AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He strikes me as a fair and partial man. He’ll listen to Darrian’s side of the story.” Eve’s voice lowered to a whisper. “Darrian has a lot of sway in a lot of places. Money speaks more than I care to admit.”
Duke leaned closer, whispering himself. “And Judge Rider is a better man than that. You’re safe here, Eve. I promise you that.”
Her eyes lifted. “Thank you, Duke, for your support. I appreciate it.”
His cheeks bloomed a light red as he pulled away. “You have a lot more support than just me.” He looked around the cafe as if embarrassed for some reason. “The cafe closes in five minutes. I’ll wait for you to close up and follow you home.”
She waved him off. “I need to stop at the shelter first and drop off the food. But thank you.”
“Not alone, you’re not.”
Her lips thinned in a tight line. “I’ve had this conversation with Juliet, and I’m going. I will be careful.”
“I don’t even like it when Juliet goes alone.” The tightness in his jaw and the worry that glazed his eyes added to the venom in his tone.
“Duke…I need to do this by myself. I don’t want to be afraid of things.”
“Same thing Juliet says to me, and I don’t like it when she says it either. Accepting help isn’t the same as hiding behind someone else.”
“I don’t want to argue with you.”
Which was odd they even were. Sure, she had light conversations with him when he came in for lunch on occasion. She waved to him when she saw him patrolling around town. But this level of honesty and closeness was new. She appreciated the concern, but this was something she wanted to do alone.
“Good. Then we’ll go together.”
She laughed despite the seriousness of it. “You’re as stubborn as Griffin can be.”
“Take that as a compliment, Duke. She must mean it as one,” the man himself said, walking up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist, and kissing her neck.
He must’ve slipped in from the back. It was locked from the outside, but he had a key. Why had he come from that way and not the front? Did it matter when feeling his arms around her made her feel better? Safer.
“Well, I’ll let you continue to argue with her. See you tomorrow, Eve. Looking forward to the cookies you bake.” Then Duke left.
Eve twisted in his arms, kissing him. “What are you doing here? What did you find?”
She felt him tense, knowing he’d found something.
“I said this morning I’d see you after work. Well, it’s 6:01 and it’s officially after work.”
Giggling, she pressed her head against his chest, tightening her arms around his waist. “I assumed once I got home.”
“I can only guess what you and Duke were arguing about since I didn’t hear the first part, but you’re not going to the shelter alone. He’s right. I don’t like it when Juliet does it either. Today, don’t fight me on it. Please.”
She heard the worry, felt the fear. Whatever he had found today, she knew she wouldn’t like it. For that reason alone, she chose not to argue.
“Do I want to know what you did today?”
His lips caressed her neck, his heavy sigh telling her everything. Then his words confirmed it. “Nothing good, sweetheart. Nothing I want to tell you. But I will.”
He lifted her head, cupping her cheeks. “Because we’re always going to be honest with each other, even when it’s hard to do so.”
Then he kissed her so fiercely, she wanted to forget about everything left to do for the night and drown in his embrace.
14
Griffin didn’t seeGregory when they carried in the food leftover from the cafe. Cheryl was working in the back, greeting them with a smile. The entire encounter took no more than ten minutes, chatting with Cheryl most of the time. By the sly smirk on Eve’s face, she was silently telling him she could’ve handled it. He had no doubt. But after today’s findings, he needed tofeelneeded. To know he could protect her if need be.
Because for the entire time she’d been living in his rental, he’d failed to protect her.
