Page 14 of Protect and Serve

“I think you need some fresh air, Claire. Let’s go outside.”

Dustin squawked in protest, but Charlie had wrapped his arm around her and was walking her toward the back door before Dustin had a second to do more. They emerged in the alley behind the bar and Claire curled her nose.

“I thought you promised fresh air,” she quipped as they passed the trash cans.

Charlie chuckled and—for some reason—kept his arm around her as they made their way down the back alley. For some reason, she let him.

“You may thank me now,” he said after they’d reached the end of the road. It wasn’t long. This was Snake Gully, after all.

She glanced at him. “For what?”

“Rescuing you.”

“Did you?”

“From him.” He shook his head. “Dustin’s got it bad for you.”

Claire tipped up her chin and stared at the star-studded sky and unleashed a primal scream. It bounced off the buildings and annoyed several dogs in the vicinity. “I wish he would just forget about me.”

“You, ah, dated?”

“For a while.”

“Was it serious?”

“Apparently it was to him. He asked me to marry him.”

“Ah.”

She didn’t like it, the way he said that word. “I said no and we broke up.”

“Ah.” Same word. Very different tone.

She flicked a look at him. God, he was handsome in the shadows of the night with the streetlights hovering around him like a halo. She didn’t know what spurred her, but she opened her mouth and asked, “So do you have a girlfriend?”

Her heart stuttered when he stopped and turned to face her, set his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “If I did, would I rescue maidens in distress?”

“I was hardly in distress. But yes. You probably would. You’re a war hero.”

“Am I?”

“That’s what Cade says.”

“Not dying doesn’t make you a hero, but you’re right. I suppose I would still rescue damsels if I had a girlfriend. But you know what I wouldn’t do?”

“What?” He was so close. His breath skated over her face. His heat reached out to enfold her like a blanket. “What wouldn’t you do?”

“I wouldn’t do this.”

To her shock and delight, he bent his head and he kissed her.

Chapter Five

Un-fricking-believable. Claire Silver, in his arms, letting him kiss her.

And what a magnificent kiss it was. He caught her by surprise, so her lips were parted. When he pressed his mouth against hers, she sighed, or something like it, and her essence filled his being.

Damn, she tasted good.