The entire drive back to Ferness was made in silence from that point on. Laura wouldn’t even look at him. Charon could practically see the distance between them growing, and he did nothing to stop it.
If he were smart, he’d keep that distance between them by keeping as far away from her as he was able. She was asking too many questions. As intelligent as she was, she might very well put it all together.
The thought of not seeing her daily left him sick to his stomach. It’d be easier if he could get her to leave. But she loved Ferness as if she’d grown up in the sleepy little town.
Charon might be a monster, but he wasn’t completely heartless. He wouldn’t make her leave.
By the time he pulled up in front of her flat, he already had a plan in place. “Good luck with your date,” he said as she opened the car door.
Even that couldn’t get her to look at him. She hesitated for just a moment before she murmured a thanks and got out of the car.
Charon waited until she was inside her flat before he pulled away. Hating himself more every minute.
The only thing that kept him on course was knowing it would save Laura’s life in the end.
CHAPTER NINE
Laura knew it wasn’t Ben’s fault. No one could compete with someone like Charon. And even though she was angry with Charon, she still couldn’t stop thinking of him.
Not a good thing when she was on a date for the first time in years.
“I thought you liked sushi.”
She jerked her head to Ben, his voice dragging her away from her thoughts again as they walked down the streets of Ferness. “I do. I’m so sorry, Ben. It’s just been crazy at work lately. We only today learned we’ll be a seller of Dreagan whisky, and there are a million things I need to do.”
He shrugged, but she saw how irritated he was by the way he held his mouth. “Doona worry about it.”
“No, I feel terrible. You deserved better than this.”
“Aye, I did.”
At first she thought he was kidding, but when there was no smile, she knew he meant every word. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to allow her to make it up to him, but she suddenly realized she didn’t want to be around Ben anymore.
The entire date was spent listening to him go on about himself as he stuffed sushi in his mouth. Not once did he ask her about her family or her past. She should have been grateful since she didn’t like to tell people why she left her family.
What kind of guy isn’t interested in his own date?
Laura breathed a silent sigh of relief when her flat came into view. She couldn’t wait to get rid of Ben and forget about the entire, painful night.
She thought to say goodnight next to his car, but he continued walking to her door. Laura glanced around to find the streets deserted.
Ferness was small, and it was after midnight, but usually there were people around. At least the pub was down the street a ways and she could go there if need be.
Odd that she never felt so uneasy around Ben before. It was something she should have picked up on. Laura discreetly dug out her keys in her purse and kept them in her hand.
There was a feeling lodged between her shoulders that she hadn’t been able to get rid of all evening. It took her a moment to recognize it as the apprehension she’d felt her entire life while living under her mother’s roof.
Only now, after being away from her parents and sister, did she understand what that feeling was that had always plagued her.
And now it was back again. Not a good sign.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said when they reached her door.
Ben smiled, his hazel eyes holding none of the charm she was used to seeing. “I thought we might have a nightcap.”
“All right,” she said, thinking fast. “I don’t have any liquor, but the pub is just up the street.”
“I wanted some alone time with you.”
Laura’s heart began that slow, sickening beat as fear filled her. She’d thought—hoped—to never feel that kind of fear again.
“Ben, it’s been a really long day, and I’m tired. Can we do this another night?”
He took a step toward her, crowding her against the door as she stepped back. “Is this what you do, Laura? Do you string guys along for weeks before finally giving in to dinner, and instead of paying attention to your date, your mind is elsewhere? You flirt and promise things only to fall through on them.”
“I didn’t promise you anything.”
Ben’s voice had become low and dangerous, which caused Laura’s blood to turn to ice in her veins. She prayed someone was around, that anyone would suddenly come out onto the sidewalk so she could ask for help.
“I think you owe me, Laura.”