“Call it self-preservation.” I doubt finding me sitting next to a wanted felon would go down well with Derek.
“What’s his name?” Flynn lets go of my thigh and leans back against the wooden slats of his chair.
I narrow my gaze at him, the question just a little too casual. “I’m not yours,” I tell him because for some reason I think I understand how this man’s mind works and he thinks I belong to him. It’s terrifying and fascinating and when his gaze locks on me it’s so fucking dark it’s like someone switched out the lights.
“Yet,” he says.
My stomach flips. The promise in his eyes should be frightening. It should make me want to run far, far away and it sure as hell shouldn’t make me feel all warm and gooey inside.
Tell us Hazel, why didn’t you turn the Vigilante Choker in to the police? Oh well, you know, all his threats made me feel loved and cared for.
Maybe this is what happens when you lose your parents before you can even talk. Yep, that must be it. Some part of me is so desperate for love that it’s confusing obsession with affection.
I clench my teeth and tear my gaze away from Flynn.
My phone buzzes on the table. Grateful for the distraction, I snatch it up and read the message. It’s from Derek. He’s not coming.Shit.
Flynn narrows his gaze, inspecting me with those powder blue eyes of his. “Please tell me he didn’t just stand you up.”
I cut him a look. “I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I’m not pleased that someone hurt you, Lilac. He may have been taking his own life into his hands by asking you out, but anyone who stands you up deserves to have his balls twisted into a pretzel and choked till they pop.”
“Jesus, Flynn.” I’m not even a guy and that made me feel a little sick. “And it’s not exactly his fault. He got called out. Cop, remember?”
Flynn shakes his head, his voice soft. “That doesn’t make it okay.”
I grimace and twist the cupcake charm on the back of my phone case. I don’t exactly know what happens now. It’s not like I particularly wanted to go out with Derek in the first place but Flynn’s right, being stood up sucks. And now I’m sitting in a coffee shop with a friendly serial killer and every logical part of my brain is telling me to get up and leave but my heart isn’t listening.
Flynn’s hand stills my fidgeting and he slips his fingers through mine as he stands up. “Come on.”
I let him pull me up, glancing around the shop to check no-one has recognized him. “What are you doing?”
“If Detective Douche isn’t buying you a drink, then I will.”
“Did you just make aLuciferreference?”
Flynn smirks but keeps walking up to the counter. It’s not till the barista finishes ringing up the customer in front of us that I realize how bad of an idea this is.
“Wait, no.” I tug at Flynn’s arm, but his hand tightens on mine and it’s like trying to move a rock. My heart beats in mythroat because Flynn’s picture is all over the news and there’s no way in hell he won’t be recognized, but he just flashes a smile at the barista.
“Two hot chocolates, please.”
My chest locks, sweat pricking at the back of my neck as the barista taps at her screen.
“Name?”
“Hazel,” I blurt out before Flynn does something stupid like just outright say he’s the Vigilante Choker.
I breathe a little easier once the barista’s taken the payment and Flynn’s dragged me over to the waiting area, but the adrenaline has me hitting my fist against his chest. “Are you insane?” I half whisper half shout.
He just folds his hand around my fist and tugs me closer.
I shudder a little as his breath brushes the shell of my ear. “Relax, Little Lilac. People see what they expect to see. The only thing that’s going to get us caught is you looking like you’re about to have a heart attack.”
Flynn shifts his hand and runs his thumb up and down my inner wrist. I hate that it calms me.
I could still try to leave, but I’m pretty sure Flynn’s not letting go so we stand there together, like a normal couple, and wait for our drinks.
