Page 8 of Sheltered

“There’s nothing to say. Just know that I’m glad that guy was as brazen as he was, so I had the opportunity to step in, and that you understood I was merely trying to help you out,” he returned.

“It was nice that you did that,” I told him, smiling. “I don’t think a lot of guys would have jumped in and helped out the way you did in a situation like that.”

He tipped his head to the side and lifted his shoulders slightly. “Well, I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. As a guy with two sisters, it just wasn’t in me to stay silent.”

“You have two sisters?” I asked.

“Izzy and Zoe.”

“Any brothers?” I pressed.

Blaze shook his head. “Nope. It’s just the three of us.”

I grinned at him. “I’ve got two siblings, too. Brothers. Kevin and Austin would probably want to shake your hand and buy you a beer for doing what you did for me.”

He smiled back at me and noted, “Again, it wouldn’t be necessary. To be honest, I’m more than happy to have you sitting across from me right now. This was not in my plan tonight, but I can’t say I’m upset about it.”

Blaze was making it harder and harder to feel anything but happy. “Yeah, me too.”

A few seconds of tension-filled silence stretched between us. It wasn’t uncomfortable by any means, but it certainly had my insides trembling a bit. Butterflies were dancing madly in my belly, especially when he sent an intense stare in my direction.

Unable to stand that pressure, I asked, “So, can you tell me more about your job? What exactly do you do as a private investigator?”

Blaze didn’t hold back. He dove right in and told me all about the place he worked, Harper Security Ops, and the work he did there. I found it fascinating, admitting to myself that it was possible I’d been missing out on a lot if everyone I’d kept myself away from the last ten years was as cool as Blaze was.

Every time he said something interesting—which happened frequently—I’d interrupt and ask questions. Blaze answered every single one of them.

Eventually, we shifted the conversation to me. He’d asked more about my salon, where it was, and how long I’d been cutting hair.

Of course, that led to us learning we were both thirty-two years old. Blaze’s birthday was in July. Mine wasn’t until November.

Even though I knew we’d shared a lot with one another in the time we’d been sitting there, it felt as though we’d just sat down. When I glanced at the time on my phone, I noticed hours had passed.

“Oh, wow. I hadn’t realized how late it was,” I said.

“You’re right. I kind of lost track of the time, too,” Blaze said.

I lifted my gaze to him. “I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got good company. Time flies.”

He smiled at me and nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Although it would have been easy to stay where I was, so I could enjoy more time with Blaze, I didn’t know if it was a wise move. “I should probably get going,” I told him.

I could have sworn I saw disappointment wash over his expression briefly. “That’s probably not a bad idea. I’ll walk you over to your car.”

I reached into my purse to pull out some money, but by the time I’d freed my wallet, Blaze had already put some down on the table and was standing beside it, holding his hand out to me.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” I said, placing my hand in his. “I was supposed to be treating you as a thank you for what you did tonight.”

He urged me from my seat and replied, “We’re not all like that guy you met with at the bar. I’m honored to have been able to buy you a cup of coffee, Harlow Stout.”

God, why did I like the way he said my name? He even remembered my last name, which I’d given to him as we left the pub and walked across the street to come to the diner.

I could feel the heat moving through my body, and I was certain my cheeks had turned a shade of crimson. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Are you ready?”

I nodded.

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