“All of them,” he repeated. “That’s why I reeled them off. I was hoping you’d make the choice.”
“Right. There were five choices in total. Can you remember the order you listed them in?”
“Yep.”
“Good, then I choose number three.”
“Oh, that’s one of my favorites.” He really did like Thai.
“Well duh, of course it’s your favorite. You just told me it was.” There was a lightness about her response. Was she feeling more relaxed with him? He hoped so.
They shared a laugh, and a tenuous connection formed between them. He hoped it was the first of many. “Do you have any preferences? Like a dish you always order?”
“Nope, I like most of everything. Only thing I ask is that it’s not too spicy. Don’t mind a little heat, but not a fan of burning your mouth so that you need a gallon of milk to cool it down.”
“That I can do. I do like mine hot, but I’ll make sure that there is a mild version of the dish for you.”
“Thanks. What time will you be here?”
“I’ll finish up here in about an hour, and by the time I get food and drive to your place, it’ll be around six thirty. Is that good?” If she wanted him there sooner, then he would talk to Ox about bugging out early. Like any organization, they had set hours, but they were flexible. Besides there had been many a time he and the others had stayed back to work through their plans before going on a mission.
“That works. I’ll see you then, Dalton.”
He smiled at the use of his given name. He’d spent the last fourteen years being referred to as Jag, that he’d considered changing his name from Dalton to Jag, but Jag Jaeger was a little much.
“See you soon, Steff.”
He disconnected the call and palmed his phone into his pocket. He didn’t know what was going to happen when he got to Steff’s place. All he knew was that he needed to let her know that he was serious about her.
His need to protect her and harm anyone who threatened her were feelings he wasn’t used to experiencing toward a woman. But for Steff, he would burn down the world for her if it came to that.
Jag adjustedthe handle of the plastic bag bulging with containers full of delicious Thai food. He’d made good time and arrived ten minutes before he was scheduled to. He pressed the button for Steff’s apartment, noting that her name wasn’t on the board like all the other residents.
Was that deliberate, or had she just not got around to putting her name behind the little clear covering?
Had she always lived here? Or had she moved there after her kidnapping?
Those were things he was going to ask her, and he didn’t mind the fact that her name wasn’t listed for all to see.
“Hello?” Steff’s greeting was tentative. Had she forgotten that he was coming? He doubted it, she was just being cautious.
“It’s me, Dalton.”
“Oh, right. Come in.” The soft click of the door being unlocked sounded, and before he entered, Jag surveyed the surrounding area and didn’t note anything out of the ordinary. It all looked clear, but he made sure the door clicked shut before he moved, so no one could sneak in.
A swarm of bees took up residence in his stomach on the short elevator ride to Steff’s floor.
Like the feelings of protectiveness he felt toward Steff, he was also feeling nervous about the evening ahead.
He’d told her a lot on the phone, and while he still stood by everything he said, Steff had had time to think it over, and she might’ve decided that he was too much for her and she didn’t want anything to do with him.
If that happened, he’d take it on the chin, and they could share a nice meal and that would be that. But he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. His hope was that she would be willing to get to know him. If she needed him to take baby steps to make that happen, he would do so.
He approached her door and paused as the fine hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention. Immediately, he went on alert. The hallway was empty. All the doors to the apartments on the floor were shut, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was out of the ordinary.
He placed the food on the ground, keeping his back against the wall so it was protected and giving him a better view of the area.
The other night when he’d dropped Steff home, he hadn’t had that feeling. Why was he having it now?
