I nod. “She deserves better than me. I get that.”
He holds his hands up. “Look, I’ve heard things about your family, but I also don’t know you. All I’m asking is that you don’t play with her. She’s a good person, and I’m just trying to look out for her, that’s all.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
His forehead creases. “Why am I looking out for her?”
I nod.
He shrugs. “Because she doesn’t have anyone else to do it. She’s a hard worker. Everyone loves her here, and I just don’t want to see her hurt, so I’m going to ask you again, what are your intentions toward Luna?”
I look over his shoulder at the woman in question. Her hair is in a high ponytail. She’s talking to a child at a table, and the little boy giggles. “I’m going to marry her.”
Frank gasps and looks around. “Marry her?”
I glare at him, daring him to challenge me. “You wanted to know my intentions, and I respect that you’re looking out for her, but she’s going to be my wife.”
Frank shakes his head. “I didn’t know she was seeing anyone.”
I refuse to admit to him that we just met, so I just stare at him.
He nods his head. “Okay, well.” He clears his throat and leans forward. “I know who you are, Cole Kingston. I know who your family is. But I’m telling you right now, if you hurt Luna, I will make sure you regret it.”
Surprised, I ask, “Are you threatening me?”
He lifts his chin. “I’m just stating the facts.”
In any other situation, I would have already had him on the floor with my foot to his throat, but all I can do is stare at the little old man across from me. “I respect that.”
He just stares at me, and I see that he wants some reassurance. I lean forward, and he doesn’t even flinch. “I promise you that I won’t hurt Luna. If I do, I’ll come to your door and let you make me regret it. But I promise you, it won’t happen.”
He nods, satisfied. Without another word, he gets up and walks away. The rest of the night is uneventful. Stone, my driver, has grown bored and went to the car to wait after I insisted. When Luna’s shift is over, I walk with her out the door.
Stone gets out of the car, but I ignore him.
Luna won’t look at me. She’s looking across the street as we walk. “You wanted to talk, talk.”
We cross the street, and she stops outside of the shelter.
I lean against the brick building. “You going to invite me in?”
Even in the darkness, I can see her cheeks turn pink. “Sure.”
She goes to the door next to the shelter and unlocks it.
She turns on the lights as she walks in, and I look around her small apartment. I notice the lack of a security system and the bare walls and worn carpet. My hands fist at my sides because my first instinct is to get her outta here. The small locks on the door are not going to keep her safe. She sees me looking around and tenses. “Do you want to sit down?”
I sit on the couch and pull her down to sit next to me. “Yes, let’s talk.”
I hold her hand in mine. “Marry me.”
She laughs. “I’m not marrying you.” She holds her hand up. “And before you ask me why, I’ll tell you it’s because I’m not wanting to marry someone because their dad told them to get married.”
She pulls her hand from mine, so I clasp my hands together in my lap. I’ve spent the evening trying to figure her out, and I hope I have.
“What are your plans for the animal shelter?”
She leans back, surprised. “What do you mean?”
