“That’s what I’m worried about.”
I wrap my arm around her back and tug her closer to my body. PDA isn’t my thing, never has been, but Harlyn is changing all the rules, and she doesn’t even know it. “Not that kind of trouble. This kind.” I lean down and press my lips against hers tenderly. It’s not nearly enough to satisfy me, but it’s enough for now.
Her eyes are slow to open when I pull away, and the measure of trust she shows makes me feel like I’m ten feet tall. Harlyn doesn’t relax. From the moment I first laid eyes on her, I could see the reserved way she held herself. Her personality is too big to be hidden completely, but there’s no hiding the fact that she’s standoffish. Over the last few days, she’s showed me more and more of the true her, but there is nothing like the way she melts when I touch her. It’s intoxicating.
“Trouble,” she whispers.
I have no idea how I’m going to have her in my home, in my bed, and not take full advantage of every minute we are alone.
“Is that you?” She motions toward the conveyer where my suitcase and duffle are slowly slipping past. I have to stop allowing myself to get so distracted. It could easily get both of us hurt or worse.
I step clear of her and move past a few other travelers to snag my things before they circle the belt. Harlyn offers to help carry my bag, which earns her a sardonic glare. “No, not ever,” I say a little harshly, but not only would my mother kill me, but even the thought of her doing it is abhorrent.
“Okay.” She mock surrenders, lifting both of her hands.
I loop my duffle over the tall handle of my luggage to free up one of my hands just in case. I booked and paid for our flights, another point of contention with Harlyn, but she acquiesced when I explained it was better not to use her cards until we know just how much access this bastard has to her life. I’m confident he couldn’t have followed us yet. I even had her create a new email on my computer to send the verification to in the event he has a key tracer on her devices, which seemed to reassure her a small measure.
She also sent her friend a text from my phone, telling her she was okay and would be in contact soon. I’m certain I pay for a landline, it was a package deal with my internet and cable provider when I signed up years ago, but now I just need to scrounge up an old phone for her to use in the meantime.
She’s quiet and observant as we wait for the shuttle. Her eyes seem to scan the crowd much in the same way I and many of the people I work with do. Most people mistake it for people watching, and it is in a way, but it isn’t for entertainment.
When I see her turn her face up toward the sun, pretending she isn’t paying extra attention to the few single males nearby, I bump her shoulder. “He couldn’t have followed.”
She peeks up at me. “Am I that obvious?”
“No, you just look like you’re checking out all the guys.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “No,” she denies while flashing her pretty blue eyes around the area as if trying to see who else might think she’s ogling men.
“I’m teasing,” I reassure her, which was all I was trying to do anyway.
When the small bus that will take us to one of the auxiliary parking lots finally pulls up, I urge her on ahead of me. Once we’re seated, it begins to sink in that I am really taking her to my place. I don’t often have company. My sister Holly and her boys stayed for a few nights over the summer. They camped out in my living room and did a bunch of touristy shit, like museums and tours. I offered her my room, but she refused, and I think her kids got a kick out of the blanket fort she made for them to sleep in while she took the couch.
“My place isn’t huge,” I warn, “and I wasn’t really expecting guests.”
“I can get a hotel,” she offers quickly as if she thinks I’m trying to get out of her coming home with me.
“I’m just saying don’t judge me if I haven’t dusted in a while or if I left my hamper full.”
“A full hamper?” she gasps in mock outrage.
“Full might have been an exaggeration, since most of my dirty clothes are probably on the floor.”
“At least none of your clothes will have a tracker in them or have to be checked for listening devices.” She smiles too brightly. I don’t know what to say to that, so I just end up laying my hand over hers, which is resting on her thigh. “Sorry I’m a downer.”
“You aren’t a downer.”
“I am, but thanks for not making me feel like it. How far is your place from here?” She seems eager to change the subject.
“Depending on traffic, fifteen or twenty minutes. I didn’t want to be too close to the capital, not that I could afford that area anyway.” I find myself lowering her expectations. Clearly,Harlyn has money, way more than me, but many people hear FBI profiler and think I’m racking it in when really, I barely hit six figures with overtime. I know that’s nothing to balk at, but D.C. is an expensive town, and I don’t want her to be underwhelmed. “I live in an apartment.”
“Lots of neighbors,” she comments.
“Yeah, but it isn’t bad.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it was… It’s just… Never mind.”
“What?” I urge her to continue.
