Page 8 of His to Protect

She blinked and shook her head. “No.”

Looking away while she chewed her food, frustration began to bubble inside me. It shouldn’t matter.

It shouldn’t bother me that Trina didn’t want to talk to me.

It was none of my business.

Yet, she was here, accepting my help, at least for a meal.

“Do you know where you’re headed?”

She nodded and some of the knotted tension inside my chest began to loosen. At least she had a plan.

Or she was lying to me, but considering she met my gaze dead on, I doubted it.

“I don’t really want to talk about it.” She wiped her fingers on a napkin before taking a sip of the water I had gotten for her while her food cooked.

When she finished eating, I took the completely emptied plate back to the dishwashing area. By the time I returned, she was already at the back door, one hand scratching the area between Boomer’s ears and the other holding the food container I left for her.

With my keys in my hand, I began turning out the kitchen lights until there was only the light on right by the back door.

When she jumped to her feet, eyes slightly widened again, I spun my key chain around my thumb before catching it in my fist. “I’ll walk you out.”

“You don’t need to.”

She reached down and took a hold of Boomer’s leash. He groaned, stretching his front legs and sticking his butt in the air before doing the same with his hind legs. He moved with a lazy manner, so very different than the excited dog I saw earlier.

“Come on, Boomer. Let’s get going.”

He followed her lead and they began moving, not waiting for me to close the door behind me and lock it. She was at the street by the time I caught up to her. Without speaking, I fell in step next to her and watched as her lips twisted into a pout.

“I meant it when I said I’d see you out.”

“You did.” She turned away from me and gestured to the alley. “And now we’re out.”

I huffed. “I meant I’ll walk you to wherever you’re going. A woman, even with this beast of a dog, shouldn’t be out this late alone.”

It was well after midnight now and the streets were pretty much deserted. Latham Hills was typically a safe area, but that didn’t mean it was smart for a woman to be alone.

She picked up her pace and I rolled my lips together to stop from smiling. Something told me she wouldn’t like the fact I found her bravery amusing.

“My car is just up here.” She pointed, defeat in her tone.

I looked to where she pointed and saw a shiny, black Audi parked beneath a streetlight. It was an older A5 convertible with the top up. When it was bought, it had to cost more than just a pretty penny. The fact this beautiful but beaten woman drove a sleek convertible didn’t surprise me, and she showed no embarrassment when she beeped the locks, the lights flashing and the sound echoing in the quiet air.

Everything about her—her money, her bruise, the fact she was hiding from something, or someone, most likely—told me to walk away. I had done my good deed.

My heart didn’t get the message my brain was shouting because I found my mouth moving and listened to myself ask, “You need a place to stay?”

Her shoulders tightened and her back straightened. “I thought the burger was free.” Her tone was accusing and she stepped away from me, putting space between us.

I held my hands up, fighting a smile. She couldn’t be assuming what I thought she was. “I just meant a safe place to lay your head. I’ve got an extra room, and I don’t fuck where I shit.”

Her face twisted into confusion. Perhaps disgust. That was pretty blunt, even for me.

“I mean, I don’t have sex in my house. Ever.”

“Ever?” Her brows jumped up her forehead and her eyes widened.

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