“Thank you,” she whispered, emotion swirling in her beautiful eyes.
“It’s late. You should go home. Wait for me to pull up so I can follow you.”
“You don’t need to follow me.”
She was in for a surprise if she thought there was any chance in hell I’d leave her here. I didn’t even like letting her drive home alone before, no way was I doing it now. I’d seen her nervous to walk to and from her car too many times over the past year. Her hyper-awareness of her surroundings, glancing in the backseat of her car, closing the door and locking it as fast as she could, even when we were all nearby. At first, I’d just watched over her, ensured she was safe, but unable to help herfeelsafe.
After a while, I started walking her to her car. Worried about what happened on the other end of the drive, I’d followed her home a few times. The first time, to make sure it looked safe.And then a few more times when she seemed extra nervous or I was feeling extra protective.
She lived in a nice building in a nice section of San Antonio. It had a big, well-lit parking lot, a meticulously maintained exterior, and an elegantly decorated lobby, but Jenna still didn’t feel safe out there. She pretended she did, but I saw through her bravado.
I took her hand, needing her to know how serious I was. “This wasn’t just a random dinner. It’s our first date. The start of us dating. When you’re ready, I’m going to ask you to be my girlfriend. And I’m not leaving my soon-to-be girlfriend to get home by herself.”
“Um, okay.” I saw fear and hope warring within her, and I prayed I hadn’t pushed her too hard too fast.
I needed to touch her again. To comfort her. I slowly reached out to smooth a hand over her hair, and when she didn’t pull back, I cupped her jaw.
She leaned into me! Thank God. It wasn’t much, but from Jenna, that show of trust meant everything. “You good with that?”
A long pause, then she nodded, a smile slowly spreading across her beautiful face. “Yes. I’d like that.”
“Good.” I kissed the top of her head. “Go ahead in the car. Wait for me.”
I waited for her to get in and lock her doors before I jogged to my car. I followed her for the short drive to her apartment and, luckily, I found a spot near her, but she was already getting out of her car, clutching her keys and looking around when I got to her.
“Hey,” I said softly, but she still jumped. “Sorry. Wait for me next time.”
She straightened her shoulders and jutted out her chin. “I can walk into my apartment myself. I do it every day.”
“I know you can. But you don’t have to when I’m here.”
Defiance flared in her beautiful eyes.
“May I please walk you in?”
She thought about it for longer than I liked.
“Just to your front door. I’m not going in.”
Her expression softened. “That isn’t why I hesitated. I trust you, Liam.”
She didn’t trust me. Not yet. But I didn’t call her out on it. “Thank you. Can I ask why, then?”
“Just because.” She shrugged. That was a bullshit answer, but I didn’t call her out on that either.
Hopefully, she really would trust me one day soon. Hopefully, she’d want to be with me the way I wanted to be with her. I’d make her feel safe and loved, and I’d kill the motherfucker who made her so wary.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jenna
Liam leaned his hip against my car, pretending to look casual while he waited patiently for my answer. I knew he was still aware of me and everything around us, though. He always was. Even knowing that, I couldn’t help but admire the way his eyes gleamed in the moonlight and the way his shirt strained against his pecs. It was hard not to when that chest was so broad it blocked nearly everything else from my view.
Despite the thrill running through me—or maybe because of it—I gave an exaggerated huff. “Fine, walk me in. I wouldn’t want to offend your chivalrous nature.”
His smile lit up the whole night sky. Lit up my body too. And that’s exactly why I should have refused.
He was everything I wanted. Trustworthy, thoughtful, sexy. Safe.