Page 28 of Diners, Damsels & Wolves

“Yes. My body, let’s just say it doesn’t handle it well.”

“It’s probably better not to have any anyways, doctors always seem to find new reasons to only drink water.” She picked at the last of her food while she babbled.

“Clarissa, would you do me a favor?”

Oh no, this is it. This is where he asks to wear her skin or sell him her used panties.

“That depends on what the favor is.” She frowned.

“If you do see him again, call the cops immediately. Don’t try to run or fight him off. Men like that, they enjoy it. Just call for help.”

“I can do that, but I can’t promise if something happens I’ll just sit there and let it happen,” she said.

“I understand.”

“There’s more?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “Would you consider calling me, if you were in need? Not just in dark parking lots, but if anything happened and you needed help. I want you to know you can call me.”

“What, my own personal knight in shining armor on speed dial?” She snorted.

“If that’s how you want to think of it, then yes.”

Her laugh cut off. “You’re serious.”

“Very. I get the impression you don’t have many people like that in your life. I’m offering myself up. Take my business card, it has my cell on it, that way you don’t have to commit to giving me your number right now, but you have mine if you need me.”

Taking the card, she stared at the shining lettering. It looked high quality. “Thank you, but I don’t understand. Why are you doing this?”

“Would it be cliché to say I feel protective of you?” His face became sheepish. “It’s my nature. You can ask my sister and she’ll vouch for me.”

“Let me guess, you were the big brother that scared off all her dates?”

“Something like that.”

Jordan came by with the check as Clarissa was putting the card in her wallet. Tom went up to the counter to cash out, then waited for her by the door. He held it open for her and walked her to her car.

Turning to tell him goodbye, she jumped. He was standing closer than expected. Close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating off him and the scent of his cologne to waft into her senses. It was musky and deep; she thought there were undertones of amber and pine. The illogical urge to reach out and place her hand on his chest, to feel the rhythm of his heartbeat under her fingers, came over her. She shot it down.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice low.

“For what?” She looked up at him.

“For giving me more than three minutes today. I enjoyed talking with you.” He brushed a piece of hair from her face.

She would have swooned if not for the involuntary flinch that jerked her head away from his touch. He withdrew without comment. “I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.”

She nodded. “I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much.”

“It seems I set the bar fairly high for myself, I’ll brush up on my knock-knock jokes for next time.” He smirked. “Have a good rest of your day, Clarissa.”

She got in her car, and he closed the door after her. In a daze, she turned the key. Had he said ‘next time’?

What the hell was she doing? Hadn’t she told herself she wasn’t seeing any men until she got things sorted out with Rachel?

Eating lunch at work didn’t count as ‘seeing,’ did it? She just had to keep her head about her and not get too excited. She couldn’t allow herself to get invested in him—she wasn’t going to see him outside of work. But the occasional friendly conversation wouldn’t hurt.

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