Page 23 of Speak No Evil

“I’m fine, thanks.” She sank onto a stool at the breakfast bar.

“I’m having a glass of wine.” He placed a half-full, corked bottle on the counter. “There’s enough here for two. It’s Friday night.”

“Finally.” Gwen read the label. She’d love to taste this, but she was here alone with a guy she liked, a guy who appealed to her, a guy who seemed to be attracted to her. Things could get intense between them very easily if she let down her inhibitions. She rubbed her palm across the cool marble breakfast bar. “I’d better pass.”

She handed back the bottle. “Are you always prepared to entertain?”

He chuckled. “Not usually, but my older sister and brother-in-law stayed here earlier this week to take in a show for her birthday. He brought along the wine.” Will lifted the bottle, ready to pour his glass. “You sure you don’t want to try some?”

“Maybe I’ll have some after all. Just a tiny bit.” She slid her fingers down the cool stem of the second glass.

He poured less than a swallow and raised his gaze to hers. “More?”

She laughed. “That’s barely a taste. A bit more, please, but save some for yourself.”

“I will.” The edges of his mouth curved up, and she again got lost in his warm gaze.

He filled a glass for himself and clinked against hers. “I know this isn’t your place, but I hope you’ll feel at home enough to relax.”

She took a sip of her wine and rolled her neck against a hand. “I’m definitely more relaxed than I would have been in a motel or my apartment.”

“You don’t feel safe now?” A furrow cut between his brows.

“With your security system, I feel untouchable.” But… She picked a fingernail and caught his skeptical expression. “I keep trying to remember where I could have met the rock band fan who followed us. I think I’d seen him somewhere before tonight, like in passing. When I wasn’t paying attention, but should have. Maybe I even encountered the driver of the black SUV, too.”

That she couldn’t recall any specifics worried her. But neither of them had attacked her. They’d simply been mysterious presences, and she should let it go. “I’ve worked in the city since I graduated from college. I can’t believe how shaken I am by what happened tonight. It was too much. I used to be good at ignoring disgusting people.”

Will braced his palms on the marble. “What he was doing qualified as harassment.”

“I guess. Leslie is always saying I’m too tough to let things like this get to me.” Mostly though, her supposed toughness was all a bluff.

“Tough, huh?” Will slapped one of his cheeks, his eyes glinting with amusement. “If you hadn’t told me, I never would have realized.”

“Oh, you.” She shook a finger at him. “You’re going to get it.”

“I can hardly wait to find out what that’s going to be.” His gaze darkened, sizzling through her, and every cell in her body stood to attention. He came around the counter, pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist. He lowered his head and murmured, “Gwen…”

Any minute he would kiss her. She should back off, do something radical. Instead, she turned in his arms as if this were the most natural thing in the world. With two fingers he lifted her chin, and they gazed at each other for a long moment. One of the appliances shifted into a louder hum, breaking the moment. She stilled. What was she doing?

He released her. He didn’t move away, though, and his body heat held her captive. She swallowed to moisten her mouth. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

“I think it’s the other way around.”

She tilted her head. “I’m seducing you?”

“From the moment I met you.” He stepped away.

She straightened her sweater and tucked her hair behind her ears. “But I must look like a wreck.”

“On the contrary.”

Warmth rose to her face. “I-I,” she sputtered.

He touched a finger to her cheek. “It’s true, but don’t worry. I remember what I promised.”

What had he promised? Oh, yeah. No strings. He held her gaze as if challenging her to say that’s what she still wanted or to rescind her request.

Should she? They’d already spent more time together tonight than they would have on several dates. She’d told herself she didn’t want to rush into another romance, but would she be rushing when the way she felt with Will seemed exactly right? Why not be one of those dynamic people who went after what they wanted?

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