Page 52 of Protecting Love
Needed to make it more convincing.
“You’re really taking this to heart, aren’t you?”
“It was your idea, not mine.”
“I don’t know why I couldn’t just come alone since I’d be here with other family.”
They were talking low, their eyes locked, smiles on their faces.
Anyone looking at them as they walked into the lobby of the hotel might think they were having an intimate conversation.
“Take it up with West.”
“No, thank you,” she said.
“That’s what I thought.”
“I need a drink. To the bar.”
“You’re not going to get drunk, are you?”
That might be a whole different problem he’d have to deal with.
“I don’t get drunk. I just want a glass of wine. Are you going to join me or aren’t you allowed to when you’re on the clock?”
“I’m allowed.”
They got to the bar, the bartender came over and took her order and he got a beer that he’d nurse all night.
He threw cash on the bar while they waited. People were moving in closer and pushing her a little off balance.
His hand went to steady her, him draping his arm over her shoulder.
She turned to look into his eyes. They held each other’s stare, then she smirked.
Like she was ready to play. To turn this into a game when it was anything but.
Maybe he shouldn’t have taunted her. But he didn’t like seeing her scared. Nervous. Uneasy.
She wasn’t so good at hiding it and if her mind was on him, whether in frustration or fun, it was better than the alternative.
Her arm slid around his side, her fingers slowly dragging across his waist, his back, and it reminded him how long it’d been since a woman had touched him.
Then she stilled, her eyes slightly wide.
He leaned down as if he was going to kiss her cheek but got close to her ear. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re wearing a gun.”
He laughed, felt her shiver and said, “I never leave home without it.”
She hesitated the briefest second before she said, “Guess you’re a regular old Boy Scout.”
Before he could stop himself the words slipped out, “Is that something you’re hoping to find out?”
13
HAVE HER WAY
