“So are you.”
His lips curl into a sexy smirk. “You got me there. But I would never hurt you, or even scare you.”
I wish I could believe him. It would be nice, for once in my life, to look into a man’s eyes and find safety there, but even as protective as he is, I sense the danger in him. That danger needs an outlet, and it’s all too easy to become a target.
Switching topics, I lean back in my seat and cross my legs. “Thanks for the drink.”
He nods, his smirk fading as he takes me in. I am curious about him. How old is he, where did he grow up, what’s his realname? Because it sure as fuck isn’t Specter. Why is he even called that?
“Ask me,” he says.
“What?”
“You have questions. Ask me.”
How did he know that? I focus on his eyes for a moment, wondering if he can actually read minds. “I don’t have questions.”
“If you say so.”
Darcy returns with my drink and my shot, which I toss back right away to soothe my tattered nerves.
Specter scoots his chair around so that he’s right next to me, our legs almost touching. “Listen, Cashmere, I could protect you if you let me. I would love to.”
“I don’t need protection, handsome. I’m good.” I sip my cocktail, hoping he can’t detect the slight tremble in my voice. Not from fear. No. Far from that. His words nudge that little spot of hope in my heart that someday I could learn to trust a man again.
“Then you could let me do it just to appease me.”
“And what exactly does that look like? You’d follow me around like a puppy dog?”
“More like a rottweiler, gorgeous.” His hand subtly creeps across the table, barely brushing against mine. At least he’s following the rules. “I’d be happy to do it.”
“The knight in shining armor schtick is cute and all, but like I said, I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself.”
“Obviously, but you don’t have to.”
“Persistent fuck, aren’t you?”
He grins. “Yeah, I am.” He taps his pinky finger next to mine. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special. I can’t walk away knowing you exist.”
Oh-kay, a little intense but weirdly flattering. “Tell you what, big boy, you’ll be the first person I call if I need help.”
“Promise?”
The one-word question is steeped in need and authority, and I find myself nodding as I gaze deeply into his light eyes.
“I promise.”
He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it before laying it on the table. “I’m just a phone call away.”
I watch Specter dig in the inside pocket of his trench, catching a glimpse of the black leather holster strapped to his chest.
He produces a card. It only has his name, a phone number, and an address on it. “Use this anytime. I mean it.”
I nod, taking the card and twirling it between my fingers. “Thanks.”
“I could stay until your shift ends. Walk you to your car.”
“The guys are here for that, and the creep will be long gone by then.”
