Chapter 20
“Damnit, Andi!” Laith growled, wanting to pull her onto his lap and bury his face against the warmth of her neck. He wanted to protect her from the world. Hell, he wanted to be her world.
“So, how was your weekend?”
The beautiful, blue-eyed woman offered him a serene, stunning smile and suddenly, his anger dissolved. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair. “I spent time with my family,” he said, recognizing the stubborn expression in her eyes. “I spoke with my father and uncles about you.”
“Oh?” Her gaze turned wary.
The food arrived faster than he’d expected. Apparently, Andi was ravenous because she dove into the food, closing her eyes at the greasy treat. “Oh, this is good!”
Laith could see the stress in her shoulders and the anxious look in her eyes.
So instead of continuing to ask about who was harassing her, he decided to ease into the topic more casually.
However, once he started talking about his visit back home with his family, Andi started asking him questions about his aunts and uncles.
Before he knew it, they were sharing stories about family squabbles and laughing about the pros and cons of siblings.
It was one of the nicest breaks he’d had since…
the last time he’d eaten with her. But before he could raise the topic of her harasser again, the meal ended.
Without ceremony or warning, Andi stood up and leaned over the table, bracing her hands on the rough wood as she looked down at him with those beautiful, blue eyes.
“Thank you for lunch. I need to get back to work.” She kissed him lightly, then turned and hurried towards the door.
But before she’d taken two steps, she paused.
“Don’t follow me,” she called back over her shoulder, then hurried forward and pushed through the pub’s heavy, wooden door.
Laith was so startled by the sweetness of the kiss, it took him several seconds to understand what had just happened. That sweet, almost innocent kiss was the first time that Andi had initiated any physical contact between them, which made it so much more powerful.
Unaware of his expression of stunned surprise, Laith looked over at the two guards who were stationed inside. Both were smirking at him. Stiffening, Laith grumbled something under his breath that made the guards laugh, then he stood up and followed his woman out the door.
One question suddenly popped into his mind; why didn’t she want him to follow her?