knee-weakening smile. “Unbuttoned it is.”
He reached for his coat, and she raised a brow. “You’re bringing your coat and weapons to my parents’ house?”
“You’re what that demon is looking for. I’m not going anywhere unprepared.”
She sighed. She never imagined she’d be chatting about carrying concealed weapons to visit her folks for a birthday party. She didn’t like it, but he was right. She nodded tightly.
He started for the door and glanced back at her. “You ready?”
She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for facing her mom with a handsome man in tow. She had a very bad feeling about this….
“I guess so.” She stepped into her black flats and grabbed her purse. “I wish I had my car.”
“You’ve mentioned that before.”
“Have you even checked on it with…what’s her name?” She passed him by, careful not to allow any physical contact, and went down the stairs to the dojo.
“Martie.” He followed her downstairs. “I can call her and check on your car if that’ll make you feel better.” He pulled out his cell phone and exited the dojo.
Tegan set the alarm system and locked the building, trying not to admit she wanted to eavesdrop. It was 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night, and he was calling his “employee” on his cell phone?
Tegan approached as he was finishing up the call.
“Thanks, Mart. See you soon, hon. Be careful.”
Hon. He hung up, and Tegan mentally slapped herself. They were probably dating. That would explain why she was available on a Saturday night. Why hadn’t she realized it sooner? Now it seemed even more foolish to take him to meet her mother. Ugh.
She replayed her one meeting with Gabe’s receptionist in her head. Martie was everything Tegan wasn’t. Martie’s hair was short and stylish while Tegan’s was usually tied back in a ponytail. His receptionist had perfect manicured nails and perfect makeup, and even though Tegan hadn’t been able to see her feet, she had no doubt Martie also wore super cute shoes. Tegan stared at her simple black flats and sighed. She used to wear cute shoes, but that was before her life became devoted to self-preservation.
She couldn’t kick the crap out of an attacker and run like hell in some strappy Betsey Johnson heels. And it made no sense to wear a bunch of makeup when she’d end up sweating it off in the dojo keeping her body in ass-kicking shape.
Not that she cared. It wasn’t as if she was available anyway. She was married to her business and keeping it afloat. Besides, trust wasn’t her strong suit. Maybe after they caught her attacker she’d be able to move on with her life.
She’d never had the desire until now.
Apparently, a sexy guy in a towel had that effect on her.
Shoving the memory of a mostly naked Gabe out of her mind, she walked over to his car. He straightened up from where he had been leaning against the chrome front fender and went to open her door.
“Your car is parked in a long-term parking lot, safe and sound.”
Tegan made no move to get in the car. “She did not hot-wire my car.”
“No.” Gabe tried to look shocked by her accusation, but she could see the corners of his eyes crinkle as a smile threatened. “I might do something like that, but Martie thinks things through more than I do.”
Of course she did. Gabe wouldn’t date a stupid woman. Tegan sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Okay, I give. What’d she do with my car?”
“She called a towing company we’ve worked with before and asked them to move it for her. A favor.” He gestured to the passenger seat. “Satisfied? Can we go?”
“Guess so.” Tegan got in, trying not to let her inner pout spread to her face. “Thanks.”
…
Other than telling him when to make a turn, Tegan had gone mute. Was she just nervous about taking him with her to her parents’ party or worried about the weapons hidden inside his jacket? Or maybe she was having flashbacks of the demon who still hunted her?
He reached for his coat, and she raised a brow. “You’re bringing your coat and weapons to my parents’ house?”
“You’re what that demon is looking for. I’m not going anywhere unprepared.”
She sighed. She never imagined she’d be chatting about carrying concealed weapons to visit her folks for a birthday party. She didn’t like it, but he was right. She nodded tightly.
He started for the door and glanced back at her. “You ready?”
She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for facing her mom with a handsome man in tow. She had a very bad feeling about this….
“I guess so.” She stepped into her black flats and grabbed her purse. “I wish I had my car.”
“You’ve mentioned that before.”
“Have you even checked on it with…what’s her name?” She passed him by, careful not to allow any physical contact, and went down the stairs to the dojo.
“Martie.” He followed her downstairs. “I can call her and check on your car if that’ll make you feel better.” He pulled out his cell phone and exited the dojo.
Tegan set the alarm system and locked the building, trying not to admit she wanted to eavesdrop. It was 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night, and he was calling his “employee” on his cell phone?
Tegan approached as he was finishing up the call.
“Thanks, Mart. See you soon, hon. Be careful.”
Hon. He hung up, and Tegan mentally slapped herself. They were probably dating. That would explain why she was available on a Saturday night. Why hadn’t she realized it sooner? Now it seemed even more foolish to take him to meet her mother. Ugh.
She replayed her one meeting with Gabe’s receptionist in her head. Martie was everything Tegan wasn’t. Martie’s hair was short and stylish while Tegan’s was usually tied back in a ponytail. His receptionist had perfect manicured nails and perfect makeup, and even though Tegan hadn’t been able to see her feet, she had no doubt Martie also wore super cute shoes. Tegan stared at her simple black flats and sighed. She used to wear cute shoes, but that was before her life became devoted to self-preservation.
She couldn’t kick the crap out of an attacker and run like hell in some strappy Betsey Johnson heels. And it made no sense to wear a bunch of makeup when she’d end up sweating it off in the dojo keeping her body in ass-kicking shape.
Not that she cared. It wasn’t as if she was available anyway. She was married to her business and keeping it afloat. Besides, trust wasn’t her strong suit. Maybe after they caught her attacker she’d be able to move on with her life.
She’d never had the desire until now.
Apparently, a sexy guy in a towel had that effect on her.
Shoving the memory of a mostly naked Gabe out of her mind, she walked over to his car. He straightened up from where he had been leaning against the chrome front fender and went to open her door.
“Your car is parked in a long-term parking lot, safe and sound.”
Tegan made no move to get in the car. “She did not hot-wire my car.”
“No.” Gabe tried to look shocked by her accusation, but she could see the corners of his eyes crinkle as a smile threatened. “I might do something like that, but Martie thinks things through more than I do.”
Of course she did. Gabe wouldn’t date a stupid woman. Tegan sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Okay, I give. What’d she do with my car?”
“She called a towing company we’ve worked with before and asked them to move it for her. A favor.” He gestured to the passenger seat. “Satisfied? Can we go?”
“Guess so.” Tegan got in, trying not to let her inner pout spread to her face. “Thanks.”
…
Other than telling him when to make a turn, Tegan had gone mute. Was she just nervous about taking him with her to her parents’ party or worried about the weapons hidden inside his jacket? Or maybe she was having flashbacks of the demon who still hunted her?
Similar Books
