Page 63 of Her Dark Salvation

The color rose in her cheeks again, but this time, she didn’t turn away or fidget. “Thank you. I rarely get a chance to dress up.”

“You’re welcome to wear that dress to the office any time you’d like. I won’t complain.”

She chuckled. “As much as I adore this ensemble—and I never thought I’d say this—I’m looking forward to my business attire on Monday. Much more comfortable. Oh! Which reminds me. I’m going to be late coming in on Monday, if that’s okay?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Sorry for the short notice. It slipped my mind. I’m not used to keeping regular hours.”

“Another date?” I couldn’t help the sardonic edge to my playful taunt.

“No. Not another date,” she chastened with a dramatic eye roll. “It’s my father’s birthday. We’re going to dinner Sunday night, and the Monday morning bus from Amherst doesn’t arrive until nine thirty.”

I laid my hands on the edge of the table and leaned forward, sure I’d misheard. “You’re going to Amherst this weekend.”

“Yes.”

“By yourself.”

“Yes.”

“On abus.” I tried not to shout, but for all the God-forsaken ideas…

“Yes,” she said quietly, and her eyebrows drew together in confusion. “I always take the bus when I visit my parents.”

“Absolutely not.”

She blinked rapidly. “Excuse me?”

“You are not taking a bus.”

“Uh—yes, I am.” Her voice rose with outrage to match my own.

We’d been here before; we both had hot tempers. But there was no fucking way I was letting her take a bus. “No. You’re. Not.” My knuckles went white from gripping the edge of the table, but I caught myself before I damaged it. “And why aren’t you driving?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I don’t drive.”

I sat back, my rage momentarily disarmed by surprise. “You don’t drive.”

“I don’t drive.”

“How do you get around?”

“The T. Walking. Cabs.Buses.”

My fingers dug back into the wood, and I ground my teeth, trying to rid myself of the fear-induced rage she stoked being so cavalier with her safety. “How long has this been going on?”

“Uh—my entire adult life,” she snapped. “And—shocking, I know—I’ve managed to keep myself in one piece since I was eighteen!”

“Well, that’s changing. Starting tonight.”

“What’s that—” Her voice had risen to a pitch and volume so high she glanced down at the main floor with worry, then turned back and finished with hushed ire. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it never will. It means that you are absolutely not taking a cab home tonight. It means that as long as you’re in my life, I’m responsible for your safety, and you will let me make sure you get home safely.” My voice hardened with each declaration, my breath quickening as I tried to contain my frustration.

“Did we not just talk about how I don’t need people in my life telling me what I can and can’t handle? Did we not just have that exact conversation?”

“This isn’t about your abilities, Anna.” My voice boomed across the table and the restaurant, drawing more than a few glances.

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