Page 12 of Protecting my Zinnia

"I love the idea of an 'insiders report'," Angus chuckles. He finishes his coffee and grins. "I have to say, Zinnia, at first I wondered about hiring someone who is new to Sandersville. But you seem to have great ideas."

"Thank you."

As we stand, he pats me on the shoulder. "My uncle runs the shoe store. I'll ask him if he needs some fresh advertising. I'll bet he does."

"Thank you. I'd appreciate that." I shake his hand warmly, then clear the table of my notes as he leaves.

Turning toward the door, Evan is standing there with a scowl. "What's wrong?" I rush over as he wraps an arm around me.

"Who was that?" he asks.

"Angus Martin. He owns the movie theater. He's my first client here."

"You just met with a stranger? Alone?"

Oh my…

I step backward, slipping out of his arms. "Outside. Now."

He follows me out to the street where I find an alley between two stores so we can have some privacy. "Oops. Are you freaked out that I'm in a dark alley?" I ask.

Evan sighs. "Zinnia, I just want—"

"How about what I want? And need? This is a time in my life where I'm growing. Developing connections. Building my portfolio. That's going to require meeting with clients."

"I know, but—"

"I didn't bring him to my house. I didn't go to his business, where I'd be alone. I met him in a café where the staff knows me. I even told Ben, the barista, that I was meeting with a stranger. He knows Angus, and said he's a good guy."

"So you already had someone watching over you."

"Exactly."

"Then what's the problem if I do it as well?"

My mouth falls open as I stare. "You honestly don't see a problem with your attitude?"

"I just want to be careful with you."

Part of me feels sorry for Evan, because he looks so lost. A larger part of me is angry that such a smart man has a huge black hole of stupidity right between his eyes.

I'm not sure why I'm so annoyed by his level of care. Is this normal in relationships? "Evan, is Sandersville an incredibly dangerous place?"

He shuffles his feet. "No."

"Did I do anything genuinely unsafe?"

His apologetic, puppy dog expression is out of place on his rugged face. "No. You're right – I'm overreacting a bit."

He reaches for my hand, and after a moment I place it in his. "Zinnia, I haven't been with a woman for a very long time. I've never had a serious girlfriend. You're already incredibly important to me. It's triggering all kinds of things inside me that I can't explain."

I appreciate that he's so open. "Thank you. I promise that if I'm ever the slightest bit concerned about a meeting, I'll let you lurk somewhere. Fair?"

Evan holds me against his chest. "Fair. Thank you."

I'm not sure if I've just won a victory, or given up a bit of ground. But with his thick arms around me, holding me so tightly that I want to burrow into his warmth, it doesn't even matter.

6