He quickly grasped hold of her arm to stop her falling.
“Oh, thanks,” she said, breathlessly as he removed his hand. “There must have been a rock or something.”
He glanced back. “There was nothing. You tripped over air.”
“I did not.”
“Yes, you did.”
“It’s not polite to argue with someone over why they tripped,” she said huffily.
His eyebrow rose. “Is that an etiquette rule?”
“Have you taken etiquette lessons?”
He snorted. “No.”
“Then yes, it is. Now, please leave me alone.”
“No.”
Urgh. He was so frustrating!
“I said please.”
“And I said no. I need to make sure you get there safely.”
“Why do you care? Aren’t I just a nuisance?” she asked.
“Hmm, you’re definitely that.”
This man.
She had the very undignified urge to stomp her foot.
“There are people around now.” Well, a few cars had driven past and she was fairly certain that a number of people had been staring at them in fascination.
Nothing to see here, folks.
Just the ex-Governor’s daughter trying to go for a run while a hulking big FBI agent insults her running, her fitness, and her ability to take care of herself.
“I don’t trust them.” He eyed the gray car driving past suspiciously.
“Why? The people here seem nice.”
“Don’t be deceived. Just because someone seems one way, doesn’t mean that’s how they are at home.”
“Oh yeah, I know that. Everyone who met my father thought he was a good man. They all said how tragic it was that his wife had died so young, leaving him a single father. And what an amazing job he’d done raising me.” She snorted. “That man didn’t raise me. I spent all my time at boarding school. The only times I left were when he wanted me home for a reason or Pop-Pop came and got me. If it wasn’t for Pop-Pop I probably would have spent every Christmas there.”
He glanced down at her and then nodded. “My father was good at putting on a false front too. Everyone thought he was wonderful, raising ten boys on his own. When in reality he was an abusive drunk.”
“That’s so awful.”
He scowled as though just realizing what he had said. They walked in silence down her street. She wasn’t quite sure what she could say to make things better.
He stopped abruptly and she stopped too, looking at where his gaze was aimed.
Oh shit.
