“Nothing,” she replied, her expression too blank.
He held her gaze long enough for her to see that he knew she was lying. It must not be something she did often, because a guilty blush rose to her cheeks.
She was so damned cute. He wanted to...
Fuck.
He took a step back.
Go dark. Don’t do anything to risk your cover.
He heard the warnings loud and clear. But he couldn’t very well let her walk around alone. What if something happened?
“Where’s your boyfriend?”
The tightening around her mouth before she responded gave a big hint of what might be bothering her. Trouble in paradise? Now, that was a cryin’ shame.
“He’s still at camp. He’s hanging around for the music. Julien plays guitar.”
Dean didn’t care if he was Jimmy Hendrix returning from the dead for one last show. “And he let you walk back alone?”
She immediately stiffened, giving him a scathing look. “He didn’tletme do anything. I make my own decisions.”
From the way she said it, it was clear she thought he was some kind of medieval misogynistic pig.
One of those, was she? He should have guessed. That kind of oversensitive feminist crap drove him crazy—not everything was a “microaggression.” Being a strong woman didn’t mean you could be stupid about personal safety. And all he’d meant was that the douche bag should have cared enough about her safety to insist on accompanying her.
Although admittedly Julien probably wasn’t much of a defense.
“Then your decision was a shitty one.”
She looked stunned. “You just say whatever you think, don’t you? I wasn’t asking for your opinion.”
“Well, you got it.” He gave her a long look, taking in the Tulane sweatshirt, tight jeans that left no room to hide anything, and flip-flops. “And unless you are a black belt jujitsu specialist or trained in self-defense and carrying some kind of weapon, I’m walking you to the guest house.”
She looked up at him half outraged and half bemused, as if she couldn’t quite believe someone like him actually existed. It was a look he’d been on the receiving end of more than once.
Eventually her mouth twisted with a smile. “How do you know I’m not?”
“Because if you had any secret ninja skills, from the way you were looking at me a few minutes ago, I’d be on my ass right now.”
•••
Annie couldn’t help it. She laughed.
The Canadian captain was outrageous and yet oddly charming at the same time.
She had to admit that walking back alone might not havebeen her best decision. She’d reacted so defensively only because he’d been blunt enough to call her on it.
If she was tempted to argue with him, the group of men who’d just poured out onto the sidewalk ahead of them made her think again. The pub must have just closed, and by the level of boisterousness and general weaving, they’d been in there awhile. More than one didn’t look likely to be scared off by a look-into-the-eyes “hello.”
“Alas,” she said, turning back to Dan. “No secret ninja skills, but I’m definitely wishing otherwise right about now.” She looked him up and down as he’d done her. The flood of warmth that poured through her told her that might not have been a good idea. Despite the bulky sweatshirt and loose jeans, the guy was built.Built.She pulled her eyes away before she was caught staring—again—and looked back up at him. “Although something tells me that you wouldn’t be so easy to put on your ass even if I were.”
He grinned and the effect was startling. It felt as if she’d been struck square in the solar plexus.
He was good-looking. Even with the stupid beard. What would he look like without it?
That probably wasn’t something she should be thinking about.
