Page 9 of Sterling Stone

“Respect for the oldest profession in the world,” my dance partner states, giving me another one of her big grins.

I like the shape of her mouth and the curve of her hip under my hand. Her honeysuckle and citrus scent tickles my nose again, and I want to breathe more of her in.

Instead, the song abruptly ends, but we keep moving another beat or two before she stops.

“I guess I should probably get going.” She glances at the bartender, who is still looking at his phone like he’s in no hurry to leave his casual position. Then again, it is getting late.

“Want to share a ride?” I realize asking her to join me in a car sounds risky, but an Uber driver would be an objective witness.

“Oh, I walked here. It’s such a nice night, I’ll just walk back.”

I do not like the sound of that at all. The night is late, the sky dark, and she’s a woman walking alone.

“May I walk you back to the hotel then?” I ask, not wanting to cause her any concern about me while being concerned for her and her safety. “I don’t like the idea of you walking alone by the river.”

The space along the river has a nice cement path, but low-lit streetlamps and dark passages still pose dangerous opportunities for a lone walker.

She pauses a second, chewing her lip before she admits, “I’d like that.” Still, she hesitates and glances at the bartender.

“Hey, Kodiak,” she calls his name. “Think I should let him walk me home?”

The younger man stands tall and approaches the counter, sizing me up. Believe it or not, I think bartenders have a civic duty as well, and I’m pleased to see he isn’t letting this woman go off with a stranger.

“Mind showing me your ID. We take safety seriously around here.”

Pleased with his response, I step closer to the bar, pulling out my wallet and flipping it open so he can see my license. His gaze also catches on my badge. Using his cell phone, he takes a picture of both.

When he glances back up at me, he gives me a subtle nod. An understanding passes between us. I won’t let anything happen to this woman. He’ll haunt me to the grave if I do.

I pull out two twenties, offering them to him, before putting my wallet back in my pocket. “Keep the change.”

He pats the top of the bar. “Definitely think you’re safe with him,” he addresses Delilah. “Y’all be safe and have a good night.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispers, standing next to me. “But I guess your mama would be proud.”

Even though my mother is no longer with me, I strive to make her proud of me every day.

But that’s not a conversation for now.

“Plot twist,” I tease. “My treat.” Then, I set my hand on the small of her back and lead her out of the bar.

Still wearing that long, form-fitting tee and loose skirt with sandals, she looks like an Egyptian temptress in modern form. She also shivers beneath the mountain chill.

“Here.” I shrug out of my suit coat and slip it over her shoulders, keeping my hands there a second as she adjusts to the dwarfing size.

“Thank you.” Her voice softens, and she glances at me before looking at the dark water rushing through this town.

The riverwalk is decorated with bright orange railings, celebrating the nearby university. The water looks like black silk as it weaves rapidly away from us. Streetlamps light our path, but I wouldn’t want any woman walking alone along this trail. Just like I don’t like to see the college girl with headphones running past us.

I hate that women live by different rules. I’m protective of my only sister, who continually teaches me how the boundaries are different between men and women. A woman can never be too alert, too self-aware, and it’s been the mission of my life to protect whomever I can from evil that lurks everywhere.

Even in your own goddamn home.

Quickly dismissing thoughts of the past, I focus on the woman presently walking beside me at a leisurely pace. She doesn’t appear in any more of a rush to end our stroll than I am.

“I grew up near a river,” she says, keeping her eyes on the one beside us. “It was the only place that felt like home.” Her voice lulls, the tone distant and a little sad.

“Anywhere I’ve heard of?”