Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
A s soon as we got into the street, I broke free of Leo’s hold and spun round to confront him.
‘I can fight my own battles, thank you very much,’ I said, trying my hardest to keep my voice steady as I moved a safe distance away.
If I stayed close to him for any longer, I was worried I might lash out at him in frustration, or worse, inexplicably find myself back in his embrace thanks to some primal instinct I knew I was better off ignoring.
My heart was pounding so hard I thought I could hear my blood rushing through my head, and my waist was tingling, still experiencing the warmth from where his arm had wrapped around it.
‘Of that I have little doubt,’ he said.
‘Then why did you feel the need for that ridiculous performance?’ I waved my hand in the direction of the bar we’d exited at speed.
Leo’s lips twitched. If he dared to smile at me right now, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
‘Ridiculous? That’s the first time any aspect of my performance has been called ridiculous.
I obviously need to work on my technique.
’ His voice was low, so I had to lean in closer to hear what he was saying.
Was it my imagination, or had his gaze dropped briefly to my lips again?
Last time he’d done it in jest, but now I wasn’t sure I wanted that to be the case, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.
I flushed, experiencing an unwanted flashback to moments earlier when he’d practically scooped me up, his breath warm against the nape of my neck as he whispered, ‘Let’s get out of here.
’ A centimetre closer and he could have dropped a kiss on the sensitive skin there.
I shivered. Why was I allowing myself to get distracted by such a ridiculous and unwanted idea?
Leo had acted in a completely overbearing manner, swooping in to save me when I hadn’t asked for it, and most certainly did not need it.
Just because such alpha he-man action would have been followed by a swoon-inducing snog in Doris’s romance books, didn’t mean such things would happen in real life.
Thank goodness. The last thing I wanted was that kind of complication.
‘Are you cold?’ he asked. ‘I would offer you my jacket, but I left it behind in the bar in our haste to depart.’
‘ Your haste to depart. Don’t let me stop you going back in to claim it,’ I snapped, still battling to get myself back in line.
‘I think perhaps it’s best for both of us to steer well clear of that bar. Your over-eager friend might feel the need for a show of strength to try to rebuild his bruised ego.’
‘He’s not my friend. And add it to your expenses claim, why don’t you?’
‘I didn’t realise I was entitled to expenses. That’s good to know.’ Leo smiled, supremely relaxed, as if we were standing in the street passing the time of day. In some ways, it would have been much easier if he’d shouted back at me. But I already knew that he wasn’t that kind of person.
‘You’re not entitled to them. Our original agreement stands, although I’m questioning the wisdom of that right now.
And, as usual, you’re completely missing the point.
I had things under control. I’m quite capable of looking after myself.
I certainly didn’t need rescuing, especially not by a galumphing neanderthal declaring that I was “taken”. ’
I’d definitely gone a bit far there, but I wasn’t going to back down now.
‘Galumphing neanderthal? You do fling some interesting compliments at me. Well, it didn’t look very under control from where I was sitting, but if I got the wrong idea about what was happening, don’t let me stop you going back inside to pick up where you left off.
Be my guest.’ Leo gestured towards the entrance.
I folded my arms and frowned at him. Much as I’d like to prove my point about being able to stand on my own two feet, there was no way I was heading back in there.
‘I thought not,’ he said quietly. ‘Look, it’s nothing to get het up about. Everyone needs a helping hand now and again. It doesn’t make you any less of a person.’
Before I could respond, there was a burst of noise behind us as the door of the bar opened again and a loudly swearing bloke who I recognised from one of the other Single Mingle tables staggered out into the street, accompanied by the thick stench of alcohol.
Despite the fact that I was in the middle of delivering my strong independent woman speech, I couldn’t help flinching at the noise and taking an involuntary step backwards.
Leo neatly sidestepped and placed himself between me and the drunk lurching slowly towards us, ready to shield me once again from any potential threat.
‘Alright, darling? Can I get you a drink? Those stuck-ups in there were doing my nut.’ The drunk gazed blearily towards me, his eyes unable to focus.
I rapidly calculated whether it was better to ignore him or politely turn him down.
‘No, thank you.’
‘Think you’re better than me, do you?’ he retorted in a tone which made me want to take another step back.
