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I hear her though, and once she asks me again, I relax my grip on the guy without letting him go.
I can try a different tact for once today, why not?
“Listen, buddy,” I whisper in the guy’s ear. “You picked the wrong couple to mug but I’ll cut you a break, maybe even save you a six by ten holiday…” I hear myself growl, my jaw grinding.
Not even believing I’d let something like this even slide past with or without Naomi involved.
“You need a meal, something to get you outta trouble?” I ask, spinning him to face me and putting my face in his.
My fist looming up with the first bill I can grab from my pants, which just happens to be a fifty.
Shit.
“Take this, go get yourself fed and cleaned up someplace,” I advise him, stuffing the money into his own front pocket before I loosen my grip on the prick.
Moose whines, looking at me like I’ve lost the plot. But it’s only because Naomi asked me to.
That and the fact I already have enough paperwork from our efforts this morning.
I’m trying to get her home and alone with me, and at this rate, I’ll have to arrest half the city before I can even get a second alone with her again.
“Now beat it,” I hiss, keeping my foot over his knife when he bends down for it and kicking it into a drain once he slinks down an alley, away from us.
Away from Naomi and hopefully, towards a meal and maybe something good for him even if it’s just for one day.
“Oh Parker,” Naomi gasps, falling into my arms as a small round of applause erupts from the crowd gathered at a distance. “Let’s just get out of here.”
I don’t need any encouragement, and in seconds once I’ve held her close again we’re safely back in my truck, heading for home with Moose in the back giving me a strange look as Naomi stares out the window, silent.
Probably in a state of shock for the second time in one day.
Dammit.
“I promise there are no more nasty surprises,” I tell her once we cross the bridge to my side of town.
Her body shivers a little and she shudders a breath before turning to meet my eyes in the mirror.
“I hope not,” is all she can say, her lip quivering. Making me feel worse by the second.
Counting them until I can get us home, behind locked doors.
Knowing she’ll be safe and we won’t be disturbed anymore. At least not for the rest of the weekend.
“I promise,” I tell her, meaning it.
Wanting to ask her a hundred things but knowing I need to give her some space right now.
Let her settle from the day so far and most of all, let her make her own mind up about what she really wants.
Moose lets us both know when we’re nearly home, growling with excitement, knowing he’s coming home and can run himself all through the house now that he’s had his bath.
He’ll drag his clean face all over everything, pretending it’s as much fun as when he’s soaking wet and I’ll try my best to keep him inside long enough too.
Once he gets outside, I know he’s gonna need a bath all over again.
I hit the remote and the gates swing open, my gravel drive arcing around, and I park right out front. Not even opening the car door until I know the gates are closed again.
Naomi’s gaze has shifted from Moose to the house.
It’s not a huge house, but a historic townhouse with a driveway and a yard maybe isn’t what she was expecting.
“It used to be my parent’s place,” I explain, getting out to open her side before letting Moose out.
“Once my Dad passed, Mom moved upstate,” I add, trying not to sound pretentious.
Trying not to sound like I’m a big-noting myself or my family.
Dad saved every nickel, and he bought this place for my mom and me to feel secure while he worked once his own father passed and left him the family purse to carry.
Once I was old enough I was working too, and the old man sure as hell made sure I paid my way as well as learned how to use money wisely. Just like his old man taught him.
“It’s not too much?” I hear myself ask Naomi, who looks in awe of two stories and a few stone gargoyles, poking out their tongues, guarding ancient downpipes.
Moose barks from the porch, cocking his head in an open question that asks me what the hell is taking me so long to open the front door.
Ushering Naomi up to the front door, I open it and tapping the security code on the keypad in the hall, I have to move fast to get out of Moose’s way.
He’s racing for the rug in the kitchen, but I know from experience he’ll not rest until he’s rubbed himself over every woven surface in the whole house.
