I gripped his face. “Not here. Not today.”
He sucked on my lower lip. “But soon?”
“I’ll let you know,” I said, loving how he made me feel.
“Soon.” He narrowed his eyes, making demands. “Don’t make me suffer.”
I sat up and bit my bottom lip. No man had wanted me like he did. I didn’t know what to say, but I needed some time, considering this was our first date.
“I don’t sleep with men on the firstdate.”
“This is technically our second.” Sitting up, he bumped shoulders with me. “Lunch with your grandpa was the first.”
“That doesn’t count,” I protested.
“You’re getting trained every day this week. Each session is considered a date. By the end of the week, you’ll know me very well.”
I grinned all the way to the café, where we got sugarcane drinks and sat by the wide windows with a lovely view of the street from the second floor. This was one of the best days I’d had in a long time. I didn’t think about responsibilities, how much money I needed for my dream store, the to-do list at work, or the uncertainties about relationships. Kain made me forget everything and focus on us.
“Have you found out anything about the man at the Boston Harbor Hotel?” I asked, sipping my refreshing drink.
“The detective is still investigating. He said they’re looking at a few angles. The suspect could be part of a radical group that’s targeting certain individuals.”
“Do you know who the targets were that day?”
“Anastasia Masterson was supposed to sit at that table. Her granddaughter was already there, but she arrived late.” He leaned back in his chair. “Anastasia is a lawyer for a prominent firm in Boston. The other target was Noah Loomer, heir to Loomer Banks.”
“Maybe he was their client.”
“The explosives were only at two tables, but they created a lot of smoke, which scared and confused people. The chaos allowed the suspect to escape quickly. Anastasia and Noah both received threats.”
“What kind of threats?”
“He wants them to release information to the authorities; otherwise, he’ll hurt them again.” Kain leaned on the table. “You’re very curious about this case.”
“Maybe because we almost got hurt.”
“I got hit in the back,” he said.
“You did?” I got up from my seat, remembering how he’d used his body to shield me. “Where? Let me see.”
He patted the back of his shoulder. “It’s nothing.”
I placed my hand on it, rubbing it. “Did it bleed?”
“No, just a bruise from a shard.” He grabbed my hand, pulling me onto his lap. “I had a Kevlar suit and shirt.”
“I thought only law enforcement wore Kevlar.”
“Mine are specially tailored jackets, pants, and shirts. Overpriced, but worth it.”
Why would he need that kind of protective gear? Then I remembered him talking about the will to survive. What had happened to him to make him take this kind of precaution?
“The world has gotten so dangerous.” I looked out onto the street where people strode by. A man with sunglasses in a white T-shirt and jeans sat on a bench, looking into the café.
Our conversation continued about his upcoming projects. Something urged me to look outside again, and the man was standing now, looking up at us. A strange sensation slithered on my skin.
“Is it me, or is that guy staring at us?”
