“You got two choices.”
“What are those? Leave town or be run out?” she snapped.
He gave her a strange look. “No. I wait with you for a taxi. Or I give you a ride home.”
Those were her choices? What sort of choices were they? Spend time with him or spend more time with him?
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
Except it was much later now. There were fewer people around. And those that were around . . . okay, so he had a point.
“Wasn’t one of your choices, lady.”
“Millie. My name is Millie.” She sighed. She could tell from the way he stood there that he wasn’t going to budge. “I could go wait inside for the taxi.”
He didn’t reply. He didn’t have to. That wasn’t one of her choices.
“How do I know I’m any safer getting a ride home with you than I am standing around and waiting for a taxi?”
He just growled at her. She guessed that was the only answer she was going to get. Pulling out her phone, she sent off a quick text.
Spike stood there, like a silent sentry. A grouchy, rude sentry. But still . . . it was kind of sweet that he was insisting on protecting her. He didn’t know her. Most men would have just walked away.
She knew that better than most.
Why was he standing here?
Why did he even care if some lunatic with less common sense than an ant roamed the streets in this neighborhood, in the dark?
Because you know you’d feel guilty if she ended up murdered or raped. And she was so damn naïve it made his back teeth ache. Why the hell were her family letting her wander around unsupervised? Christ. She was like a beacon for anyone within a mile radius.
Pure innocence stands here.
Nothing about her faded into the background or was going to let her walk around unnoticed. Not from that bright red dress to her long, dark, wavy hair and that ridiculously oversized bag with the equally ridiculous dog.
Fuck. Him.
At least she’d stopped talking. Why the hell would she try to warn him that someone might be out to kill him? It was ridiculous. They didn’t know each other. They definitely didn’t move in the same circles. It was
obvious she wasn’t from around here.
Either she was a fucking good actress and he was being messed with. Or she really was as innocent and naïve as she portrayed. In which case, he needed to stay far away from her.
Spike didn’t do innocent. He wasn’t ever going to have a happy-ever-after. His happy-ever-after died years ago, along with part of his soul.
Now he was content living in the shadows. That’s where he belonged.
This girl here. She was pure fucking light. A star in the deep, inky night sky. Definitely not for him.
He kept his attention on his surroundings, ignoring the petite, curvy woman beside him. She rustled around in that huge, ugly bag.
“I know I had it somewhere. Where did it go? Oh yes, here we are. Want a mint?”
She held out a packet of mints. He shook his head. Where was that damn taxi? Her scent was teasing him. Bubblegum. She smelled like bubblegum.
He took a step away from her. She stiffened. “Not a mint fan, huh? Gum? I have gum. Ooh, and a pack of Twizzlers! Do you want a Twizzler? No? Huh, more for me, I guess.”
How did she manage to carry all that stuff in her bag as well as a dog? And did she need sugar? She seemed hyped up enough as it was. If she was his . . .