nod in agreement.

"Agent Falden, you will NOT slip up again." I warn her. "Dante is on her main detail. You are on the third string for it now."

They march out. I head back to my office to collapse in my chair. Leaning forward, I let my face rest in my hands. So close, we are so close to ending that damn family. I stare at the photo of my sister, Brandy. She'd been the happiest person ever until she came across Paul. He broke her in unimaginable ways. By the time she ended her life, she was a shadow of the girl she'd been. Sadly, she hadn't been able to ever rediscover her spirit or will to live.

Sarah Larson has that fiery spirit. I know she thinks I am stringing her along, but upon meeting her, I knew she was strong enough to see this to the end. And I will end them. Which should help her too in the long run.

When this is all over, I will throw myself on the mercy of her family. I lied to Manny Davis a few weeks ago when he called to ensure she was in no danger. I'm doing my best to keep her safe. But I skirted around the issue if she was still entangled in his web. I shake my head grabbing the files I need to debrief my boss with.

Three days left......

Liam

Harlow laughs as I tell her about Pop's rubber mallet that Mama bought him. Our family truly would make a good book.

"I love your family stories. What an amazing support system built on laughs and love." She smiles at me and I nod.

"That's exactly it. You get it so well." I sit back staring at her with a big grin.

She really would be perfect for me, almost tailor made. We have such similar interests. She asked me out for coffee and then for dinner. It kind of snowballed from there after I decided to give her a chance. I even took her to dinner with my whole family when they came here for a game. They were a little surprised to say the least.

The only issue would be our physical attraction. At least on my part. I can tell she feels a lot more for me in that area than I do her. It was evident the way she kissed me last night. We've been dating almost three weeks now.

I remember back to the few girls I've seriously dated. Jenni was the longest in high school. And I cared a lot about her. Never fell in love with her though. I was attracted to her more than any other date. There was a spark between us but nothing like I expected. Like a bad sparkler on New Year's Eve that sputters out right after you light it. I always thought when I found someone compatible, it would feel like a fire burning between us. Even if it wasn't a raging inferno, at least a nice warm glow. I remember Noah telling me he always knew during the date that it wasn't going anywhere and if they kissed him, he really knew because he felt nothing for any of them. Or what he felt was like he was betraying Caylee. Which is the same for me the last few years. I feel like I'm cheating. I wonder if that ever goes away if you do find someone new you truly want to be with.

"Liam are you listening?" Harlow is eyeing me with amusement.

"Sorry I spaced out for a second. Won't happen again. You have my full attention." I say with a grin. The waiter brings our food and we eat. She doesn't talk much about her family besides her mother. I decide to ask her a few questions about them.

"You're letting me do all the talking tonight. Did you have big family get togethers growing up?"

"We did. Before my dad died. He had prostate cancer and it had already spread when they found it. He passed away and it seemed like he was the one who organized all the family get togethers. So it fell apart." She gives me a sad smile.

"That's terrible. I'm sorry to hear all that. My best friend's dad had prostate cancer when we were seniors in high school too. He survived but almost died a few times from an infection."

"Such a small world isn't it?" She smiles brightly and continues without waiting for my answer. "I have to say cutie, I think it was really fate we met that night. The more we learn about each other, the more I can see how in tune we are."

"It is pretty amazing how much we have in common." I note as dessert arrives. Once I pay the bill, we leave. I had practice and had to meet her here tonight.

"Thanks for another great dinner. Could I see you tomorrow night, cutie?" She smiles up at me.

"I actually have something to do with the team tomorrow night. But I'll call you later this week and we'll set something up. Drive home safe." I help her into the car, having avoided another kiss.

"Goodnight, Liam. Be careful yourself." I move to my truck as she leaves.

When I finally arrive home, I groan, seeing Sean and Noah hanging out on my porch. Both have keys, which means they really wanted to confront me. After parking in the garage, I consider going into the house avoiding them and making them use their keys. Would irritate them more. Instead, I walk out and close the door with the keypad before slowly traipsing up the walkway.

"You don't answer your phone or texts anymore?" Noah asks with one eyebrow raised.

"Not when I'm out on a date." I lean against the railing at the top of the steps. "Thought we all learned that in Nutville Dating Etiquette 101 with Pop. I'll have to tell him you two have forgotten your manners since you have wives. I'd expect about ten vision boards and goal mapping charts by morning."

