“Like Fort Knox?”
“In some ways, but without the K. I do however have a thing for locks and security.”
Retrieving my hand and allowing his name to roll through the corridors of my mind, a smile graced my lips. His name was perfect—unique and powerful—like the man seated across from me.
He went on, “Tell me something about you. How did your parents come up with the name Charli. Surely they knew what a beautiful girl they’d had.”
I shrugged. “If you’re asking if they wanted a boy, I can answer unequivocally yes. However, Charli is short for Charles, my grandfather’s name.”
Nox grinned. “Well, the name Charli is as lovely as you.”
Mrs. Witt returned with salads and our conversation waned. It wasn’t awkward silence, but comforting in a way. We knew very little about one another, but what little we knew surrounded us like the glass partition, protecting us from whatever lurked beyond.
“Nox, what do you do?” I smirked. “Besides rescuing women? Oh, and wearing a cape?”
“Like I said, you’re my first rescue, and I reserve my cape for at least the third date.”
So this is a date .
“I run businesses,” he said between bites.
“Businesses?” Maybe the presidential suite wasn’t indicative of his wealth. Maybe he was there on the company’s money.
“Yes. It’s really not that exciting. I travel a lot. That’s how I knew that Max and his friend were up to no good. I’ve stayed in Del Mar on numerous occasions.”
“I’d like to think that I would’ve seen through him, but I still appreciate your rescue.”
“I’m sure you would have. Maybe I stepped in for selfish reasons?”
“Selfish?”
“Well, yes. I enjoy having you indebted to me.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Indebted? Tell me, Nox, what else do you enjoy?”
The glint in his eyes spoke volumes, but instead of answering, he asked, “Was that your sister? The blonde who went off with Max’s friend?”
“Yes, and believe it or not, he tried to get her to pay for his drink.”
Nox’s brow arched in triumph.
“Yes,” I admitted. “You were obviously right. However, she did see through him.”
“Then perhaps my intervention was unnecessary.”
I shrugged. “If you hadn’t rescued me, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
It was Nox’s turn to shrug. “I assure you, that even before Max’s clumsy attempt to play you, you had my attention this morning. That doesn’t happen often. I also assure you, if I wanted you to be here, with or without my intervention, you would be.”
“Only if you broke that rule about your cape,” I said, trying for some levity.
“No,” he answered, with all seriousness. “I don’t break rules, and I don’t appreciate it when others do either.”
I was afraid to look down, fearful that my increased heart rate was made visible by the bouncing of the silver chain between my breasts. “Why, Nox, you seem rather confident of yourself.”
“Yes, Charli, I am.”
I reached for my wine and worked to steady my pulse. I shouldn’t be here. Nox was the type of man I purposely avoided at Stanford. The campus was full of them: strong secure men, men who knew what they wanted and took it. There was something in their demeanor that frightened me. It wasn’t their need for power or control. I had that too. In the right situation I was confident and driven. No. The reason I avoided them was because of what was happening to me on the patio of the presidential suite of the Del Mar. With each of Nox’s words or phrases, my insides tightened to the point of pain.
Stupidly, the pain itself didn’t frighten me. What scared me was that an undeniable part of me liked it. It was the part of me I’d suppressed as Alex. The energy Nox radiated electrified me, bringing to life a forbidden desire that I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Successful women stood on courthouse steps and spoke with poise and determination. They studied hard, worked tirelessly, and made a name for
“In some ways, but without the K. I do however have a thing for locks and security.”
Retrieving my hand and allowing his name to roll through the corridors of my mind, a smile graced my lips. His name was perfect—unique and powerful—like the man seated across from me.
He went on, “Tell me something about you. How did your parents come up with the name Charli. Surely they knew what a beautiful girl they’d had.”
I shrugged. “If you’re asking if they wanted a boy, I can answer unequivocally yes. However, Charli is short for Charles, my grandfather’s name.”
Nox grinned. “Well, the name Charli is as lovely as you.”
Mrs. Witt returned with salads and our conversation waned. It wasn’t awkward silence, but comforting in a way. We knew very little about one another, but what little we knew surrounded us like the glass partition, protecting us from whatever lurked beyond.
“Nox, what do you do?” I smirked. “Besides rescuing women? Oh, and wearing a cape?”
“Like I said, you’re my first rescue, and I reserve my cape for at least the third date.”
So this is a date .
“I run businesses,” he said between bites.
“Businesses?” Maybe the presidential suite wasn’t indicative of his wealth. Maybe he was there on the company’s money.
“Yes. It’s really not that exciting. I travel a lot. That’s how I knew that Max and his friend were up to no good. I’ve stayed in Del Mar on numerous occasions.”
“I’d like to think that I would’ve seen through him, but I still appreciate your rescue.”
“I’m sure you would have. Maybe I stepped in for selfish reasons?”
“Selfish?”
“Well, yes. I enjoy having you indebted to me.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Indebted? Tell me, Nox, what else do you enjoy?”
The glint in his eyes spoke volumes, but instead of answering, he asked, “Was that your sister? The blonde who went off with Max’s friend?”
“Yes, and believe it or not, he tried to get her to pay for his drink.”
Nox’s brow arched in triumph.
“Yes,” I admitted. “You were obviously right. However, she did see through him.”
“Then perhaps my intervention was unnecessary.”
I shrugged. “If you hadn’t rescued me, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
It was Nox’s turn to shrug. “I assure you, that even before Max’s clumsy attempt to play you, you had my attention this morning. That doesn’t happen often. I also assure you, if I wanted you to be here, with or without my intervention, you would be.”
“Only if you broke that rule about your cape,” I said, trying for some levity.
“No,” he answered, with all seriousness. “I don’t break rules, and I don’t appreciate it when others do either.”
I was afraid to look down, fearful that my increased heart rate was made visible by the bouncing of the silver chain between my breasts. “Why, Nox, you seem rather confident of yourself.”
“Yes, Charli, I am.”
I reached for my wine and worked to steady my pulse. I shouldn’t be here. Nox was the type of man I purposely avoided at Stanford. The campus was full of them: strong secure men, men who knew what they wanted and took it. There was something in their demeanor that frightened me. It wasn’t their need for power or control. I had that too. In the right situation I was confident and driven. No. The reason I avoided them was because of what was happening to me on the patio of the presidential suite of the Del Mar. With each of Nox’s words or phrases, my insides tightened to the point of pain.
Stupidly, the pain itself didn’t frighten me. What scared me was that an undeniable part of me liked it. It was the part of me I’d suppressed as Alex. The energy Nox radiated electrified me, bringing to life a forbidden desire that I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Successful women stood on courthouse steps and spoke with poise and determination. They studied hard, worked tirelessly, and made a name for
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