Part of him wanted to tell her she was right. That he probablyshouldrun from her...far and fast.
Just not for the reasons she was thinking.
The last time Trevor let himself begin to care about a woman, he ended up getting her killed. Since then, he’d made sure there were no strings or romantic attachment of any kind.
Not because he didn’t love the idea of having a woman in his life to come home to. To share his life with. It was because Trevor couldn’t bear the thought of another woman he cared about getting hurt because he couldn’t protect them.
The overseas and weeks-long jobs R.I.S.C. took on only made that possibility worse. So, for the past few years, he’d steered clear of any serious relationship.
Then one day he just happened to walk into Joe’s Diner, and there she was. Though he hadn’t known it at first, it was the very moment this tiny waitress had begun wriggling her way past his defenses.
Trevor didn’t know why or how. He only knew the choice was no longer his to make. He had to do everything in his power to keep this woman safe.
For him, there was no other choice.
“Are you done?” he asked, his voice low and calm.
With downcast eyes, Lexi drew her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. Needing to set some things straight, Trevor took both hands from her lap and held them in his.
“Look at me, angel,” he whispered the order. Reluctant eyes found his again. “I want to make a couple things clear. First of all, what Rob did to you was his fault, not yours. And I promise you, he will never lay his hands on you again. Got it?”
Uncertainty still shone in her eyes, but she gave a little nod.
“Good. Second, and this is just as important... I like you. I told you that last night, and I meant it.”
Their eyes remained locked, and for what felt like the longest time, they both just sat there, staring. Trevor had just started to lean in, but Lexi’s soft-spoken words stopped him short.
“You said you’d never been married but”—she licked her lips—“what about a girlfriend?”
Trevor moved his thumb across the back of her hand in a gentle caress. “If I had a girlfriend, Lex, last night’s date wouldn’t have happened. And I damn sure wouldn’t have kissed you the way I did.”
Relief swirled in the set of brilliantly blue eyes staring back at him. He felt pissed, wondering what kind of assholes she’d dated in the past that would make her think he’d say the things he’d said and acted the way he had if he already had someone else in his life.
Desire filled her eyes as she continued to stare back at him. Her chest rose and fell more rapidly, and that damn flush crept from her neck and into her cheeks.
In an instant, the crotch of his pants became painfully tight.
Trevor was teetering on the edge of giving in to the need he felt for this woman, but the last thing he wanted was for Lexi to think he was taking advantage of the situation. Knowing he’d probably regret it, he cleared his throat and let go of her hands.
“It’s getting late.” He stood a bit too quickly and began picking up the dinner mess. “You’ve had a long day and should probably get some rest.”
Lexi blinked, clearly taken off guard. “Oh. Um...okay.” A look of confusion and disappointment filled her eyes as she slowly slid off the bar stool.
Guilt settled in his gut, but Trevor knew he was making the right call. It had been a long damn time since he’d liked anyone as much as he did Lexi, and he’d be damned if he let his deprived hormones screw it up.
“Here, let me help.” She started to reach for her plate, but he picked it up before she had the chance to.
“No, it’s okay.” Trevor put their plates into the sink and started the water. Facing the sink, he said, “You go on to bed. I’ve got this.”
“Okay,” she drew the word out a bit. “Well...goodnight.”
He offered her a smile from over his shoulder. “Goodnight.”
Lexi looked at him for half a second longer before turning and heading down the hallway. Trevor held his breath until he heard the soft click of his bedroom door closing.
Exhaling loudly, he looked down at his tented crotch and muttered a curse. This was quickly followed by a silent prayer of thanks that, once again, he’d been able to keep his massive hard-on hidden.
He washed their two plates and put the leftover pizza away. When he was finished, Trevor headed for the guest bathroom where he proceeded to take the coldest shower he could stand.
