“We’ve known each other days, and you’re talking about moving in together. What if in a week or a month you decide it’s not working for you?”
He sighed and squeezed her hand. He didn’t know how to put his emotions into words. He did know they wouldn’t be going away anytime soon and, in fact, knew they would only grow exponentially.
“I know things are happening fast, but I know a good thing when I see it. I’m not letting you go unless it’s what you want.”
“I’m just worried. I think we should slow down a bit.”
He smiled at her. “We can if that’s what you want. As long as I know we’re going to be together. I’ll be fine for a while. How about you let me do most of the worrying?” He studied her face. “Let me take care of you, love. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy and keep you safe.”
She rested her head against the seat and stared at his profile. “I believe you. It’s that saying my grandma used to tell me. ‘If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.’ I have to admit you’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a man, but I’m afraid to open myself up.”
He inhaled sharply. “Don’t. Please. I don’t ever want you to be afraid with me.”
“I don’t want to be.”
“Give it time. You’ll get to know me better and come to trust me.”
“I already trust you.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
He pulled up outside her work building and jumped out. He walked around and helped her down, and then he wrapped an arm around her waist.
“You don’t have to take me in,” she said.
“I’m going to talk to Gregory this morning, so I thought I’d walk you all the way up.”
“Are you going to tell him about us?”
He nodded. “Yes. Does that bother you?”
She shook her head. “No. I was planning on telling him myself.”
“I’ll do it. I don’t want you to worry about it.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
He dropped her off at her office with a kiss. “I will be outside waiting for you at five. Stay inside the building.”
She nodded.
He narrowed his eyes on her. “I mean it, baby. I want you safe.”
“How much trouble can I get into standing outside on the sidewalk?”
He grasped her hips with his hands. “Let’s put it this way. If I catch you outside, I will spank your ass red.”
He bit back his smile when her mouth dropped open.
“You would not!”
“Oh, yeah, I would. Try to push it and see. Remember last time you waited for me on the sidewalk?”
She snorted. “I tripped.”
“I don’t want that to happen again. Let me take care of you.”
“Okay, I’ll try. Have a good day.”