Page 49 of While She Sleeps

I swallow past the doubt that tries to climb my throat.

What if he’s skipped out on the bill?

What if this is his idea of fun? Leading on women who can’t afford to eat in a place like this and then forcing them to pick up the check.

But then I notice his jacket is still resting over the back of his chair.

Your imagination is really running rampant tonight, I scold myself.

“Miss?” A voice on my right startles me, and I just about come out of my skin when I realize it’s the man who was stuck talking to blondie a few moments ago.

“Uh, hi?” I stutter.

I’m usually way more confident than this, but there’s something about tonight that has me off kilter. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.

“I’m Killian.” He smiles. “I’m part of Orion’s security team.”

“Oh.” My shoulders relax slightly. “Is he okay?”

Killian nods, his face remaining perfectly passive. “He had to take a quick call. He’ll be back in a few minutes, and he didn’t want you to worry while you wait.”

I nod my understanding as I take him in. I can’t say I blame the blonde who was trying to climb the man like a tree, because he’s awfully pretty. His dark hair is pushed back in that messy style you know took at least a few minutes in front of the mirror,and his eyes are captivating in a way I’ve found few to be in the past.

Orion is definitely more my type, but I can see the appeal of Killian for sure.

“Thank you for letting me know.” I smile. “Did you want to sit? Your one-woman fan club is still lurking over there.”

He looks over his shoulder and sighs, annoyance appearing in his amber eyes. “That woman doesn’t know the meaning of the word no.”

“Sit.” I motion to Orion’s abandoned chair.

He hesitates for a second before pulling the chair out, unbuttoning his jacket, and lowering himself into the seat with a grace I wouldn’t expect from a man his size. His six-foot-four frame is entirely too large for the chair, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Boss man is not going to like me sitting here with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s…possessive when it comes to you.”

My brows tug together, my stomach fluttering with misplaced butterflies. Surely I shouldn’t find that attractive. Isn’t that some kind of red flag for most women?

But I guess I’ve never been like most girls. Maybe I like my men with a bit of darkness in their souls.

I shake my head to clear the thought, because getting attached to Orion isn’t an option. Not in the long run, at least. This is just about having a little fun with a man I have no doubt will blow my mind and ruin me for everyone that comes after him. But it’ll be worth it.

“I doubt that.”

He chuckles, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The slight tip of his lips transforms his whole face, and I’m sure as hell he’s glad blondie can’t see him now because she might start humping his leg if she finds out.

“Killian,” Orion snaps from beside him, his eyes flaring with annoyance. My stomach flips because I think his security guard just may have been correct. Has anyone ever been possessive of me? I highly fucking doubt it. “I told you to watch her, not take my place at the table.”

“I was saving him from a woman who looked like she was ready to walk down the aisle to marry him.” I laugh, and Killian’s eyes roll. “I’m sure you’ve been faced with similar scenarios a time or two.”

Orion flicks his eyes to me, and they soften immediately, setting a fresh wave of butterflies off. Jesus. This man’s effect on my body is dangerous. “Killian has that effect on women a lot.”

The man in question shakes his head, but there’s a slight smirk playing on his lips, telling me these two men are closer than just security and employer.

Which, I guess, makes sense, considering Killian didn’t hesitate to approach me, even knowing Orion wouldn’t be okay with it.

“Everything okay with your call?” Killian asks.

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