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I wanted to reach out and fist my hand in her hair. Force her to look at me. Confess that I didn’t know how to be a good guy, but that I still felt terrible for making her feel like shit.
She didn’t deserve it.
The navigation gave instruction for me to take the next right, and I slowed as I made the turn onto Canter. Two perfect rows of humble houses lined each side, towered over by soaring, lush trees. Windows darkened and their inhabitants lost to sleep.
Her house was three down on the right. I came to a stop in front of a pale green, single-story house, a tiny lawn in front of it with a sidewalk cutting up the middle. A light hung next to the door, casting a yellowed glow over the small stoop. There was a single stall garage to the left, and Paisley’s truck was parked in the driveway behind it.
At least she’d left that monstrosity at home for the night.
Paisley suddenly jumped out, a hurricane that stormed up the sidewalk.
Without giving it thought, I jumped out and rushed to catch her.
Hating that I’d fucking made her feel insignificant. Like she didn’t matter.
I caught her by the wrist, spinning her around.
“What do you want?” she rasped, pain laced in her shaking voice.
I yanked her closer to me, my confession shards. “I didn’t mean that.”
She shook her head, refusing my words, yanking her arm from my grip. “You can go back to your car, Mr. Greyson. I don’t need you.”
“I would prefer to make sure you get inside safely.”
She scoffed, then stumbled to the side. The alcohol had dampened her senses farther, and I was pretty sure she was getting to that point where she wasn’t going to remain standing much longer. “Like you give a crap about anyone but yourself,” she slurred.
“I’m not leaving you until I am certain you are safely inside,” I reiterated, trying to tame the ferocity that burned on my tongue. To keep it together when she unhinged something within.
Something I’d promised myself I wouldn’t have. I’d made an oath. Gave myself to one purpose.
And this woman had me wanting to say fuck it all.
She turned and started back up the sidewalk, tossing words over her shoulder, “I’m a big girl, Mr. Greyson. I don’t need you to take care of me. And I think we’ve already established we don’t like each other, so why don’t we end this right here?”
She made it to the stoop, and she dropped her bag to the mat and promptly knelt to rummage around to find her keys. Her back to the world, zero caution.
I moved around her and leaned down when she was mumbling and cursing that she couldn’t find them.
“Let me do it.”
She scowled but let me dig into her bag. It was one giant pit. I dove my hand into it, searching, finally finding them buried at the bottom. I blew out a sigh as I pushed to standing, only having to try three different keys before I finally found the right one and worked it into the lock. I sent her a glare as I twisted the latch. “Do you have any clue of the monsters lurking in the shadows of this world, Ms. Dae? The demons out there waiting to hurt the innocent and unaware? You need to be careful.”
“Yeah, from assholes like you.”
She wasn’t wrong.
I edged the door open to the lapping darkness inside, and she shoved passed me, though she tried to quiet her footsteps as she entered.
I followed behind.
I wasn’t about to leave her without checking to ensure it was safe.
In the shadows, I could barely make out what appeared to be a living room, dull-colored couches, every surface littered by trinkets.
Paisley stumbled forward and slung her bag back onto her shoulder. Only she swung it into a lamp, and I rushed forward, catching it right before it smashed to the floor.
I breathed out a sigh, resituating it on the table.
Paisley giggled, pressing two fingers to her lips as she whispered, “Oops.”
I blew out a sigh. “We need to get you to bed.” I kept my voice equally as quiet.
“I bet you want to get me into bed, Mr. Greyson.” She hiccupped.
I took her by the elbow. “Lead me to your room.”
“Yes, sir,” she slurred, and I did my best to hold onto my patience, not to sweep her off her feet and carry her to her bed and demand she stay there until she’d fully sobered.
She dragged her feet as she shuffled down a hall that was so dark I had to put my hand to the wall to make sure she wasn’t leading us directly into one, and she shifted to push her finger to her lips again as we stopped at the first door on the right. “Shh.”
