Page 9 of Dangers of Love

“He’s not gonna try something stupid, is he?” Martina asked with a frown. “He’s a big guy. Maybe I should–”

“He won’t hurt me,” I told her. “And you’re right, I need to talk to him.”

Even though I firmly believed what I said, a part of me still hoped that he’d be gone and I could just avoid the whole unpleasant ordeal. It was weak and cowardly of me, but the way my stomach was twisting and roiling, I couldn’t help feeling that way.

When I came out, he was leaning against the wall. Though he immediately straightened, he didn’t try to come closer. I sat in one of the chairs and gestured for him to join me. It wasn’t until he settled across from me that I realized how drawn his face was. Concern drove away my reluctance.

“Are you okay?”

“That’s not an easy question to answer,” he said with a wry smile. “And before I try to start, I need to apologize. Again. I shouldn’t have ghosted you. Even if I left to avoid a confrontation with your sister, I should have called and talked to you about what happened.”

That seemed like a good place to begin, and as I owed him an apology as well, I seized the opportunity.

“I have to apologize to you too,” I said, feeling the blush rising in my cheeks. “Even if I hadn’t been thinking clearly enough the first night we slept together to tell you that I was a virgin, I should’ve told you the second night. Like how you’d been honest about the fact that we hadn’t used a condom. Heat of the moment is only an excuse once.”

He scratched at the stubble on his jawline. “We’ve really fucked things up, haven’t we?”

I could’ve answered that question several different ways, but it was the flash of pain in his eyes that made me decide what I would say.

“Maybe we need to stop trying to do this the way everyone else does and just…go with what feels natural.”

Surprise, then happiness, lit up his face. “Really?”

The unease I’d felt vanished, replaced with a mixture of relief and anticipation. “Yes, really.”

Two women glanced our way before entering the boutique.

“I need to get back, but I meant what I said.”

“Then can I take you to dinner when you get off work?”

I studied his face for several moments. “If you’ll answer a couple questions for me.”

“All right.”

“How did you find me?”

His smile held the sort of confidence that bordered on cockiness. “It’s what I do. I find people. And it’s not the first time I’ve had to find you.”

I had to laugh at that, even though my next question was the more serious of the two burning inside me.

“Did my family hire you to find me?”

His smile softened. “No, it’s all me. But I did know that you weren’t at your parents’ house.”

“Because you went there first?” I almost wanted to ask him what they’d said, how they’d explained my absence, but another part of me didn’t want to know.

He shook his head. “No, actually, that’d be your sister. She, uh, came to the agency, and well, she yelled at Cain and me, said that it was my fault you left.”

I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t you. But I don’t want to talk about Freedom or what happened when I left. Not now, anyway.”

“All right.”

I had one more thing I needed to know. “Are you going to tell them where I am? I mean, if Freedom comes back. I know you won’t go to them, but if Freedom comes to you and asks, will you tell her?”

“No.” He reached out and lightly touched my arm. “I won’t share anything unless you specifically tell me to.”

“Good answer.” I smiled, pleasure and relief and something much sexier surging through me. “You can pick me up here at six.”

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