something about him unsettled Darcy in an extremely unpleasant way.
Now that her chin no longer rested on it, he grabbed her hand.
She tugged on it, but he didn’t let go. When Theo had held onto her and wrestled her into a position that allowed him access to her wrist, she hadn’t felt alarm about anything. Shame had motivated her to keep him from seeing the marks she’d made on her wrist, but at no time had she felt threatened by Theo.
“I didn’t catch your name,” she said. “I’d like to mention our meeting to Victor when I see him next week.”
“Not to mention it means she can’t formally introduce you to her date.” Theo accompanied the warning with a tight smile and a pointed glare at her hand.
The softness of his voice sent shivers of apprehension down her spine. It must have had a similar effect on the man. He released her hand, and she promptly folded her arms over her midsection, tucking her hands under her elbows.
The man looked from Theo to Darcy. “Don’t do anything inadvisable, Ms. Markovich.” He winked at her and walked away.
Theo’s dark brows drew together, and she knew he was debating whether or not to go after the man. It could serve no useful purpose. Finally he exhaled and regarded her thoughtfully. “What was that about?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea, but that guy gives me the creeps.” Her hand felt like slime coated it where he’d touched her. She wanted to go to the restroom and wash it, but she didn’t want to leave the safety of Theo’s presence long enough to do it. She rubbed it against her jeans, but the feeling didn’t dissipate.
“Who is Victor, exactly?”
“He’s a friend of mine. He started out as a client. I’ve known him for about three years, and I can honestly say he’d be shocked by that man’s behavior. I can’t imagine Victor letting that creep within a mile of him. Earlier he said he was part of Vic’s security, but I don’t believe him.” The whole time she spoke, she wiped her hand against her jeans.
Theo held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
She stared at him, not sure what he asked.
“Your hand, Darcy. I can see what you’re doing. Let me help.”
Short of taking her to the restroom, she didn’t see how he could help. Still, she gave him her hand. Trusting him had worked well for her so far.
He turned it palm up and threaded the fingers of both his hands through hers. The tendons and muscles stretched, and he massaged circles on her palm. “New sensations to replace those you don’t want to feel.”
As he had done earlier, Theo chased away the unpleasantness. Darcy could easily become addicted to the kind of care he offered. What woman didn’t want a considerate, attentive, assertive man in her life?
The waitress brought breadsticks and salad. Theo didn’t release her hand until the woman had completed her ritual and left.
Darcy stabbed at some lettuce, the icky feeling on her skin completely banished. She smiled across the table, hoping her expression didn’t look too love struck. “Tell me more about you, Theo. I want to know everything.”
They lingered over dinner. Conversation flowed. Darcy remembered the first time she’d felt so comfortable and connected with a date. She’d stayed with that man for six years. She decided Scott hadn’t just sent her a sign. He’d sent her someone special.
And she didn’t feel pressured to take things faster than she wanted. He lived an hour away from her, which meant they could see one another, but not too frequently.
On the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, Theo paused and turned to her. The bright lights from streetlamps, passing cars, and open businesses lit his face. He held her hands in his, and she very much liked the intimacy of their pose, even though they stood on a sidewalk on a busy downtown street and people had to walk around them.
He leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I want to top you.”
“T-top me?” She stuttered the
Now that her chin no longer rested on it, he grabbed her hand.
She tugged on it, but he didn’t let go. When Theo had held onto her and wrestled her into a position that allowed him access to her wrist, she hadn’t felt alarm about anything. Shame had motivated her to keep him from seeing the marks she’d made on her wrist, but at no time had she felt threatened by Theo.
“I didn’t catch your name,” she said. “I’d like to mention our meeting to Victor when I see him next week.”
“Not to mention it means she can’t formally introduce you to her date.” Theo accompanied the warning with a tight smile and a pointed glare at her hand.
The softness of his voice sent shivers of apprehension down her spine. It must have had a similar effect on the man. He released her hand, and she promptly folded her arms over her midsection, tucking her hands under her elbows.
The man looked from Theo to Darcy. “Don’t do anything inadvisable, Ms. Markovich.” He winked at her and walked away.
Theo’s dark brows drew together, and she knew he was debating whether or not to go after the man. It could serve no useful purpose. Finally he exhaled and regarded her thoughtfully. “What was that about?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea, but that guy gives me the creeps.” Her hand felt like slime coated it where he’d touched her. She wanted to go to the restroom and wash it, but she didn’t want to leave the safety of Theo’s presence long enough to do it. She rubbed it against her jeans, but the feeling didn’t dissipate.
“Who is Victor, exactly?”
“He’s a friend of mine. He started out as a client. I’ve known him for about three years, and I can honestly say he’d be shocked by that man’s behavior. I can’t imagine Victor letting that creep within a mile of him. Earlier he said he was part of Vic’s security, but I don’t believe him.” The whole time she spoke, she wiped her hand against her jeans.
Theo held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
She stared at him, not sure what he asked.
“Your hand, Darcy. I can see what you’re doing. Let me help.”
Short of taking her to the restroom, she didn’t see how he could help. Still, she gave him her hand. Trusting him had worked well for her so far.
He turned it palm up and threaded the fingers of both his hands through hers. The tendons and muscles stretched, and he massaged circles on her palm. “New sensations to replace those you don’t want to feel.”
As he had done earlier, Theo chased away the unpleasantness. Darcy could easily become addicted to the kind of care he offered. What woman didn’t want a considerate, attentive, assertive man in her life?
The waitress brought breadsticks and salad. Theo didn’t release her hand until the woman had completed her ritual and left.
Darcy stabbed at some lettuce, the icky feeling on her skin completely banished. She smiled across the table, hoping her expression didn’t look too love struck. “Tell me more about you, Theo. I want to know everything.”
They lingered over dinner. Conversation flowed. Darcy remembered the first time she’d felt so comfortable and connected with a date. She’d stayed with that man for six years. She decided Scott hadn’t just sent her a sign. He’d sent her someone special.
And she didn’t feel pressured to take things faster than she wanted. He lived an hour away from her, which meant they could see one another, but not too frequently.
On the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, Theo paused and turned to her. The bright lights from streetlamps, passing cars, and open businesses lit his face. He held her hands in his, and she very much liked the intimacy of their pose, even though they stood on a sidewalk on a busy downtown street and people had to walk around them.
He leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I want to top you.”
“T-top me?” She stuttered the
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