"You were out with Harlow again....should have known when you ignored us." Sean is pissed and trying to hold it in. That's new for my brother. And fun, I add sarcatically to myself.

"I saw your messages. Was going to answer you as soon as I got inside the house. What's your problem Sean?" I pull out my keys and usher them into the house. Sean waits until I lock the door.

"Why the hell are you dating this woman? I don't like her, Noah can't stand her, Quinn says she is bad news which is basically a sure omen it's the worst match ever. And yet you continue to see her. I won't even hazard a guess to what Mama thinks but I would bet she's got a few nicknames that are not favorable. You brought her to a family dinner! She's calling you pet names! And more importantly you blew Caylee and Quinn off yesterday for her. What the f**k Liam?! I mean have you lost your damn mind?" Sean's eyes are flashing and he's furious. I stare back at him calmly. I've never seen him lose it like this. He's acting like....me.

"You've thought long and hard about this." I tell him calmly. I need to defuse him because he's going to really lose it in a minute.

Noah glances slowly between the two of us. "You two switched places temperwise I think, and I don't know how I feel about it. Like maybe I hit my head at practice but haven't woken up in the hospital yet. Liam, he's right. What is going on with you and Harlow? You've been clinging to her almost; seeing her three and four nights a week for the last month. That's not you. I know you're not over Sarah. Saw your face the night she sent dinner over for you. Aliens take over your brain? I wanted to vomit every time she called you cutie the other night." And for Noah to have that reaction, it means something.

"You don't think I could have found someone else? Someone to make me forget her?" I ask curious for their answer as I grab three sodas. As Noah answers, I am powering my phone off.

"No." Noah's one word answer is loaded. You can hear it in the steel he wraps it in.

Sean looks at me with a mixture of disbelief, sadness and anger. "I told you what Nutville said about Paul and his family. Give them a chance to get rid of him Liam and then give her another chance. You've loved her for years. There is no f*****g way you have replaced her with that fembot fake ass stalker!" And there's his true opinion finally. I take a long drink before pointing to the two chairs opposite me. They sit but are not amused in the least.

"You're right on the money there. She's definitely a fake ass stalker and I have suspicions she works for Prickhead. Which is why I started dating her. To protect Sarah." I announce, leaning back wearily.

"The f**k Liam...." Sean stares hard at me.

Noah gapes too. "Why?"

"Because as long as I'm single, Paul seems to bother Sarah. Now I look like I'm happily taken and from what Chad says, there's been no sign of him near her. Everything was off concerning Harlow. That night I met her, I saw her in the hallway through the peephole when I checked it. Watched her for a minute. She stood there waiting. As soon as I turned the deadbolt, she was crouching in front of the door. Also, the person that lives there is a woman named Maria; no male coworker. Second hole in her story. Also, I made friends with a different neighbor a week later, Mr. Flanders, who lives two doors down. He's a retired army ranger in his seventies. He knows everyone who comes and goes in that hallway. He says Paul hasn't returned and he's never seen Harlow before. As you noticed, she was quick to claim me. I caught her near Sarah's work building two mornings also."

"Liam, she could be a deranged stalker." Sean points out. "And you brought her near our family."

"I suspect she knows all about our family. I've followed her home twice. She never goes to the same place and never lets me pick her up from home. Things don't add up. Not to mention she's sooooo much like me. I mea,n same favorite everything and tonight she told me her dad died the same way that your dad almost did." I point to Noah. "Too many coincidences and similarities for me to believe her bullshit at all."

"What if she's not lying?" Noah points out.

"Then I tell her the truth. I started dating her because I thought she was evil. I'm not attracted to her, so it doesn't matter on my end. I'll feel like s**t for hurting her feelings that way, but I'm taking no chances considering the freaky psychos we come across. But Harlow Fielding does not exist if you dig deep enough."

"Why didn't you tell us? Does Mama know?" Sean is up pacing. Our other shared bad habit.

"No, and I'm willing to bet she's ready to kick my ass. I wanted to see your unbiased opinion of her. Which you gave me and it matches mine even without the background info I had. You think she's a fake stalker."

Noah sighs. "I get it but this is so damn complicated, Liam. Dangerous too."

"I'm willing to take the chance."