Page 20 of Breaking Conviction
Her voice ticked up at the end of her insistence and she silently cursed. Thankfully, Wes didn’t seem to notice and only rolled his eyes.
She felt a pang of remorse at finally getting beneath that layer of kindness. But shehadto keep her distance with him and letting in even an inch of his charm was going to screw her up and potentially the life she was trying to lead.
Besides, almost everyone had a breaking point. It was best to find it out ASAP rather than be slapped in the face with it when it was too late. Literally, in her case.
“If you don’t want me around, fine. But I’m not leaving you here alone. I’ll just sit behind the counter while you work, is that fair?”
Naomi narrowed her eyes at him, still not totally understanding his game. She wanted—no—neededhim to go home. If Dean found out she’d been alone this long with another man, he’d go apeshit. Let alone the fact that every minute with Wes made her want an hour more.
She was also seriously considering that something was wrong with her in the head. The way her chest filled with warmth made her have to admit to herself that she was secretly glad he was putting up a fight against leaving. It was refreshing to be fought for, instead of fought with.
“Fine,” she finally agreed. “But don’t bother me and let me deal with any customers that come in. Got it?”
He lifted his arms in a hands-off position before miming zipping his lips closed.
The last forty-five minutes of the shift went by slowly. Dean called two more times, just ‘checkin’ in to make sure she was okay.’ Each conversation was an eternity, but thankfully Wes pulled his phone trick every time, giving her a legitimate out.
Unfortunately, absolutely no customers came in, so it was just her and Wes, all alone.
There’d only been a few shoppers since she’d started working. Nora warned her that Friday nights in a college town were slow, but it was a straight-up ghost town. And the only company she had was the man who was beginning to feel like he was studying her.
Every time she got near him, her body knew instinctively. Her stomach tightened and her core grew heavy with desire. When he wasn’t merely a few feet away, all she had to do was look up and there he was. And she looked upa lot. By the end of the shift, her nerves were shot and she was ready to hightail it the hell outta there.
They closed down the shop together in silence, following the list of instructions for each volunteer and putting the store money in the safe to be counted the following morning, turning off the lights, and locking up.
Wes led her around to the back of the building with his hand lightly on the middle of her back. She should’ve shrugged it off. She’d definitely intended to, but she found herself leaning into him instead.
Trouble, trouble, trouble. I’m gonna get myself into so much fucking trouble.
They walked in tandem, despite the fact that he was a foot taller. There was no way his strides were as short as hers, and yet, it was almost as if they’d practiced being in sync. She analyzed him until she realized he’d actually slowed down to match her steps. His head was on a swivel, too, looking out for them.
Her heart kicked up. It feltgoodto be protected. After her daddy passed, Naomi had to watch out for herself, and frankly, she’d been failing miserably at it since she and Dean crashed into each other.
As they rounded the back of the building to her car, Wes’s warm hand on her back held her closer, and she let him. His touch made her feel more secure than she had in... years. When they got to her Nissan, brightly lit in the streetlight, she used the fob to unlock the car and reached to open the driver’s side, but Wes got to the handle first and opened it with a damn smirk.
“After you,milady.”
Naomi scowled to keep from giggling like a simp at his dramatic bow and hand flourish. She climbed into the car, considering saying something snarky, because damn him for making her belly flip. But he hadn’t done anything to deserve her derision. He’d been a complete gentleman all night, keeping his word at not bothering her—which, coincidentally, had bothered the hell outta her, but no way was she telling himthat.
“Thanks for, you know, seein’ me to my car. You’re still a troublemaker, though.”
Oh God, am I flirting? Shit.
“Is that so? I prefer gentleman, but tomato, tomahto.” His sincere grin widened in the streetlight before his brow wrinkled with an emotion she wasn’t sure of in the dim light.
“Okay... well. Bye.” She awkwardly reached for her door, but Wes held his hand out against the door to stop her.
“Wait—”
Her breath caught in her lungs as soon as he slapped his hand against the window, lodging his body between the car door and her, closing her in.
“Shit, sorry, but… please, Naomi, before you go again… tell me why you won’t leave him.”
His words came out in a whisper, but it felt like he’d shouted them into her soul. The concern on his face was clear and she could tell he was begging her to answer him, almost as if the need to know the answer was driving him crazy. But his hand was on the inside of the door and she couldn’t close it and with his pointed question, she felttrapped.
“That’s none of your damn business, Snake, now get the hell away from my car.”
To her surprise, he snatched his hand and backed up, lifting his hands and lacing them behind his head, exposing a peek at his Adonis belt. Instead of allowing herself the second to enjoy the view, Naomi slammed the door and started her car, barely giving herself even enough time to check the mirrors before she backed out. A warm tear joined the heat his question had brought to her cheeks and she swiped angrily at her eyes, refusing to believe she was crying over leaving a veritable stranger. Over the path she’d been trying to convince herself was the right decision.
