4. Raven
Ishould have asked for a name.
That’s the first thought that stirs in my mind when I stare at Christian, who’s gaping at me like he’s just seen a miracle. Or the devil. I know I didn’t ask for a name because I trusted Honey Lee, and I know whoever she recommends will be more than enough.
But yes, names would have prevented so many things right now.
Holy shit, is the second thing running through because…well, who expects to see the man again after he ghosted me not even an hour after sleeping with me? It’s the lowest of lows, especially when he doesn’t even have the courtesy to say goodbye or leave a note.
Don’t even the shortest of trysts have protocols?
I’m speechless for too long, but it’s he who recovers first and clears his throat.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Politeness coats his tone. I glance at Honey Lee, who’s smiling her warm smile and waiting expectantly. Realizing I’m stuck, I gulp down my shock and nod just as politely.
“Likewise.”
Honey Lee chatters to give us more information that confirms Christian is indeed what he told me he was, though he left out the Navy SEAL part…oh, and the agency part. There’s so much pride in her voice, too, indicating they know each other well, and I curse the fact that I didn’t choose the talk-all-night option and instead let my needs dictate my decision last night. If I knew he was going to be the agent assigned to me…
Then what?
“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted. Talk about it and all that.”
Just like that, my cousin’s gone and it’s just the two of us. The moment she’s out of the room, his polite mask drops and those green eyes stare hard at me.
“You didn’t tell me you were running away from your ex.”
Taken aback, I can only stare before I raise my chin.
“You didn’t tell me you owned a protection agency.”
“I told you I’m a business owner.”
“In California, and not what kind of business.”
His brows furrow. “I don’t have to tell you I’m taking assignments here, too. I don’t owe you that information.”
I lift an eyebrow at his response.
“Not when we met at the bar, anyway.”
The Southern gentleman I met—and the one who charmed me out of my panties—is gone, and in his place is a cool, no-nonsense man who’s too arrogant and flippant for his own good. Did I say I found his arrogance charming? There’s nothing charming about him now.
And no, I don’t care that his brown hair’s all carelessly tousled and he looks good scowling. I don’t care that he looks good in his black jeans and white shirt, not when he’s throwing remarks that rile me up.
“It goes both ways, you know. I don’t owe you that information, either.”
“So, you’ll just sleep with a random guy knowing what you came here for?”
“And you’ll just sleep with a random woman, knowing what you came here for? I’m allowed to unwind.” I glare at him. “I’m allowed to not reveal details about my past to a random guy.”
That startles him and has him mulling. I brace myself for a softening, maybe even an apology for how he left so abruptly last night.
Instead, Christian frowns. “I should have known. It would have changed things if I’d known.”
“Would it?”
“Hmm. Anyway…what’s done is done. We can’t do anything but move forward.”
Astonishment slams through me at the regret in his voice, however light it is—Regret that he slept with me? Or met me? Before I can recover, my cousin strolls back carrying a tray of juice and cookies.
“Are we all acquainted now?”
His expression tightens before it shuts down, revealing nothing. The smile returns, and when he looks at her, his face softens with an expression that makes me ache. I shake off the reaction quickly.
“Yes, quite acquainted. Don’t worry about it, Honey Lee. Your cousin made the right decision to come to our town. She’s in good hands.”
The gall. I open my mouth, then close it when Honey Lee utters a big sigh of relief.
“I’m glad. You don’t need to worry about anything now, Raven. Christian here is a standup fellow and just the kind of man you need.”
I bite back a scoff and the urge to point out that I thought that last night, too, until things went sideways. But there’s no need to regale my cousin with stories of my sex life or make her feel guilty by revealing what happened. I know her, and I know she’ll take responsibility.
And if I really think about it, even coming here to ask for her help already puts a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.
