I’m shaking my head. “No. This was my fault. I never should have allowed you to attend an event like that.”
“Hah!”
I check the rearview to make sure we’re not being followed, then glance over. Her eyes are wide with indignation. “What?”
“I’mthe client. I wanted to go to the ball, so you took me to the ball. Period.”
“No way. I’m the one trained to protect you. It’s my job to decide what’s safe and what’s not.”
She chuckles.
“What’s so funny?”
“At least now I know what your special training was.” She grins at me.
Oh. The dancing.
“I uh… I took classes when I was a kid.” Technically, that’s true. They had us doing hours of dance rehearsals daily when we were performing.
“Sure you did.”
“What?”
“No, I’m sure those sizzling hot moves were what they had all the boys doing in dance class.”
“All right.” I tip my head. “Also, I…like to dance.” It’s true.
“I think youloveto dance.”
I check the rearview again, then look over. She’s smiling from ear to ear.
“Fine. Maybe I do.”
“Mm-hmm. I love to dance too.” She says it in a flirty tone—like it’s a come-on—and I get the message. She likes that I dance. She’s pointing out we’rewell matchedin certain ways.
“Yeah, I gathered that.” I shoot her a smirk, and she shakes her head.
We turn onto the winding road that runs along the river toward the safe house, and she’s quiet for a moment, watching out the window. The moon is full tonight, and her green eyes are catching the light. Even with her hair flattened from that silly wig and red lines crisscrossing her face from the patch, she looks ravishing.
“Listen, Harper.” I clear my throat. “I owe you an apology.”
“Hmm?” She turns to me.
“Yesterday, when you showed up, I said some things I regret.”
“Oh. You mean the part about how I’m living in a fairy-tale fantasyland?” She smirks as if to make light of it, but the fact she remembers it word for word tells me I hurt her.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong to judge you, and I don’t think that anymore. Not now that I know you.”
Her expression softens. “Thanks.”
I nod, attempting to keep my eyes focused on the road so I won’t be distracted by her beauty. “You’re welcome.”
“You know, I never met a security guy who knew how to apologize before.”
I chuckle. “Oh, yeah?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
