Page 17 of Taking Care of the Target

A total stranger who made me feel things I haven’t in a long time. Even with that, she probably would’ve made an excuse to leave if she hadn’t looked into his eyes. “I was in an accident about a month ago,” she said. “I woke up in the hospital and couldn’t remember what happened or why I was in New Jersey. So there are a few years missing from my memory, when Icould’vehad the best steak ever, but the one here is the best I remember. Anyway, you probably want to eat yours before it gets cold.”

Feeling vulnerable from spilling so much, she turned to leave.

He caught her arm. She looked down at the long fingers encircling her wrist, then slowly back up at him. “Sorry,” he said, but he didn’t let go. “You’re saying you don’t remember the accident at all?”

“Nope. It’s kind of disconcerting, actually, and it sucks because of my college classes—” She cut herself off before she started rambling again. “But I’m trying to just start over and move on. No use crying over spilled milk and gray matter, right?”

His lips twitched like he didn’t know whether or not to be amused at the slightly disturbing analogy. “I guess not.” He brushed his thumb over the underside of her wrist, and the pulse point beneath the thin skin beat faster.

“Anyway, it was kind of freaky, and once in a while I still feel a little confused and disorientated, but I’m dealing, and honestly I’m lucky it wasn’t worse.” She licked her lips, eyeing his glass and fighting the urge to take a large gulp and rid herself of the desert that’d taken up residence in her throat.

“Did you, uh, need anything else?” She gestured at the plate of food growing colder by the second. She could hardly think straight with his hand still wrapped around her wrist. She knew she should pull away, yet her feet remained rooted in place.

“Yeah. I’d like to get to know you better. It’s a nice night. How about we take a walk after you get off work?” He repeated the thumb swipe motion, and her pulse and skin repeated their reaction to it.

“Oh. I…um…well.” She thought about the weird being-watched feeling and how nice it would be to have some company on her walk home. But then again, she’d just met the guy. Where was the line between bold and stupid, and why did she suddenly want to cross it either way if it meant a few more minutes with Vince?

“Let me guess… you don’t usually agree to go out with strangers.”

“Not usually,” she said. “Not ever, actually.”

“Good thing we’re not strangers, then.” His voice took on an intimate tone, and longing was undoubtedly pumping through her body now. “Patience isn’t my strong suit, and I don’t see any reason to come in here two or three more times before asking you out.”

Be bold, be bold, be bold.“My place isn’t far from here.” Then she realized she might be giving him the wrong idea, and she certainly wasn’tthatbold. “I’m not saying let’s have a one-night stand or anything. Just to be clear.”

One corner of his sexy mouth quirked up. “I didn’t think you were. How about I walk you home, and we take it from there?”

“Okay,” she said, still sort of amazed she was actually agreeing, and told herself she had pepper spray, just in case. “It’ll be about twenty or thirty minutes, probably.”

He slid his hand down to hers, gave it a quick squeeze, and said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”

***

Vince’s entire plan had changed in an instant, and he wasn’t sure where to go from here. The fact that Cassie didn’t remember anything made a glimmer of hope rise up and implant itself in his chest. He wanted to believe everything would be okay now. No having to follow through with his original plan or forever looking over his shoulder after.

No dealing with the crushing guilt.

But that was overly optimistic, and he knew better.I’ve just got to convince Carlo she’s not a threat.That was easier said than done, though.

The door to the restaurant opened, and Cassie stepped out. She had on a dark purple coat that flared at the bottom. It landed about an inch above her blessedly short skirt, and his blood heated as he took in every inch of her. She’d always had a bit of the hot librarian look going on, and it was in full-force now.

For the first time since he’d laid eyes on her, they were completely alone.

“Hey,” she said, appearing surprised he’d waited like he said he would.

“You ready?” he asked, and she nodded. He almost started toward her apartment, and then realized he wasn’t supposed to know where they were going. “Which way?”

Cassie pointed left. “I’m not too far. Like fifteen or twenty minutes.”

“So I’ve got fifteen minutes to convince you to invite me inside for a drink.”

A smile curved her lips. “I usually make decisions like that in about five, so tick-tock.”

Well, if she was going to play it like that, he’d have to use everything he had in his arsenal. He placed his hand on the small of her back. The gesture was simple enough, but the effect it had on him was surprisingly strong. It made him want to curl her to him and wrap his arms around her; he’d been sure she was going to die in the street all those weeks ago. To have her in front of him again sent an unexpected surge of affection through his chest. Usually he looked at relationships as temporary fun to pass the time, but with Cassie, he felt something stronger. Had from day one.

Maybe that was the other reason he’d stopped himself from asking her out. Yes, he’d wanted to keep from pulling her into his messy life, but the shy, sweet blonde also scared him, because she made him feel when he was so used to being numb.

Before he started waxing poetic or some shit, he put gentle pressure on her back and started toward her apartment complex.

---