‘I’ve got a boyfriend,’ I said, looping my arm through Leo’s. Much as I hated using the ‘not available’ defence I’d just been riling about, sadly I knew it was the only one that a lot of men would pay any attention to.
‘Course you have,’ slurred the drunk, before slapping Leo heartily on the shoulder. ‘Sorry, pal, no hard feelings.’
Somehow, I wasn’t surprised he’d said sorry to Leo rather than the person who actually deserved the apology.
I watched the man stumble down the street until he’d disappeared out of view.
‘Okay?’ asked Leo.
‘I’m fine. Again.’ I paused. ‘But thanks for that.’
‘It’s no big deal,’ he said.
Given that I’d been in the middle of bawling him out for intervening and blowing up our investigation at the Single Mingle, I was grateful that he’d not let it stop him noticing my apprehension at the appearance of the drunk and acting on it.
But it was important that I made clear the difference in the two situations.
‘Seriously though, I could have handled Marc back in the bar. He was sleazy and definitely a creep, but what could he really do? It wasn’t like he could jump me right then and there. We were surrounded by people.’
‘People who were actively looking away from what was happening right in front of them.’
Leo had a point, although I didn’t want to admit it out loud.
‘Look, it’s been a long evening. I’m tired and I think it’s probably time for me to head home,’ I said.
‘Good plan,’ he said. ‘The city centre’s only going to get more feral as the evening goes on.’
‘See you later, then.’ I gave a little half wave and turned to walk to the bike rack, glad to clock that there was no sign of Gavin and Robin carrying out surveillance from its shadows. Hopefully that meant they were now safely tucked up at the dog-friendly hostel.
Leo fell into step beside me.
‘Don’t worry, you don’t need to see me home. I left my bike here after work so I could get back more easily tonight. See, I thought of everything.’ I omitted the fact that I’d forgotten to bring my bike lights, so I’d be pushing it home, rather than riding it.
He frowned. ‘You don’t have to talk to me, if you don’t want to. But I would prefer to make sure you get back safely. Let’s say it’s for my peace of mind, if that’s an easier pill for you to swallow.’
There was an edge to his voice. I figured it was the influence of his previous career coming to the fore again.
‘I do appreciate the thought, but I managed to get around the city perfectly fine by myself before you came into my life, and I’m sure I’ll do the same after we’ve both moved on.’
I knew I was coming across as rude, but he was still setting me off balance and the only way I could think to deal with it was to get on the offensive.
‘I don’t doubt it for a second. Call me old-fashioned, but I can’t rest easy if I see a friend marching off into the darkness alone, particularly after they’ve had a bit of a rough night, even if they’re doing their best to pretend that everything is “just fine”.’
His imitation of my speech was uncannily accurate, and despite myself, I smiled. Time to give in graciously.
‘Then, thank you. I appreciate your concern. It’s good to be able to walk home with a friend.’
I hoped he didn’t notice my slight stumble before I said ‘friend’.
It felt weird using that term for him. We were investigation partners.
Our relationship was meant to be entirely professional, each of us assisting the other towards their desired goal.
It was important that the lines didn’t get blurred in any way.
Once again, I stamped down on the strange stirrings of a very different kind of feeling towards him.
‘Friend’ didn’t quite fit in that scenario either, but it was definitely a much safer term than any other, and safe was sensible. I had learned that lesson the hard way.
‘Where’s your bike? Or rather, where on the rack was it? I know they have a habit of disappearing in this town.’ Leo thankfully seemed oblivious of my internal dilemma, and I welcomed the change of topic.
‘Tell me about it. Someone once told me that the bikes in Oxford get stolen to order and sold off in Cambridge, and vice versa. You’d probably know all about that, being in CID, although maybe you were dealing with much more serious stuff.
Anyway, the combination of hardcore locks on both front and back wheels, and Betty being the most basic of bikes, has managed to put the thieves off so far, touch wood. ’
I tapped the side of my head.
‘Of course, you’d give your bike a name,’ said Leo with a laugh.
‘It’s probably a bad idea. If she ever does get nicked, I’ll be devastated.’
Thankfully, Betty was still securely locked where I’d left her, and, even better, my helmet was still attached too and didn’t contain someone’s leftover kebab, which had once happened.