“Are you mad at me?”
I frowned at Ruby’s softly spoken question. Sure I wished she’d done what I’d asked, but only because I didn’t want anything to happen to her.
“I couldn’t be mad at you.”
Before she could reply, the screen door opened and her grandpa walked out. “You okay, Pumpkin?” His voice was filled with concern but loads of affection too.
Instead of being embarrassed at the endearment, Ruby smiled and walked over to hug him. “I’m fine, but I may need to hide your shotgun,” she teased.
It might not be a bad idea, but on the other hand, it was their home and they had a right to defend it and protect themselves.
“You will do no such thing, young lady. Now introduce me to this guy you got here and also felt the need to call before you’d called anyone else.” Gramps scowled, then bored his granite-like stare into mine just like Jett’s had the night before.
Ruby meant everything to them.
A blind man could’ve seen that.
“Grandpa”—she gestured to me—“this is Lyric. He’s the one I told you about that is a cop and also works atNo Surrender.”
Of course, she had to tell him about me since she’d hired us, but my heart still thumped a few extra beats at the thought of her talking about me. It was like I was in middle school all over again and I just caught the eye of the prettiest girl in school.
“Lyric, this is my Grandpa Walter.”
I reached out and offered my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Walter grabbed my hand and gave it a firm shake. For an old guy, his grip was still strong. Nodding his head as if he thought I checked out, he said, “Thanks for coming.” He released my hand. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
His last words must have been about us coming to install the security system and such, but the way he looked at me I felt as if there was another meaning in there. As if he knew or saw something I didn’t. There was no time to analyze it though.
He gave Ruby one last squeeze and wandered back inside.
She and I stood in silence for a moment looking at one another before I broke the spell.
“You better get inside and get some sleep, but don’t worry I’ll be outside watching over the house tonight.”
Her eyes widened with shock. “Lyric, you can’t, that's not right.”
“And what's right? Leaving you guys here with no security system and not knowing if someone else will come?” Anger burned inside my gut thinking of someone else trying to scare them. “While I don’t think they will tonight, I won’t take the chance.”
Ruby’s dark, chocolate brown eyes left mine and she stared down at the porch. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking but the energy around us gained momentum as she took a couple of steps forward closing the distance between us.
When she looked back up into my gaze my breath hitched.
Then she did something I never expected. She lifted up on her toes. While she wasn’t short, I still stood a good five inches or so over her. She placed her hands on my shoulders, leaned in, and kissed my cheek. When her soft lips met my skin my heart didn’t beat a few extra times, it went wild.
“I keep saying this, but thank you,” she whispered close to my ear as she pulled back and I watched her walk inside.
I was left standing on the porch, her flowery scent left behind, and my cheek tingling from her sweet kiss.
That sensation would stay with me throughout the night.
* * *
There wasa kink in my neck.
As I rolled my head around to work it out, my eyes caught on a figure heading toward my truck.
I lost all ability to breathe.
