Chapter Four
Mateo
Dinner Instead Of Payment
Shit.That’s an overreactionif I’ve ever had one.But it’s hard to hold back.I am already protective of her.I watch her frown, taking in my anger.
“Sorry,” I say softly.“I tend to be overprotective of women.”
She tilts her head.“All women?”
I shrug.“My sister was in a bad relationship.”I try to explain why I may seem a little crazy.
I’m not lying.Many years ago, I had a sister.She was in a relationship with a man.He was a jagter.She thought he was the love of her life, but actually, he was just using her to get to me.He hurt her emotionally and physically and eventually killed her.
That’s the truth, but it’s not the only reason for my reaction.Harlow is the main reason.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly, and I can read the genuine emotion scrolled across her face.
“It’s in the past,” I say with a shrug.“I do want to know if you are okay.”
She gives me a small smile.“I’m fine.I promise.I just got a weird vibe from him, and he pressed my buttons.But nothing actually happened.”
I nod, returning to her computer.I’m already done with what I needed to do, but I’m biding my time before I leave.I let my fingers fly across the keyboard, making sure that the spyware I installed is still fully functional, along with a decent anti-virus.
“I think that does it,” I say without looking at her.
“Really?”She sounds excited and relieved at the same time.
Turning my head, I find her face right beside mine, leaning over my shoulder.Shit.I’m a fucking vampire for god’s sake.I have the heightened senses of every fucking predator on earth combined.How did I miss her moving closer?Not that it matters right now.All I can do is take in her scent as it wraps around me.
“It’s all there,” she says with a sigh, sounding relieved.
“I told you,” I say with a chuckle.“I’m good at what I do and wouldn’t let you lose anything important.”
Her gaze collides with mine before she pulls away.“Thank you so much.What do I owe you?”
I grab my bag and shake my head.“Nothing.It was a simple fix.”
“No one works for free,” she says with a frown.“And I don’t need charity.”
I stare at her in disbelief.“It’s not charity...”
“Then let me pay for your services.”Her voice has turned hard as she glares at me with her arms folded across her chest.
I stare at her, taking a deep breath.She has always been beautiful, but she is glorious in her anger.I wonder what she would look like in a flat-out rage and what it would take to push her that far.
“I don't want your money.”
“Mateo...”
I love the sound of my name falling from her lips, but I cut her off.“If you really feel like you need to repay me for helping you, I have a suggestion.”When she simply stares at me, I continue.“Let me take you out to dinner.”
“What?How is that repayment?”
