The Vampire's Mail Order Bride(46)
There it was. The question that had danced through his head all night. And as he thought the answer—we’re falling in love—the realization that he’d forgotten one very important fact slammed him in the chest. Chemistry or not, he could not risk another woman’s life in the turning. “We’re enjoying each other’s company. As friends do.”
A delicate frown bent her pretty mouth. “You mean, we’re just friends then?”
He nodded while the lie twisted his insides. “Just friends.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “So when you left our drinks at the bar and showed up about to take Nick’s head off, that was you just being friendly.”
Ah. She’d noticed that after all. “I—”
“Also, friendly kissing rarely involves tongue. Just saying.”
He hesitated. This was neither the time nor the place to tell her that his late wife’s death was his fault and the fear of that happening again meant he could never give his heart to another woman.
She spoke before he could. “Look, I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am, but I’m not the friends with benefits type. At all.”
That phrase was only vaguely familiar. He squinted at her. “Friends with benefits?”
Her mouth bunched to one side. “I don’t sleep with men I’m not committed to.”
He straightened. “I never thought…no, of course not.” He frowned. “Is that what happens these days? Relationships have turned into friends with benefits?”
She shrugged one shoulder and went back to watching the crowd. “For some, I guess.”
The server returned with their wine. It took her a couple of minutes to set everything up and pour them both a glass after Hugh approved it. Once he’d signed the check and they were alone again, he took Delaney’s hand.
“Listen to me.”
She set her wine glass down and turned to him. “Yes?”
“I’m not looking for benefits of any kind unless it’s a mutual decision. As far as commitment goes—”
“I know. You’re not looking for it.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I wasn’t trying to pressure you into anything or make you feel like—”
He cut her off with a kiss, not caring that they were in public and the rumors it would start. He lingered over her mouth, allowing himself a long, languid taste of her. When he finally released her, she seemed a little breathless. “You drive me mad, Delaney. I haven’t felt like this in a very long time, and the truth is, it frightens me a little.”
It frightened him a lot. Her future with him could be a very short one.
She leaned her head to one side. “What are you afraid of? Getting hurt? That’s part of life.”
He just shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it here.”
She studied him, the look in her eyes shifting to sympathy. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t even live here. And now that your grandmother knows the truth about me, I guess the thirty-day deal is off.” She eased her hand out of his. “I should probably think about what I’m going to do next.”
“Stay.” He’d said it without hesitation.
She blinked. “Why? You don’t want a serious relationship. And I’m not interested in being your live-in…whatever that would make me.”
“Maybe…maybe I don’t know exactly what I want except for you to stay.”
She bit her lip. “Do you really feel that way or are you doing this out of pity for me and my situation?”
He picked up his glass of wine. “Keeping you safe has a lot to do with it, but it’s because of the way I feel that I care about keeping you safe. Say you’ll stay. Let’s drink to it.”
Her wine stayed on the table. “I can’t just stay here indefinitely.”
“Why not?” Indefinitely sounded just fine to him. Permanently sounded better.
“I don’t live here.”
“You could.”
“I need a job.”
“I can help you find one.” Or he could just take care of her, but he had a feeling that suggestion wouldn’t go over well. “Also, Captain loves it here.”
She frowned, but there was a sparkle in her eyes. A second later she laughed and picked up her wine glass. “Bringing my cat into this is playing dirty.” She clinked her glass against his. “You’re a hard man to argue with.”
“And I like to get my way.”
“Gee, that doesn’t remind me of your grandmother at all.” She sipped her wine. “We need to set some rules if I’m going stay.”
“Such as?”