When it comes to Bryn, I want to throw my personal rule book out the window, which is not something I’ve ever felt before. I just don’t know if it’s safe to step out of my comfort zone.
Ethan carefully stirs the steak strips. “It’s not crazy. It’s fucking cute, actually.”
“Excuse me, Bryn and I are not cute.”
His lips twitch, but then his expression grows serious. “Is it his criminal record that’s holding you back?”
I check the rice, which is nice and fluffy, then turn off that ring while I consider the question. “I suppose partly. The more I get to know him, the more I like him. But there’s this niggling thought at the back of my mind, like what if the details of what he did are more than I’m okay with?”
“The details, or the reason why? Because we’ve both done far worse under orders.”
He’s hit the nail on the head. With our backgrounds, violence isn’t the issue. It’s that I don’t know why Bryn attacked Lance that day. It shouldn’t matter—he’s served his time—but with my job I really do have to be responsible about who I date. And until I know more, there’s always going to be that aspect holding me back.
Sexy Neighbour
When can I come over?
We literally just got back.
So, ten minutes?
No, I need to call my friend Wren. You can come over for dinner.
Another meal from Milo’s spreadsheet? Or do I get something fun this time?
Wait, he told you he sent it to me?
Nope.
Bollocks.
Ooh, fun, I’ll never say no to playing with yours.
Do you like Indian food?
YES!!!
I’ll make you a selection of street food if you stop flirting long enough to let me make this call.
I adore you.
That wasn’t flirting, that was me stating a fact.
I shake my head at my phone, a smile playing on my lips. It’s not a surprise that Bryn figured out about Milo sending me the spreadsheet, and now I can feed him just as much protein in sneakier ways.
I pick up the coffee I just made and head for the sofa. The gas engineer finally came round and fixed my boiler, and although I wish the human hadn’t used the spare key from the rental agency while I wasn’t home, I’m grateful to have heating again. I’ve also had to return to Dhiren’s cheap wardrobe, but I’ve put on a navy shirt that fits me almost perfectly and a pair of jeans that make my arse look good, so the change isn’t as depressing as it could be.
I prop my back against the end of the sofa and video call Wren. We’ve planned this time to catch up, so it doesn’t surprise me when she answers on the first ring. What does surprise me are the dark circles under her worried eyes. Wren is a solicitor with the mayor’s office, so we met when Soldati Security were bidding for the BSG task force contract. She’s a bear shifter with a curvy figure, caramel hair, and a ready quip.
“What’s wrong?” I ask immediately.
She manages an exhausted smile. “I look that bad, huh?”
“You always look gorgeous.” She really does. Absolutely my type of woman if she wasn’t already happily married and I wasn’t being tempted by a tattooed dragon shifter. “Seriously, what’s happened?”
“Have I ever told you about my half-brother?”
I sip my coffee, wracking my brain. “No, I don’t think so.”
