Page 113 of Unseen Danger

“No, he was cool. Straight up asked me to stay for dinner.”

Jazz took in a quick breath. “Really?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t ’cause I had to take care of the dogs.”

“Girl, I could’ve done that.”

“I know but…it’s good not to be too available.”

Jazz’s snort carried across the coms. “Since when do you play those games?”

“I don’t. I needed to get sleep, too.”

Alvarez paused to smell something in the grass.

“Did you feel uncomfortable with him? With the idea of a date?” Jazz’s tone took on a concerned note. “It’s a big step with someone who made you so uneasy before.”

“That’s not it.” At least, Nevaeh didn’t think it was. Had she been protecting herself? They had already been alone for a while at that point. Had her instincts been guarding her against more solitude with him in the big house?

No. She trusted Branson. The fact he was in the house tonight was the reason she didn’t feel a hint of her PTSD. If she sounded an alarm for any reason, he’d come running to her rescue. She knew that deep down in her bones.

She’d even cuddled with him on the sofa. Outside of hugs with Pops and that jiujitsu training session, she hadn’t been that close to a man since…

The attack didn’t count. And Walter didn’t need to be in her thoughts right now.

Strange how the brief thought of him didn’t make her tense or start to see things she didn’t want to.

She smiled. Apparently, Branson was where her mind wanted to linger.

“You still there, Nev, or should Flash and I start a search for you?”

Nevaeh rolled her eyes as her feet found the concrete walkway that led to the outbuilding. “I’m still here.”

“Then why didn’t you have dinner with him?”

Nevaeh wasn’t sure herself. She trusted Branson. But something held her back. Maybe it felt better to be the one in control. “I wanted to ask him to the wedding instead.”

Jazz’s squeal stung Nevaeh’s ears, but she laughed anyway.

“Girl, you gonna make me go deaf if you keep that up.”

“I’m proud of you, Nev. You two will make such a gorgeous couple.”

“Hey, nobody’s a couple yet.” Though the idea was definitely appealing.

“Sure. You can’t hide these things from your BFF.” Amusement filled Jazz’s voice.

“Hey, you’ll be the first to—”

A noise jerked her gaze to the outbuilding.

Alvarez growled, staring at the door as they approached.

Was someone in there?

“Nev? You okay?”

“I just heard something in the outbuilding.” She scanned the darkness surrounding the structure as she walked the few remaining feet of the path to the door.

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