Page 27 of Sackett
“What?”she said after a moment.
The light turned and he continued through the intersection, using the need to pay attention to traffic as an excuse to delay responding as he tried to find the right words to keep from pissing her off because he was making assumptions.
“You do realize that I will be going everywhere you do for the next few days?And the only time I might go anywhere without you is when you plan on being in the hotel room for a period of time?”He made both statements come out as questions on purpose.He wanted her to come to the realization that he wouldn’t need a car, other than this one, on her own.She was smart, hell, probably smarter than he was.There was no way he could have made it through seven more years of college, then studying for the bar, in not one but in at least two states.
“I guess you have a point.”She turned and stared out the windshield, only speaking to give directions until he parked the car in front of the tiny store.She didn’t move.Not to get out, not to look at him, when she spoke again.“I have issues with other people deciding what’s best for me and telling me after the decision is made.As if I’m not smart enough to see what should happen.If you will please, just include me in the discussion, tell me why you think it’s better that you stay instead of just telling me that you will be staying and being my shadow, then it will make it easier for both of us.”With that she opened the door and got out, still carrying her briefcase.
Sackett followed, not because he couldn’t see her inside, or because he thought she might get snatched again between here and the car, but because he couldn’t just let things go.Now that she’d asked to be included, and he totally saw why.He’d be pissed if someone was making decisions and telling him what would happen too.But now that she’d asked, he had a few other things to share with her.
He might not share them with her right away, not in public.Though in public might keep her from getting too pissed and cutting him off at the knees.
No.
That would be the coward’s way out.And he wasn’t a coward.
Inside the store, he stepped up beside Selena, but he remained silent, letting her take care of her business.When the salesman went into the back to pull the phone she wanted out of inventory, Sackett leaned closed and spoke softly enough so only she would hear.
“You didn’t give me a chance to say so before you got out of the car, but there are other things we’ll need to discuss, when we have a few minutes and some privacy.I wanted to let you know so you’d be prepared and not feel like I’m blindsiding you.”
“Thank you,” she said, barely glancing at him as the salesman returned, a phone in one hand and a paper bag with the carrier logo dangling from the other.He didn’t know if it was the salesman or that they weren’t very busy, but they walked out of the store barely over thirty minutes after they’d arrived.
“Where to next?”he asked after they were both back in the car and he’d started the engine so the AC would start.
“I need to make a call, but my phone hasn’t updated all my numbers from the server yet.Do you happen to have Donna’s number?”
He gave it to her then stepped out of the car so she could have the conversation in private.He debated leaning against the car while he waited, but quickly vetoed it as it would leave too much space unobserved, where anyone could approach without his noticing.Instead he took the few steps toward the building they’d just left.There, he put his back to the building, lifting one leg to prop against the stucco while he waited.From here he could see anyone who might approach, and still see Selena.
Five minutes later, she waved at him from the passenger seat, letting him know she was done.
“Where too next?”he asked again as he got into the car.
“Coffee.I need my fix.”She dragged out the e in need, so it sounded like it had several extra syllables.
“We can do coffee.Do you have a preferred dealer?”Sackett held back a smile, not sure how she would take it if he laughed.He thought she was trying to be funny but couldn’t be sure and after she’d chewed him before the cell phone store, he decided to play it safe for a bit.
“I prefer Starbucks, but I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“I’m sure we can find you a Starbucks.”He pulled up the nearest location on his phone and turned on the directions.
“What else do we need to talk about?”she asked once they were on the road.
“The most pressing is sleeping arrangements.”He glanced her way, wondering how she would react when he told her that he wouldn’t be getting a room of his own.He saw her stiffen, then take a deep breath and relax a little before she spoke.
“What about them?”Her tone was careful, as if she was afraid of what he was about to say.
He thought for a moment about the best way to put it so it wouldn’t upset her too much.“If I’m here to make sure you stay safe, that would be next to impossible if I’m in another room, especially if that room is on a different floor.”
“So… What?You want to keep sleeping on my couch?”Sarcasm filled her tone, as if she believed that was the last thing he wanted.
“Actually, yes.”
She turned and stared at him for several seconds.“You’re really not trying to talk your way into my bed?”
He glanced at her again, then back to the road, wondering how honest he should be.
“I’m not going to lie to you.I’d like to be in your bed, and not just because of circumstances or because of proximity.”He paused and glanced over again as he tried to gauge her reaction before continuing, “but that’s not what this is about.This is about making sure those fuckwads don’t get their hands on you again for a repeat performance.”
She watched him another moment, but since he was waiting for traffic to clear so he could make the turn he couldn’t check how she was reacting.
