She quickly dialed Dean Halley. “Hi. Kendra Michaels.”
“At last,” he said. “I was actually expecting you to call. I thought that Diane had a glint in her eye this morning when I saw her. Did she attack with all flags flying?”
“She just reminded me what a great guy you are and what an idiot I was not to let you come into my life.”
“All true,” he said solemnly. “But I had no idea that I stood quite that high in her books. I admit I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be too flattered. Your main attraction in her eyes is the security factor. She thinks I’d be safe with you.”
“Ouch. Am I that boring?” He paused. “I guess you haven’t told her about my prison record?”
“Not yet. I thought that should come from you if it was pertinent to the situation.”
“Very generous of you.” He added softly, “I want it to be pertinent to our situation, Kendra. I want to be close enough to you that we’ll be as frank as old friends … who might be traveling toward another crossroad. I hope you’ll feel the same way given a little time.”
She felt a ripple of shock. “We barely know each other, Dean.”
“I’m trying to remedy that. Give me a little cooperation. I’ve never met another woman who sent my head spinning like you do.”
“No one put you through what I did on a first date,” she said dryly.
“I enjoyed every minute of it. I want more.”
“You’ve got to be a masochist.”
“I like you. Do you like me?”
“Yes.” She paused. “And not because I think you’re particularly safe. I like your sense of humor.” She added ruefully, “And your stamina in putting up with me.”
“I have a confession to make. Your mother was right. If I cared about someone, I’d work very hard to keep them safe.” He added hurriedly, “But I wouldn’t be boring about it. I wouldn’t interfere.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, sure.” The difference in his attitude and Lynch’s was like day and night. Lynch had no compunction about interfering in her life if he chose. Dean was civilized and intelligent, and she was finding it very refreshing. “It’s a common human characteristic to want to protect the people we care about. I’d feel the same way. It’s the way we respond to that instinct that’s important.”
“Okay, it’s settled. We have a very promising beginning. We just have to cement it. When can I see you?”
She said quickly, “Not for a while. I’m involved in a very nasty case.”
“All the more reason why you need light relief. I’m not going to demand that you devote any extended amount of time to me. I just want to see you occasionally to remind you that I’m here. I’m not going to let you walk away and forget me.”
“I don’t have time to—”
“What are you doing this morning? I only had one class, and now I’m free. What about meeting me for a cup of coffee? Give me one hour. You name the place and the time, and I’ll be there.”
“Dean, I’ll be busy most—”
“Look, I know that you probably think I’m weird being this persistent. Hell, maybe I am. But I wouldn’t have gone on that blind date if I hadn’t been interested in what I’d heard about you. And I wasn’t disappointed. I’m trying to grasp the moment.” He added coaxingly, “And think how happy it will make your mother. Won’t it put her mind at rest?”
“Yes.” It would most certainly do that, and Kendra was finding she wanted to see Dean again. What the hell. She had time before that lineup at two. “Okay. There’s a Starbucks on Broadway, just east of Kettner. Noon?”
“I’ll be there.” He laughed. “And I’ll work on being so damn charming that I won’t have to use your mother to get you to meet me next time. Bye, Kendra.” He hung up.
He was charming, Kendra thought. And she found she was looking forward to seeing him again. Dean was so wonderfully normal. It would be a break in the nonstop tension of wondering what horror Myatt would commit next.
But first she had to go back into her condo and let the evil that was Myatt possess her once again.
She braced herself and entered the hallway leading to her front door.
* * *
KENDRA’S HAND CLOSED ON THE DOORKNOB to her condo. It took her a long moment to turn it and let herself inside.
Damn. It didn’t even feel like home anymore.
There was now nothing safe or comforting about this place, where just twelve hours before that monster had invaded and made it his own.