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“W-we can’t,” I stutter, really wishing that we could.
A pained laugh falls from my lips, and his brow wrinkles.
“That wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for,” he confesses.
“I’m sorry. I missed you too,” I say shyly, my eyes dropping from his.
“Hey,” he says, capturing my jaw in his warm palm and turning me back to him. “Why are you hiding?”
I stare at him for a beat, my heart tumbling in my chest.
My head tells me to keep my lips shut, to hide my vulnerabilities within, for fear that he’ll only use them to hurt me.
But my heart begs for me to be open, to tell him how I really feel.
It’s a battle that I’m not all that fond of.
“This,” I say, letting my foolish heart take charge. “Us,” I breathe. “I’ve never… I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
The most incredible smile appears on his face, and it only makes my pulse pick up more speed.
His thumb brushes across my bottom lip, and I have to fight my initial reaction to suck it into my mouth. That move would certainly not help with us trying to restrain ourselves.
“Me neither. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.”
He closes the space between us, ready to capture my lips again. But I can’t let him. If I do, I know exactly where it’s going to lead.
To me without a job and a possible criminal record.
I quickly press my fingers to his lips before he makes contact.
“Let me finish up and we can head out.”
A growl rumbles in his chest. “My car is right outside,” he says with a smirk.
Everything south of my waist clenches at the thought of letting him take me in the back of his car. But then a bucket of reality crashes over me, cooling my blood in an instant.
“I can’t,” I say, “I’m meeting a friend for dinner.” It almost pains me to say it, but there’s no way I’m bailing on Sara after her being away for so long. “You could come,” I blurt when his face drops, showing his disappointment.
“You want me to meet your friend?” he asks as if it’s the most insane suggestion.
“Sure, why not? She and her boyfriend just got back from six weeks in Australia. She surprised me by turning up here earlier.” Slipping from the counter, I set about finishing up while I tell Toby about Sara’s visit and my less-than-discreet telling off from Matt.
The second I mention the way he spoke to me, Toby tenses.
“That arsehole. It’s not like you cost him any real money.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. He’s been a little weird all week. I can’t help wondering if it’s because he saw…” My words trail off, and I shoot a look toward one of the cameras in the corner.
“He’d have said something, surely?”
“I don’t know. He keeps getting this weird look in his eye.”
“Weird like what?” Toby growls possessively.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. He’s just been tense as fuck. I’m probably reading too much into it.”
“Jodie,” he says, taking a step closer as a shiver runs through me at his dominant tone. “If he does anything, says anything, you need to tell me.”
“Matt’s harmless. I’m just paranoid.”
“Maybe. But I won’t have anyone disrespecting you.”
“This is my job, Toby. You can hardly talk to my boss about—”
“You wanna bet?” he asks, something dark flashing through his eyes. “Someone hurts you, Demon, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“O-okay,” I whisper, slightly terrified and more than just a little turned on by this side of him.“I just need to clean up and go grab my stuff from my locker.”
“I can do that. Point me in the right direction.”
