had up and disappeared so
very abruptly.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That has to be hell, getting in so much trouble on your very first day.”
“It wasn’t fun,” she admitted. She leaned back, then tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. “But I have to say it’s getting
better,” she added, her voice low, sultry and definitely inviting.
Whoa . Had she actually said that? She’d never come on to a man in her life. Never even considered being so bold, and yet here
she was, and so far at least, the ground hadn’t fallen out from under her.
She didn’t know if it was the shoes or the man or the alcohol that had loosened her inhibitions—not to mention her tongue—but
she had to admit she liked it. And from the spark of interest reflected in those deep gray eyes, she had to think that maybe
he liked it, too.
“I’m sorry if I seemed harsh earlier,” he said. “They’ve got me working a killer mission, and the key to our brilliant plan
just disappeared in a puff.”
That, she realized, was his polite way of reminding her that she’d screwed up royally. Obviously she had a lot to learn about
this Protector thing. Hopefully the manual wasn’t too long, because she intended to read it cover to cover tonight.
He shifted, and she felt the press of his long, lean legs against her, and the caress of his hand along her back. Immediately
she decided to ditch reading the manual. He’d pulled her to him in sympathy, but if she was reading the signs right, there
was a subtle shift in the tenor of his touch.
He smiled at her, warm and dreamy, and she said a silent prayer that it really was interest she saw in the depths of his eyes,
and not an alcohol-induced hallucination. “Will you accept my apology?”
She nodded, her knees feeling a little weak from the way he was watching her so intently. “I . . . I think I better get home.”
She swallowed, then pressed on boldly, surprising herself, and yet at the same time somehow feeling more like herself than
she ever had before. “Would you come with me?”
The corner of his mouth curved up. “You live near here?”
She shook her head. “Brooklyn,” she said. “I was on my way to the train when—”
“You’re not in any condition to walk,” he said.
“Unless you have a pumpkin you’re planning on turning into a carriage, I haven’t got a choice.” She frowned, remembering with
crystal clarity exactly why a taxi was out of the question. Fired . She couldn’t freaking believe it.
“I think I can do you one better than a pumpkin,” he said, even as he pulled her close and held her tight around the waist.
And then, without any warning at all, he shot upward, leaving the ground far below. Lydia trembled in his arms, thinking that
a day that had started out like crap was seriously looking up.
Lydia Carmichael.
Somehow, it seemed like the perfect name. She’d been on his mind since he’d rescued her that morning—or, rather, since he
thought he’d rescued her. Now that he knew she was a Protector, her earlier protestations made sense. She’d rescued a girl who’d screamed, and he’d somehow interfered in her follow-up. True, she’d looked to be in trouble, what with
the gun in her face, but that could have been a ruse. Much like the one she’d inadvertently interrupted only moments ago.
Already, he forgave her that. There was, quite simply, something about this woman. Something that made his heart beat a little
faster and his Protector instincts fire. He wanted to gather her up, to keep her safe. Apparently he’d been lonelier than
he realized.
Empirically, the girl was trouble: a new Protector, obviously clueless, she’d gotten in the way of one of the biggest stings
of his career and one of the most important operations in Council history.
And yet, here he was, feeling all warm and fuzzy toward her.
Libido, he reminded himself. Not real, just lust.
Still, he thought, as her soft body
very abruptly.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That has to be hell, getting in so much trouble on your very first day.”
“It wasn’t fun,” she admitted. She leaned back, then tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. “But I have to say it’s getting
better,” she added, her voice low, sultry and definitely inviting.
Whoa . Had she actually said that? She’d never come on to a man in her life. Never even considered being so bold, and yet here
she was, and so far at least, the ground hadn’t fallen out from under her.
She didn’t know if it was the shoes or the man or the alcohol that had loosened her inhibitions—not to mention her tongue—but
she had to admit she liked it. And from the spark of interest reflected in those deep gray eyes, she had to think that maybe
he liked it, too.
“I’m sorry if I seemed harsh earlier,” he said. “They’ve got me working a killer mission, and the key to our brilliant plan
just disappeared in a puff.”
That, she realized, was his polite way of reminding her that she’d screwed up royally. Obviously she had a lot to learn about
this Protector thing. Hopefully the manual wasn’t too long, because she intended to read it cover to cover tonight.
He shifted, and she felt the press of his long, lean legs against her, and the caress of his hand along her back. Immediately
she decided to ditch reading the manual. He’d pulled her to him in sympathy, but if she was reading the signs right, there
was a subtle shift in the tenor of his touch.
He smiled at her, warm and dreamy, and she said a silent prayer that it really was interest she saw in the depths of his eyes,
and not an alcohol-induced hallucination. “Will you accept my apology?”
She nodded, her knees feeling a little weak from the way he was watching her so intently. “I . . . I think I better get home.”
She swallowed, then pressed on boldly, surprising herself, and yet at the same time somehow feeling more like herself than
she ever had before. “Would you come with me?”
The corner of his mouth curved up. “You live near here?”
She shook her head. “Brooklyn,” she said. “I was on my way to the train when—”
“You’re not in any condition to walk,” he said.
“Unless you have a pumpkin you’re planning on turning into a carriage, I haven’t got a choice.” She frowned, remembering with
crystal clarity exactly why a taxi was out of the question. Fired . She couldn’t freaking believe it.
“I think I can do you one better than a pumpkin,” he said, even as he pulled her close and held her tight around the waist.
And then, without any warning at all, he shot upward, leaving the ground far below. Lydia trembled in his arms, thinking that
a day that had started out like crap was seriously looking up.
Lydia Carmichael.
Somehow, it seemed like the perfect name. She’d been on his mind since he’d rescued her that morning—or, rather, since he
thought he’d rescued her. Now that he knew she was a Protector, her earlier protestations made sense. She’d rescued a girl who’d screamed, and he’d somehow interfered in her follow-up. True, she’d looked to be in trouble, what with
the gun in her face, but that could have been a ruse. Much like the one she’d inadvertently interrupted only moments ago.
Already, he forgave her that. There was, quite simply, something about this woman. Something that made his heart beat a little
faster and his Protector instincts fire. He wanted to gather her up, to keep her safe. Apparently he’d been lonelier than
he realized.
Empirically, the girl was trouble: a new Protector, obviously clueless, she’d gotten in the way of one of the biggest stings
of his career and one of the most important operations in Council history.
And yet, here he was, feeling all warm and fuzzy toward her.
Libido, he reminded himself. Not real, just lust.
Still, he thought, as her soft body
Similar Books
