“Are you saying you don’t want me to wear them, because if you are, I’m going to scream.”
“Not at all, I’m glad you’re going to take them. I want you to be safe. I asked to make sure that you are one hundred percent happy with your decision.”
“I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t.”
A slow smile spread across Dalton’s face, warming her, and sending shots of desire through her. “Good.”
He slid the box across the table. She picked it up and opened it. Medium sized stones that glinted like diamonds rested in the black velvet. They were larger than she remembered from the brief look she got when they were first shown to her.
They were elegant, and she couldn’t believe that inside them lay a chip that would be able to give a person looking at a screen her location.
“There aren’t a lot of options if you wanted a different style. Cass decided that studs were less likely to cause suspicion than some dangly ones.” Dalton explained, his fingers touching the side of the box.
“They are beautiful, and do look a lot like diamonds.”
“They’re manufactured diamonds.”
Did that mean…no she wasn’t going to go there. She’d made the decision to wear them. Of course they had to be made somewhere, and for some company to know about the chips. It didn’t mean that company was going to track her.
“I can see your mind turning over that last piece of information.”
“Really? You think you know my mind? Tell me, what was I thinking?”
“You were wondering if the company that manufactured the diamonds would have the ability to track you.”
Steff wanted to slap the smug grin off his face. How he knew what her thoughts were was beyond her, but considering how she dithered about taking them, she supposed his assumption was a reasonable one. “Smart ass.”
Dalton laughed, and she couldn’t help joining in.
“It’s going to be fine, Steff. Cass won’t watch your every move.”
She put the studs in, her ears burning a little, as she hadn’t worn earrings for a while. “I know.”
Dalton looked at the time on the microwave over her shoulder and swore. “Damn, I need to get to the office.”
“I’m sorry for making you late.” It was her reluctance to wear the earrings that had prevented Dalton from getting ready for work.
“Not your fault.” He gave her a sweet smile, one that warmed her toes and had her wishing that he didn’t have to go at all.
“It kind of is, but thank you for being gracious.” She reached up and touched his cheek, the bristles from his stubble prickling her palm. She liked the sensation. His hand covered hers. A second later, she felt the warm press of his lips against her skin. The gesture sweet and gentle.
Everything about how Dalton treated her was the opposite of what she expected him to be.
He was a former Navy SEAL. He worked in a job that required him to be cold and unemotional. He should be overbearing and demanding. He could’ve demanded that she wear the earrings, yet he hadn’t. He’d talked her through her fears and doubts, and the decision had been her own.
Dalton was special, and for reasons unknown to her, he appeared to like her and want to be with her.
She was broken.
Battered and bruised permanently.
Emotionally scarred.
Dalton accepted everything about her. Saw beneath her brokenness.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
