Page 9 of Keeping Collette

Collette nodded, but Deal wondered how much she was hearing now. No way would it be easy for her to digest the news. Whether connected or not the longer Courtney remained missing the worse the outcome could be.

Chapter Five

The late afternoon sun greeted Collette as she walked out of the Alliez Security building. Deal walked beside her, his hand resting low on her back, as if he expected her to collapse in a heap.

The chances of that happening were slim. When they’d told her that some of the people who’d gone missing from the same place as Courtney and suspected people trafficking was involved, she’d thought she was going to faint. And Deal had been there to catch her.

“You don’t have to see me home. I’m fine.” They arrived at her car, and she grimaced when she saw the piece of paper lying flat against her windshield. “Great. Of course, I’d get a parking ticket.”

Before she could grab it, Deal had leaned forward and plucked it out from beneath the wiper. “Don’t worry about it. We should’ve thought this was a possibility and moved your car to under the building.”

He pocketed it before she could hold her hand out for it. Nope, not happening. “While I appreciate your sentiment, it was my responsibility to remember to top up my parking meter.” Collette held out her hand. “I’ll take that back, thank you.”

Deal shoved his hands in his pockets, and she heard the crinkle of paper. “It’s fine. Do you want me to follow you home?”

Collette slow blinked at the man standing in front of her. “I’m sorry, why are you ignoring me? I want the ticket, please.”

Perhaps if she used her manners, he might understand she wasn’t budging from this. She was already going to be indebted to Alliez because of what they were doing, she didn’t need him to take her fine as well.

She crossed her arms over her chest, and lifted her chin, showing him he wasn’t going to intimidate or scare her.

A slow smile spread across his face, and her breath caught. If she’d thought he was handsome before, with that smile, he was deadly. Anyone with a beating heart wouldn’t be able to resist whatever he said. “Here you go,” he said slowly, as he pulled his hand from his pocket and held it out.

His acquiesce shocked her. She fully expected him to put up more of a fight.

It can’t be that easy.

“Thank you.” Collette went to take it, but he snatched his hand back.

Of course, it couldn’t be that easy.

She opened her mouth to protest, but snapped it shut when he shook his head. “Hear me out. I’ll give this to you if you’ll let me take you out to dinner.”

Was he serious? He wanted to take her to dinner? Could she sit opposite him at a small table and continue to resist him? She’d just met him; she’d have to. She had no time in her life for any man. And her reaction to Deal was confusing and ill-timed.

Once Courtney was found, she would have to be there for her sister all the time. Help her process whatever trauma she’d gone through, because there was no way Courtney was having a good time wherever she was.

The choice was either swallow her pride, let him give her the ticket and have dinner with him, or let him keep that piece of paper that was swaying in the breeze and go home alone to a dinner of grilled cheese.

The right thing to do would be to say thank you and get in her car, completely ignoring him, but also knowing he would follow her home—something she’d just remembered him saying.

It seemed whatever she decided, Deal would be there.

Her stomach rumbled, as if making the decision for her. “Fine. I’ll eat with you. But we’ll be going in separate cars. Tell me where you want to eat and I’ll meet you there.”

If he objected to her request, he didn’t let it show. “Perfect. There’s a little restaurant not far from here, but it’s probably best if you follow me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you not trust me or something? Do you think I’m going to ditch you and go home instead?”

Collette couldn’t lie, the thought had crossed her mind for all of a second before she discarded it. Doing something like that would be awful and not nice at all. Also, it would be totally out of character for her.

Deal studied her, and she withstood his perusal. “No, I don’t think you’d do that. If I can’t take you there, I’d rather at least have you follow me. That way I know you’re safe.”

Was the request for her safety something that came automatically to him because of where he worked? Or was it because of what they’d found out about her sister? Collette couldn’t shake the feeling they were keeping something about where Courtney had last been from her. Perhaps having dinner with Deal was a good idea, then she could grill him about it.

“Okay, I can accept that.” She looked around where she was parked. “Shall I stay here and wait for you? What kind of car do you own?”

“How about you drive me to my car? It’s under the building. That way you won’t have any issues.”