Page 15 of I've Got You

The cool eveningair wrapped around us, and immediately I was able to breathe again. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why I was struggling or why my brain felt as if it would explode at any God-given moment. On top of that, my nerves were close to tatters. And I hated it. While I knew I had to stop comparing then to now, how I was towhoI was… doing so was so much easier said than done.

I wasn’t emotionally crippled, despite my upbringing and even though I was sure it had been my father’s mission, but that didn’t mean I was completely comfortable with emotional stuff either. I didn’t want to harp on about what could’ve, should’ve, would’ve been. It wasn’t cathartic. In fact, it felt debilitating.

I inhaled again and looked up to the night sky. While I was all too aware of Davis beside me, most probably wondering if I’d lost my mind, I didn’t quite have it in me to care. Okay, I sort of did. I liked the guy. Maybe. Possibly.

It was time to let go of the hurt of my past and focus on the present. Only then would I be able to focus on the future, and that started with looking at myself in the mirror fully and liking what I saw. Not literally at the moment, since I was outside and I truly hadn’t lost my shit—I didn’t think—but I knew the way forward.

And fuck, that was freeing as hell.

But only I could do this—work my shit out. There’d be no leaning on anyone to do so.

“Ah, you okay there?” Davis’s voice snapped me into focus, and I dragged my eyes from the starry night sky to him. Amusement and I was pretty sure concern flitted across his face.

I nodded. “Yeah, I think I will be.”

“Shit.”

“What?” I tilted my head in question.

“Were you having an epiphany moment or something?”

He was so wide-eyed, genuinely appearing serious, that all I could do was laugh. It was belly deep, loud and gruff, and traveled quickly to my chest and spilled over. “And shit, yeah,” I admitted between my laughter.

He scratched the back of his neck. “Did I totally spoil your moment and piss on your mojo or something?” He looked a little shifty, but his lips quirked in amusement.

“I think I’ll survive.” My laughter calmed and I looked at the man beside me. With his dark hair and stubbled chin, he seemed all too real, too present. I took that as a good thing despite the feeling being alien to me. “So,” I pushed myself to be bold, “where to?”

He’d rescued me. Legitimately allowed me to save face by getting me out of the bar when I couldn’t cope. I hadn’t been ready to face Lauren or anyone else from the clinic. Davis was so far from being a typical knight in shining armor… well, I didn’t think so, but he’d read my panic, read the situation, and selflessly helped me. I’d lived a fairly sorry existence to date, too used to the philosophy of nobody doing anything for nothing. Having to keep the real me so close to my chest had made it all but impossible to let down my guard.

Just maybe things were on the up and I could change all of that.

“Well.” His gaze remained on my face a few moments before he glanced around, as if deciding his options. “Come on.” Reaching out, he tugged the sleeve of my shirt lightly. “Come with me. I’ve the perfect place.”

I followed without hesitation, and we walked in companionable silence. Side by side, we headed in the direction of the main street. We were far enough apart not to brush shoulders, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the heat radiating off him. I was all too aware of his proximity.

Once on the main street of town, he came to a stop. I glanced at him and then beyond him to the storefront. He’d brought me to his coffee shop. Warmth tentatively traveled across my chest. While I didn’t know if he came here out of hours regularly, or even brought people here when the place was closed, I didn’t spare another moment considering it. Instead, I focused on the gesture. Not only was he bringing me to his domain, I liked to think he was sharing a little something with me.

I expected I was making a big deal over nothing, but it didn’t make him bringing me here any less of a big deal—for me.

With a smile curving his lips, Davis pulled keys out of his pocket and opened up, motioning me in. I followed immediately.

“Hold on. Let me just throw the light on out back before you trip over your ass.” Davis’s voice was light and easy, the tone calming.

I did as he asked and waited in the dark shop. The only light came from the streetlights dotted down the sidewalk. My eyes had just started to focus when the lights out back, in what I assumed was the kitchen, flickered on. Davis then filled the open doorway and beckoned me over.

“This way.” His grin was easy and natural, pretty much fitting for the man I was getting to know.

I walked around the tables and the counter. Just before I reached Davis, he stepped out of the doorway, leaving it free for me to head right through. Stainless steel filled the space, everything pristine and clearly in its proper place. Out of my periphery, I watched Davis step in front of a huge refrigerator. He pulled out a few items and came to the large island in the middle of the kitchen.

“Grab those for me, will you?” He indicated with a nod toward the back wall. I followed his gaze and spotted the stools. With a bob of my head, I made my way over, grabbed two stools, and took them toward him. “Right,” he said as he continued to unpack his loot, “before we start, have you ever actually been to my place before?” Davis paused and looked at me expectantly.

“No,” I admitted. “I’ve had takeout coffee and a couple of pastries before, but it was via order and brought to the practice by one of the staff.” My gaze drifted to about six different pastries and cakes. I legit had a sweet tooth. For all of my healthy-ish living, put a sweet in front of me, hell, put five in front of me and I’d try my hardest to clear the plates. Sweets were my one weakness. With everything else in my life I’d learned to hold back, control, or use moderation. But cake…. I’d been known to throw a fit something major a time or three at college when a housemate ate one of my stashed cakes.

With a raised brow, Davis perused me. I had no idea what he was looking for, but before I could overthink or become uncomfortable, he smiled and pulled open a drawer, his focus switching to collecting utensils.

“Okay, I’ve decided I can forgive you for not coming here before, since you’ve tasted my savories.” I gulped, having no idea if he’d intended to assist in dragging my mind into the gutter. His expression was far from the picture of innocence. It was already clear that with Davis, there was too much mischief, too much laughter and fun to ever make it appear he wasn’t up to no good. I had no idea if he was flirting or just being friendly. I latched on to the latter. It was the safer option, and hell, I could openly admit I was in desperate need of friends.

“Right,” I said cautiously, not sure where he was going with this whole visit, beyond hoping the sweets before us would be offered up. It would certainly help to smooth out my anxiety from earlier.

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