He was waitingfor me when I walked through the door leading into the alley. I thought he was T at first when I saw him in my periphery, but my relief as I took in his hulking frame as he leaned against the wall where T had fucked my mouth just a few hours earlier was short-lived as I realized what his presence meant.
Either he hadn’t believed my earlier words or he hadn’t cared.
The flare of hope that sparked deep inside my belly as Phoenix straightened and began walking towards me felt ugly and wrong. And I knew why.
Because I’dwantedhim to be there waiting for me.
It was all I’d thought about as I’d worked to get dinner ready.
Darkness was just starting to fall so it was hard to make out Phoenix’s expression until he stepped into the light that was coming from just above the door. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t the tense anger that lined his face.
Okay, so maybe he hadn’t stayed behind to talk more. Maybe whatever I’d done to piss him off was about to come back and bite me in the ass. I dropped my gaze to his hands which were fisted. God, the damage he could do with them. The little flutter in my belly that hadn’t left in the three hours since I’d firstinteracted with him turned into a sharp pang of terror and I automatically stepped away from him until my back hit the door behind me.
I was surprised when he paused briefly and then relaxed his hands. The expression in his gaze eased too, but then he was moving again until he was practically in my space.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“No,” I automatically said. “That’s not necessary.”
“We’re not arguing about this, Levi,” he said gruffly and then his hand was closing around my arm. His gentle hold only served to anger me.
I yanked my arm free and bit out, “Weren’t you listening in there?” as I motioned over my shoulder. “I don’t want your help.”
“I don’t care what you want!” Phoenix shot back and then his body was crowding mine against the door. “You might be okay with putting yourself in danger, but I’m not.” His voice softened a little. “Just let me do this, Levi. Tomorrow you can go back to believing whatever the hell you want.”
It was a simple request, but he had no clue what he was asking me. But I also saw the determination in his eyes.
“I don’t have a car. I usually walk to work…it’s only about six blocks away. When I’m done, I take the bus home.”
“Fine, we’ll take my car.”
I wanted to tell him that I preferred to walk, but I knew he wouldn’t understand, so I merely nodded.
“It’s this way,” Phoenix said as he turned away from me. I followed him and wasn’t particularly surprised when he slowed so that I was walking next to him instead of behind him. The rain had stopped, but the air was cool around us.
“Where do you work?” Phoenix asked as we walked. I noticed the way he kept looking around us and I wondered if he was watching out for T or it was just his normal behavior.
“At a small grocery store. I clean and restock the shelves. Sometimes I help out with bagging groceries if they’re busy, but the store closes at nine so it’s usually just me after that.”
“Do you like it?”
“What? My job?” I asked. “Yeah, I guess so. I like the routine. I’m good at routines.”
“I meant the alone part.”
I glanced at him in confusion. His dark eyes met mine and I felt a shimmer of electricity flare in my belly. That damn flutter was back.
“You said it’s usually just you after the store closes. Do you prefer it that way?”
I dropped my eyes. “Yeah, I guess. It’s quiet and I don’t have to make conversation.” I let out a dry laugh and said, “You’ve already seen that I’m not so good at the talking.”
Phoenix smiled. “I don’t think that’s true. Besides, I’m not exactly the easiest guy to talk to sometimes.”
“I think you’re underestimating yourself,” I murmured. Sure, appearance-wise, he was as intimidating as hell. But for all his brawn and brute strength, he’d shown moments of gentleness too. Even when he’d grabbed me a few moments earlier and insisted on escorting me to work, his touch hadn’t hurt and his words had been firm and demanding, but not forceful.
He didn’t respond to my comment, but I could sense him glancing at me now and again.
“What happened back there in front of the stove, Levi?”
