“It’s not far,”Samson said as he climbed a ladder up the side of a building. He’d snuck Delilah in a back door, and they’d used the stairs to reach the fifth floor before exiting to a terrace area, which led to where they were now.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Delilah said as she put her foot on the bottom rung.
“I already told you it was fine.”
“I don’t like breaking the law in front of someone who arrests people.”
“I don’t usually arrest people.”
“I thought that was your job.”
“No. I make them arrestable and leave it at that.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” he climbed on to the roof and reached his hand down to help her up, “that I won’t arrest you for trespassing.”
“But you can’t promise someone else won’t.”
He chuckled. “How about for tonight, I promise to protect you.”
“I find that oddly unnerving.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Huh. That’s not usually the effect it has. Then it’s a good thing I have permission to be here and won’t press charges, seeing as I invited you.”
“We’re not breaking in?”
“Nope.”
“You could have said that at the start.”
“What would be the fun in that?”
Now that they were away from the restaurant, Samson’s teasing had changed. It was softer. Less suggestive.
“This had better be worth it,” she said.
“I hope so too.”
“You said it was a good surprise. Are you worried now it won’t live up to the hype?”
“That’s not why I’m worried. But whatever you think of it, it will help me to get to know you better.”
“Is that what this is all about? Finding out what makes me tick?”
“Not exactly. But every exchange with you reveals a little more each time.”
“Does it? Then tell me what you’ve learned from our last little banter.”
“That you don’t trust me yet.”
“Interesting observation.”
“It’s not like you’re trying to hide your disdain for me.”