Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Marti
The bad news… spending more time with Sutton wasn’t making me less of an idiot in his presence, though talking to him seemed to be getting easier. The badder…worser… worstest news… Spending more time with him was making me like him more, and that was a problem..
He came and sat down across from me at the booth where I was bundling silverware into napkins, easing into the seat with a smoothness that was hard not to admire, especially in those light, soft looking jeans and that tight, long-sleeved half–buttoned button–down.
I was so busy admiring, I’d apparently stopped rolling silverware, and I actually jumped a little when he spoke.
“I did a background check on you.”
“Oh,” my stomach dropped, and I looked back down at my task, taking a deep breath. “I guess that makes sense.”
It more than made sense. I’d expected it, I had figured he already had, but I wasn’t really sure I wanted to talk about it. Couldn’t he just know about my family history without mentioning it?
“Your father is still in jail.”
“Yeah.”
Reaching out, he put his hand on mine, stopping me from shredding the napkin I was supposed to be using to secure silverware. “He hasn’t been on the best behavior there, so he’s been denied bail several times.”
His hand was a little rough, something I hadn’t realized until right then that I would like so much. It was too much of a temptation not to flip my own hand over and feel that texture against my palm. His skin was warm and reassuring. I could almost forget what we were talking about.
“I’m not surprised by that.” I’d actually kinda been counting on that when they took him away in handcuffs and he watched me through the window with hatred in his eyes.
“You set booby traps at your house.”
My grip tightened, and I met his eyes, trying hard to read his face. Did he know? “I did.”
“That’s why I did the background check.” He smiled softly, his expression gentle.
Maybe he didn’t know after all. Not yet, but he’d probably figure it out. He was a smart man, and half of his company was private investigation. He’d put the pieces together eventually.
“You don’t have to explain that to me,” I told him, returning the smile. “You’re helping me basically for nothing.”
“It’s not for nothing.”
I allowed myself a laugh, feeling the most secure I’d felt in a long time at that moment.
It felt almost like things really were going to be okay.
“Right. A favor for later. With all my resources, you have endless possibilities. But hey, at least you get to sleep on Rendi’s couch and get assaulted bright and early in the morning. ”
He’d been sleeping on Rendi’s couch for three nights.
They’d already put a new security system up at my house, but when I’d gone to get more clothes the day before, he’d suggested going back to Rendi’s for another night.
I had no doubt that was for my benefit more than anything.
It probably had something to do with my wide, terrified and searching eyes every time I heard so much as a creak, or the way I stalled out at my own bedroom door, peering around like I expected someone to jump out at me.
“Would it make you feel better if you came and stayed at my house?”
I blinked in surprise, searching his face in question, but his expression was earnest. “Uh. You don’t want me in your house,” I told him after a moment. ”Right? What if I burn it down?”
“Is that something you often have to worry about?”
“Do you plan on being there?” He chuckled and nodded, and I nodded in response. “Then yes.”
“Is that your only objection? Would it make you feel uncomfortable to stay with me?”
“Probably.” When he raised an eyebrow at my admission, I shrugged. “Not because I’m worried about you making a move on me or anything.” I waved my free hand out in front of me. “More like I hope you have good home insurance.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head. He was hesitant to say something. He definitely looked conflicted, but whatever it was, he must have decided against it because he shrugged. “Let’s stay at my house tonight.”
Oh, Lord. Here we go.