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Until there was almost no distance left.
The back of her bent arm pressed lightly to his torso, his heartbeat slow and steady against her skin. The familiar scent wrapped around her — clean soap, spice, something warm and unmistakably him.
It was ridiculous how easily he unsettled her. “Take the key, Ronan,” she snapped.
“Keep it,” he said, voice low and steady. “I need to know you have options. Just in case.”
Her breath caught.
“And Felicity,” he added, not breaking eye contact, “you’re the only woman with a key to my home.”
“Why?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Because I think you need a friend.” His breath brushed her cheek. “You’re carrying something. Maybe one day you’ll trust me enough to share.”
Not in a million years.
“I … I need to go.” She looked back over her shoulder, toward her building two blocks away.
“I’ll walk you.”
“I’m a big girl, Marine. Been on my own more than half my life.”
He cocked his head, and she instantly regretted giving away even that much. “Not anymore, Felicity. I’d like to consider us friends.”
She scoffed. “Never.”
“We’ll see,” he said calmly. “Regardless, I’m walking you to your building.” He lowered their hands, released her, and stepped past her. “You coming?”
“Ugh.” She resisted the very real urge to stamp her foot.
But she followed him.
They fell into step, their walk silent.
And it wasn’t uncomfortable.
He did little things. Subtle things. Like extending an arm in front of her before she could step into the street. Walking on the outside of the sidewalk, keeping himself between her and the road without comment.
She felt … safe.
For the first time in years, she wasn’t tempted to glance over her shoulder. Didn’t scan reflections in darkened shop windows. Didn’t assess escape routes. That fact riled her.
It was dangerous to let her guard down.
And she didn’t need anyone to keep her safe.
Least of all the Marine who’d somehow wormed his way past her guard.
When she climbed the stairs to her apartment above The Flower Cart, she still held the key in her hand.
But she had one clear thought — Ronan Murphy needed to be avoided at all costs.
And scraped from her mind.
9
Benefit of the doubt
