He sat in one of the small chairs at the table in the corner. “I wasn’t sure if you had really eaten, so I asked Raine what you ordered this morning and had Collin remake it for you, but we can go get something else if you’d like. I just didn’t want to come empty-handed, and I didn’t know how you felt about being around me. So, I can leave if you want, or I can stay. I planned on picking you up and taking you out for dinner. But, I didn’t know where you would want to go and this is such a smalltown.”
He was nervously rambling on and on. It was one of the cutest things in theworld.
“A burger with a fried egg sounds amazing right now.” I grabbed the plastic cups that were sitting by the bathroom sink. “So does whiskey.” I grinned as I took the seat across fromhim.
I was in red meat heaven, eating like a pig—elbows on the table, ketchup everywhere, grease dripping down my arms and chin. I really was a sucker for a good burger, and that one might have been one of the best of my life. It might not have been the tastiest, but I could actually sit and enjoy it. I couldn’t believe how much Ray had affected the simplest things in my life. Something so small as enjoying a meal had been stolen from me—until thatmoment.
There was something so calming about Trent—his voice, his demeanor, his resolve to defend me. I knew his words were empty promises, but I could feel his passion with every syllable hespoke.
I popped the last bite into my mouth. “That was amazing.” I leaned back in my chair, wiping my hands andface.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” His smile was captivating. He had the brightest, whitest teeth I had ever seen. His lips were full, and his eyes creased at the corners as his cheeks perked up. Fuck—hiseyes. They were perfect. Angels were probably jealous of their beauty. They were shattered glass of every shade of skyblue.
“So, tell me something about yourself. I want to get to know my knight in shining armor.” I poured us each a little morewhiskey.
He shrugged. “Ha! More like tinfoil. There really isn’t much totell.”
Lies. Fucking load of bullshit.“Oh, come on. Something—anything.”
“I was a Marine before I became an outlaw. I did two tours inIraq.”
It was not what I’d been thinking he would say. “Do you miss being in themilitary?”
His shoulders slouched while he played with the cup in his hand. “Sometimes, but I love being an outlaw more than a Marine. This club saved mylife.”
“Right now, I feel the same way.” I snickered a little, trying to keep the conversation a littlelighter.
“Who are you running from exactly?” He put his hand on my forearm, drawing circles with histhumb.
“My ex is a really mean guy. He’s been following me around the country ever since I broke things off with him.” The words came out of my mouth but I didn’t feel like I had saidthem.
“He will not be able to get to you here, I can promise you that.” Trent’s jaw got rigid after hespoke.
“I don’t know how he keeps finding me. I’ve changed phones constantly, never used the same name twice, only pay with cash now.” It was the first time I had opened up about Ray to anyone other than thecops.
Trent cocked his head to the side. “Your car,” hemuttered.
I shook my head. “I checked it for bugs and didn’t findanything.”
“Do you trust me?” heasked.
“I don’t know…maybe? I want to, if that means anything.” It was the most honest answer I could give him. I needed someone I could trust, and he was the first person that seemed like a viableoption.
“I have someone you need to meet. Let me call her.” Trent shoved up from the table. He started to pace as he dialed the number and put the phone to hisear.
“Crickett, hey it’s Tre. Yeah, I’m going to bring her by the house now, I just wanted to make sure you were home. All right. See you in a fewminutes.”
He shoved his phone back into hispocket.
“I have a plan.” He grabbed my hand, moving to lead me out of theroom.
I reached for my bag, but he stopped me. “What?”
“Don’t bring anything with you. I’m going to have Collin come get your car in the morning and I’ll have my guys check it. I don’t want you staying here tonight. You’re going to stay with a friend ofmine.”
I pulled my arm away from him. “I don’t like being told what todo.”
“I frankly do not give a fuck right now. You could be in danger and I am not going to let you sit in this damn room like a lamb just waiting to beslaughtered.”