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I shook my head. “I know the way, and I am perfectly safe. Damien is already outside, waiting for me.”
He sat down. “Fine.”
I left the staff room and walked toward the door, noticing how my footsteps echoed in the building. The hallways going off the main one were dark, the rooms all empty. As I passed one hall, a sound came from the darkness, and a chill raced through me. Panic hit me hard even though I knew it was the sound of the plumbing or the building settling. Perfectly logical explanations for a noise I wouldn’t have given a second thought to a couple of weeks ago. Now I jumped at every little noise and shadow. I began to hurry, almost running, bursting through the door outside where Damien stood, umbrella in hand, waiting for me. I barreled into him, and he wrapped his arm around me.
“Raven? What’s wrong?” he asked anxiously.
I shook my head, not wanting him to know how easily frightened I felt. If he suspected, I would have someone glued to me twenty-four hours a day. I lifted my face, smiling. “Just anxious to see your face, handsome. I missed you today.”
His smile was wide. “Is that a fact, Ms. Raven? As it just so happens, I missed you too, so I’m glad to see you.” He captured my lips with his, kissing me deeply.
“You ready to go home?” he asked.
“Your home?” I replied.
He kissed me again. “Feels like home, now that you’re there,” he said, then walked me to the car and waited until I got in. He bent and kissed me again. “You can stay forever if you wanted.”
I had no idea how to reply.
And I had no idea how to tell him forever sounded good.
It was just too soon.
Wasn’t it?
* * *
“You’re jumpy again, Raven,” Damien said after dinner. “Mike said nothing happened today, you said everything is fine, so which one of you isn’t telling me the truth?” He sat back, lifting his wineglass to his lips and taking a sip.
“I am?” I asked, stalling for time.
He lifted one eyebrow, waiting for me to speak.
With a sigh, I told him about the dark hallway and my unfounded fear. He listened, then nodded. “Thank you for telling me. What else?”
I was shocked how well he knew me. That it wasn’t just my momentary panic that was on my mind. “Deb met someone at the coffee shop.”
He leaned forward, intent and serious. “Tell me everything.”
I repeated the conversation, and he didn’t interrupt. “I saw a guy walk in not long after you did in a suit, carrying a messenger bag. Deb was smart to check him out. You didn’t notice him, I assume?”
“No.”
He sighed. “No doubt just a random meeting. I’d feel better if I could check it out myself.”
I grinned and handed him my phone. “I had Deb tell me the name of the company he works for. This is the link he gave her.”
“Smart girl.” He scanned my phone, his finger swiping the screen quickly. He paused a few times, then shrugged. “Looks legit.” He sighed. “Should I leave it alone?”
“If his picture matches and it looks legit, I think we need to leave it. It’s Deb’s business, and she really likes him. If this thing with Andy hadn’t have happened, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. They met in a coffee shop.”
“You’re right, I suppose. If she wants more info on him, I can dig and find out his background.”
“How?” I asked. “How are you able to do that, Damien?”
He set down his glass. “I always loved computers. I taught myself a lot, plus I went to school. Law enforcement fascinated me, and I thought I wanted to be a cop. A CSI, actually. I started studying it. I also took lessons in weapons. I excelled in the firing range. I could hit any target, no matter the circumstance. But I was frustrated when I realized I could spend years studying to be a CSI and never work in that field, and although I was a great shot, I had no desire to be a cop and work the streets.” He flashed me a grin to make me relax. “Or be an assassin.”
Recalling the time I’d asked him if he was an assassin, I smiled back. He continued.
