Page 16 of Taking

“Can I walk you to your car?” he asked, following me toward the exit.

“You can, but you aren’t getting a goodnight kiss,” I warned him, proud of myself for lightening up enough to joke.

“I won’t try—promise.”

That word again…

We stepped out into the night, our breath fogging with the first exhale.

“Shit, it’s cold,” Leo muttered, hitching his shoulders.

“You really don’t have to see me to my car. It’s right over there.”

“I insist.” He bumped my shoulder like Devon used to do in high school—a flirting yet friendly action that brought back a slew of memories.

The boy I’d given my sweet sixteen kiss to.

The one whose bloodied face landed Gideon in jail.

One who’d shunned me after the trial.

If Gideon hadn’t been sent away…

A tingle shivered over my skin with a familiarity that caused me to stumble.

Leo grasped my arm. “Okay?” He held onto me until I regained my balance.

“Yeah,” I whispered, taking a quick covert glance behind us.

Streetlights, a few cars meandering past, and a handful of people hurrying through the night—nothing out of the ordinary. No dark, lurking shadows waited to swallow me whole.

Leo dropped his hand, and we started forward once more. The closer we got to my car, the more the energy rippling through me kicked up my heart rate. He bumped my arm a second time.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah.” I studied his smile, suddenly unsure if I could trust him.

With every step, my stomach knotted tighter, and until we reached my car, I trembled, hurrying to get inside. Escape. Shut myself away.

I grabbed the door handle, but Leo lightly touched my forearm. “Hey.”

Swallowing, I forced myself to turn and meet his gaze.

“I had a great time tonight—and no, I’m not going to try to kiss you.” His wink and grin settled the rising panic inside me that must have been obvious on my face. “But I wouldn’t mind hanging out again with you sometime. With Ciarra and her boyfriend if that would make you feel more comfortable.”

“I-I’d like that.”

“Just shoot me a text when you’re ready to peel off another layer, Addilyn.” He offered another wink and ambled back across the parking lot, leaving me to watch after his hunched shoulders and quick steps.

Blowing out a breath, I climbed into the car. Hit the locks. Studied the parking lot for the source of that energy I swore licked over my skin—and actually warmed me between the thighs.

It’s not my protector, my Gideon.

My body disagreed, the same as it’d been doing for almost two weeks. Scowling, I started up my car and left. I brooded the entire ride home, convincing myself I needed to fall for a guy like Leo.

“Well?” Ciarra asked the second I walked through our front door.

“He’s a sweetheart.” I pulled off my coat, kicked off my boots, and threw myself onto the couch beside her.

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