When they get to reminiscing about their childhood and some neighbors he hadn’t seen in a while, I excuse myself and head to the kitchen, needing the moment to gather my bearings. My pulse is beating like mad while the rest of me is still agitated. I peek at the living room in time to catch him throwing his head back in laughter over something Honey Lee says, and the sight caresses my insides with the same need that took hold of me yesterday when we were?—
I shut it down. What am I doing, feeling resentment but still feeling other things for a man who’s proven himself to be an unfeeling ass?
Panic flares and I take a deep breath. Movement catches my eye and I freeze when I see Christian looking at me, his laughter gone and his face an unreadable mask. Then Honey Lee is in the kitchen.
“Is it too late to back out?”
My question has her whirling to peer at me. “Why do you want to back out?”
I scan my head for reasons. “I don’t know. Don’t you think…don’t you think that I might have overreacted? That maybe I can just stay here without protection? It’s not like this is near my place…”
Her eyes widen. “You’re joking, right?”
“Well…”
“He stalked you, Raven. And harassed you. And broke into the one place you thought would be safe.”
My heart constricts at the memory of finding him in my apartment. I jump at the hands on my shoulders before I remember that I’m not there anymore and the person I’m facing is someone I love. And trust.
“Sweetie, what’s this about?”
I swallow at her kind, worried tone. “Nothing.”
She’s silent for a bit as if considering my earlier words. Then her shoulders steel. “I think you need protection. Your ex is still out there somewhere, and I’m sure he’s not finished with you just because you moved. And he’s a computer guy. What if he tracks you down and you don’t have protection?”
Fear clenches my body at the thought alone. It tries to crawl all over me until I’m consumed, but I push it back, remembering the exercises I’ve done to get rid of the crippling emotion.
“Besides, you already paid. I don’t think Christian has a refund policy, but if you really want to back out, maybe I can talk to him…”
“No. There’s no need.”
I refuse to put my cousin in that position just because I slept with my protector. I gulp in my worries, then shake my head.
“You’re right. It’s stupid to back out.”
“No, not stupid. You’re a brave woman, Raven.”
God, I don’t deserve her. But I’m grateful for her. I fall into her open arms, hugging her back.
“I swear to you that he’s a good guy. Good at his job, too, otherwise he wouldn’t be successful. You don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to Christian. I grew up with him.”
I nod, the decision cementing itself. Then I square my shoulders and head back to the living room to face him again. Christian studies me, his expression as cool as it was when this started.
“Were you going to back out?”
“No.”
“Good. This is a first assignment for me. You could say it’s a test before I expand in the area.”
I raise a brow.
“So, I’m an experiment?”
“No. I take my job seriously. You need protection from your ex, who repeatedly harassed you and made you feel unsafe in your own home—and no matter how you look at it, that’s wrong. No one should be made to feel that.”
My heart jumps in my chest. The words catch me off guard, but it’s the absolute certainty in his tone that makes me understand how much protecting someone means to him—even if it’s protecting someone he probably doesn’t want to be around anymore.
“Right.”
“But now you’re here, so I’ll do my best to make you feel safe.”
“Right.”
“I have one rule, though.”
“What?”
“This remains professional. I don’t sleep with clients.”
There’s something in his tone that perks my ears, a heaviness that has questions swimming in my head. But I bite my tongue, hearing the warning, too, and nod. I match his cool tone.
“Fine by me. I’m done sleeping with men after that fiasco last night.”
Shut up, Raven.
Christian narrows his eyes, but thankfully, he doesn’t take the bait. He holds out a hand. I reluctantly reach out to shake it, biting my tongue again at the electric charge that passes between us.
We let go quickly, and I remind myself of the cold feeling I got when I woke up and he was gone. It was an awful feeling, one that I never want to experience again.
And the key to that is to forget about the charming Christian and remember that this is the professional, no-nonsense Christian I’m dealing with now.
“Now, pack your bags.”
I’m still revving myself up when the words have me blinking. “What? Why?”
And his answer shocks me to my core.
“Because you’re coming home with me. Part of the protection program is us living in the same space.”