June looked at him, stunned for a moment before she started laughing.Rob quickly joined her.It was refreshing to have someone outside of her group of friends understand her humor.“I totally thought you were going to accuse me of watching too many movies or reading too many horror stories.”
“I take it you’ve been accused of that before?”
June shrugged.Most dates hadn’t gotten her, so they’d left when they thought she was odd or something was wrong with her to even suggest a person was like that.
“Believe me, the thought crossed my mind, but I can assure you, I’m nothing like that.I’m a contractor.Nothing exciting or scary.Pretty boring,” he explained as if that were a bad thing.
“I’m sure boring is the last thing anyone would accuse you of being.”She was sure of that.“What kind of contracting do you do?”
“Consulting.”Rob got that uncomfortable look again.He wasn’t still military, so it couldn’t be government secrets.Maybe he was embarrassed about what he did now.
“How long have you lived in Vegas?”That seemed an easier and safer question.
Rob sat back in his seat, looking off as if he had to think about it.“Six or seven years now.How about you?”
“Five.”
“Where were you before?”
“California.”
“What part?”
“Near Los Angeles.”It was close enough.June didn’t make a habit of telling people her brother was in the army.That always provoked more questions than she could answer.It was one thing to talk about it with Cora or others in the group, but she never revealed anything about her brother to outsiders.
“Do you still have family there?”
“Yeah, my brother is there.”He was the only family she had left, and he wanted her close in case she needed any medical help.
“Yeah?What does he do?”
“Well, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”She threw his words back in his face.One, because it was fun, and two, because what her brother did was highly classified.
“Touché.”He chuckled, not offended she didn’t tell him what Liam did for a living.
“When do you want to start lessons?”Her schedule was full of clients all day.Nights and weekends were her only free time.
“Tomorrow too soon?”
“No, that could work.I normally get off at five.”She wasn’t sure if that would work with his schedule.“Will you be free by then?”
“That’s fine.Would you prefer to do this at your house or mine?”
June nibbled her lip in thought.Her house wasn’t large enough for two people doing self-defense moves, but she didn’t want to outright suggest his house, making him think she was forward.
“How about we do my place?I have a workout studio in the back that will work just fine,” Rob said, making the decision for them.
“Okay.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to cover the pit before you show up.”
“Good, make sure to mark where it is.I’d hate to accidentally fall into it.Oh…” June dug in her purse and pulled out one of her business cards.She grabbed a pen and jotted down her cell phone number and handed him the card.“This is my cell so you can text me your address.”
“Good thinking.”He tucked the number in his back pocket.
“Well, I need to get back.Thank you for joining me for lunch and checking on me.”It had been sweet.The sweetest thing anyone had done for her in a long time.
June had to remind herself that he wasn’t interested in her in any other context than friends.Or even mere acquaintances.He didn’t look at her like a man interested in kissing her or asking her on a date.He had felt sorry for her and was checking on her and offering her help so if a situation like Troy happened again, she could react better.
