“Oh.” Now I feel like an idiot.
“And I have a plate of fried chicken from dinner.” She walks in and pushes the door closed with her foot.
Okay. I’ve gone beyond being an idiot. I need medication and maybe a straitjacket. She’s trying to help, and I’m biting her head off.
“I really am sorry,” I apologize again.
“I’ll let it slide,this time.” She sets the bags on the counter and smiles at me over her shoulder.
Every muscle in my body freezes. That smile and those gleaming brown eyes paralyze my brain. All of a sudden, the club’s issues aren’t my biggest problem.
“Thank you,” my voice softens.
She turns to face me. “You’re welcome. I have to take care of our guard.”
My shoulders stiffen. “Wait. You do this every time a guard is here?”
She rolls her eyes upward. “Maybe.”
Two long strides and I’m looking down at her, ready to explode. “Nina?”
She laughs and pats my chest. “You know it’s not true. You’ve been our guard more than any prospect has.”
I rub the spot on my chest that she touched. “You knew.”
She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “No, but you just told on yourself.”
Well, darn. She’s a sneaky little thing. I’ll have to watch her from now on.
“How’s our angel?” I change the subject before I get myself in more trouble.
“She’s a little more relaxed with Maci and Ember here. Lauren went up to check on them.”
“Your sister’s still here?”
She nods. “She’s staying the night. Jay went to the main house to help Jack tonight.”
“You ladies okay tonight?”
“Yes and no.” She sighs and looks away. “We don’t need anything. Lauren wants to spend my birthday in town shopping, going to Angie's and the bakery, and who knows what else.”
Going to town would be good for her. She hasn’t left club property since she arrived two months ago.
“Well, if you want, I could take you to town. Help you get familiar with it before your birthday,” I offer. It’s the possession things again. I don’t do things like this.
Our eyes meet and hold for a long moment. No laughter. No jokes. No snapping at each other. Just two people’s thoughts running wild.
“I’d like that,” she whispers.
Something foreign, or at least long forgotten, slams into my chest. I’ll deal with it later.
“Okay. I’ll set it up. For now, let’s get you back inside before they come looking for you.”
She nods, and I follow her to the back door.
She steps inside and turns to face me. “Thank you, Darin, for everything.”
I nod this time and take a step back. Words just won’t form for me. She closes the door, and a part of me goes with her.
