Page 100 of Whispers and Wildfire

My brow furrowed. “Yeah, we went out that one time. That doesn’t mean we’re dating.”

“Does she know that? Because she cost me a hell of a lot of money last night trying to outbid me for you.”

“She knows. I texted her this morning. It felt weird to leave it unfinished. But if I recall, you jumped in to outbid her, not the other way around.”

“Fine, aliens briefly took over my body and made me bid entirely too much money for an evening with you.”

“Are you kidding? A guy with all this?” I gestured at myself. “You got me for a steal.”

She grabbed the to-go boxes and brought them in, setting them on the coffee table. “You’re basically useless. You can’t even fix my car or chop wood for me or whatever the other bachelors are all doing tonight. I’ll probably have to give you a ride home.”

“Yeah, I definitely need a ride home. But I brought dinner.”

Lowering herself onto the couch next to me, she sighed dramatically. “I suppose that is something. What are we having?”

“Sandwiches. I know it’s not fancy, but you said it’s not a date.”

“I did say that.” She opened her box and gasped. “Look at all those pickles!”

“There should be more on the sandwich.”

She picked one up and took a crunchy bite. “So good.”

I shook my head slightly. “See? I was worth every penny.”

“I take back all the bad things I’ve said about you. At least in the last week.”

“That’s very generous of you.”

Still eating, she nudged my arm with her elbow. The brush of her skin against mine sent a wave of heat surging through me. The urge to turn and kiss her was so strong, I almost lost my mind and did it.

But I didn’t. I held back.

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, and I didn’t miss the flash of suspicion that crossed her face. I picked up my sandwich and took a bite.

Don’t do it, Luke. Don’t go there.

We ate our dinner and then she declared that my final duty as her bachelor of the evening was to make her popcorn and watch a movie with her. She picked some romantic period film, probably thinking I wasn’t going to like it. Joke was on her, because I did.

The wet spot on my chest from her tears dried, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way she’d felt in my arms was burned into my memory. Soft, warm, familiar. And good. Way too good. But it wasn’t just how she’d cried while I’d held her, it was everything she’d been through.

A streak of fierce protectiveness raged inside me. I wantedto find the piece of shit who’d hurt her and make sure she never had to worry about him again. I wanted to keep her safe and secure, so she could sleep without fear. Be the wall that guarded her, no matter what it cost me.

Except I didn’t know if I could. Because if I went down that road again, it was going to cost me everything.

Rehearsal

ROSWELL MILLS

Sitting in a corner,unnoticed, I sipped my soda. The bar was busy. People chatted over their drinks, a group of guys played a game of darts, and every so often a pair of women would get up and dance next to their table.

I took it all in, looking for her. For the right one.

My instincts told me that was the place—the small-town bar in Echo Creek, a town not far from Tilikum. I’d find her.

The more I considered my plan to practice first, the more convinced I was that I was right. If I could successfully take, subdue, and keep a few substitutes, I’d know my technique and preparations were adequate.

Not just adequate. Perfect.

---