The conversation had been one of the most humbling of Kay’s life. She’d come away from it feeling a profound sense of renewed responsibility and an even greater swirl of churning concern about where those twisted Shadows had come from. God, she hated waiting.
Her phone rang and she lifted it, about to answer, until she saw the name. Ethan. Damn it if something in her didn’t want to answer. How could she still be attracted to him? She knew better than to get involved with someone who wasn’t interested in the truth of who she really was.
She declined the call and dropped the phone back on the desk.
It immediately buzzed with a text.Please answer, I know you’re there.
Bollocks. She should’ve let it ring out rather than decline it. She probably should have blocked the number.
It buzzed again.It’s Thursday.
She should ignore it. She knew she should. But her fingers were already moving.Day after Wednesday, genius.
It buzzed again.Are you coming to brunch?
No.
Please.
No.
Shall I come and get you?
No.
There was a long delay, and then her phone buzzed again.I’m sorry. Please let me buy you brunch and apologize.
She sighed. It was a bad idea. He had been so nice, right up until he was a jerk. An insanely attractive jerk. Who did something to her Shadows that she had never experienced before.
Kay held the phone in her hand, wavering. Ethan had apologized, but he’d taken five whole days to do it. She wanted to see him again, but he was obviously a man with issues.
It was a bad idea. But… when had she ever felt so drawn to someone?
Elizabeth’s words played in her mind:Take a chance, Kay; it’ll be worth it.
If she really thought about it, she was probably obliged to meet with him. As a Guardian. She’d sworn an oath—she helped people—it had nothing at all to do with how it might feel to run her fingers along his…. Nope. Nothing at all.
Kay sighed and texted back.Fine, I’ll meet you there.
Two seconds later the address pinged onto her phone, and she found herself getting ready to go out, cursing herself the entire time.
The restaurant he’d suggested was light and airy, with pale wood floors, lots of space, and large windows giving views down to the bustling Thames.
The river was alive with rowers, houseboats, and people walking their dogs along the towpath. Everyone was taking advantage of the good weather.
She had arrived first, so she found a table, threw her leather jacket over the back of her chair, and settled in to enjoy a few moments of people watching while she waited.
From her position with her back against the wall, it was easy to see Ethan when he pushed through the door. He flicked off his sunglasses and looked across the restaurant, almost instantly finding her. Their eyes met, and he dipped his chin before making his way to her table.
His dark hair was damp, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower, but he hadn’t shaved, and his beard was rough over his firm jaw. He was wearing a fitted long sleeve navy T-shirt with jeans, and she realized that he was even taller than she’d first thought, with wide shoulders. He was also a lot more muscular than he’d seemed when he was crouched down in his paramedic gear, and his arms had hypnotized her then.
Not that she cared. Obviously. She was only here because he needed help. Obviously. And anyway, she reminded herself, he had behaved like an idiot.
“You made it,” he said as he lowered himself into the chair opposite hers.
She gave him a wry look. “Apparently.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to be here.”
