Page 6 of Gangster Daddy's Girl

I sniff indignantly. “I would have been fine if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“I have no doubt,” he says, sounding as if he doubts it very much. “But those men were my responsibility. I was not going to let them act inappropriately with you. I’m sorry if that offends you, but as I said, it was my job to keep them in check.”

I should be offended. I should be really pissed off that he felt the need to step in and be my protector. And there’s that small part of me that is. But that feeling of being flattered, of enjoying having somebody step in to protect me persists. I’ve never had somebody take up for me like that, and I can’t deny that a little piece of me likes it. The last thing I should be doing is encouraging a man like this. He’s dangerous. I know I need to end this conversation, get away from him, and put Tyson Harper in the rearview mirror. For good.

“What do you want, Tyson?” I ask.

“I want to take you to dinner.”

My mouth falls open, and I stare at him blankly for a moment, trying to figure out if I actually heard what I think I just heard.

“You what?” I ask.

“Dinner. You and me,” he says. “How about it?”

It’s so outlandish, I want to laugh. Opening my mouth, I plan on delivering a scathing rebuke, but when I hear the words that fall out, my eyes widen, and my body stiffens as I’m gripped by electric fingers of shock.

“Sure,” I say. “I’d like that.”

5

TYSON

“That meal was incredible,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal that good.”

“Yeah, Salvatore does it right.”

Looking to make a good impression on Tabitha, I took her to my favorite spot in town. Salvatore’s is the premier Italian food spot in the entire city, and since I’m good friends with the owner and chef, I’ve always gotten a standing reservation. Friendship has its perks. After dinner, we decide to walk it off with a stroll along the waterfront. The boardwalk has a host of quirky shops, quirkier people, and an electric vibe I’ve always enjoyed.

“I’m surprised you accepted my invitation,” I say.

A wry expression crosses her face. “Trust me, nobody is more surprised than I am. I had every intention of turning you down.”

“Why’d you say yes?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. I didn’t mean to,” she admits. “It just came out.”

I flash her a grin. “Then clearly, your subconscious wanted you to go on this date.”

She turns to me with a grin on her face. “Oh, is that what this is? A date?”

“What else would you call it?’

“I’d call it getting a free meal. A really nice free meal.”

She makes me laugh. There’s something about this girl that really connects with me. Something I like. She’s intelligent, well-read, has a sharp, dry wit, and made some really interesting conversation over dinner. For somebody who was going to turn me down, she was really engaged and lively. Truth be told, I don’t date often, but I’ve had more fun with her than I can recall having with anybody in a very long time.

Her reaction makes me curious.

“What made you not want to come out with me, Tabitha?”

“Seriously?” she asks.

“Seriously.”

“Because all I know about you is that you’re a gangster, and you beat your employees up,” she says and raises her hand. “I know, I know. You did it to protect me. But still. That’s my first impression of you. Can you see why I might hesitate?”

“Yeah, I get it. But that’s not really who I am.”

---