“I use my size to diffuse situations, not get people riled up. It usually works. When people hear my loud, deep voice, and see this body coming toward them, they nearly always stand down. Dave jokes that it’s my superpower. But I swear I’m not violent. It’s not in my nature.”
The tears took over again. “I know. Really, I know. I never thought that of you. And, um, I was never hit. Just yelled at. Lied to. Controlled and manipulated.”
“Thank god,” he murmured, turning my head to examine my eyes. “Bailey, I couldn’t stand having you be afraid of me, on any level.”
We sat quietly for a moment, both collecting our thoughts.
“Also, I checked the system,” he said. “Nobody is looking for you, as far as I could tell.”
“Thank you.” I paused, unsure. “I’ve never committed a crime until recently.” I looked away sharply. “I was present during the planning of many things, but other than handing someone a screwdriver or taking notes, or making lunch for organization meetings, I was never actually involved.”
He brought his hand up to run his thumb along my cheek, making me shiver. But his eyes were stormy. “What kind of family teaches their little girl to pick locks and dodge security cameras?”
“They thought they were teaching me important life skills.” I looked up at him, not wanting to ask. “You’ve implied that you had family issues as well. As you said, we’re not our parents. And you don’t have to tell me.”
Daniel closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “I
feel like I should tell you a little, to explain some things. The very short version is that my father smacked my mother around terribly whenever she disagreed with him, or whenever he thought she needed to be controlled. I was too small to help at the time. The result is my overwhelming need to protect people, especially women. I can’t help making suggestions to keep someone safe. But I also can’t let anyone ever think I’m trying to control them.”
He sighed. “So… I’m sometimes torn in two.”
Daniel was holding my hands, caring for me, but not kissing me romantically. My blood ran icy when I realized that things may have shifted between us for good. I was on the wrong side of his beloved blue line, and now that he knew that... I shuddered. I was the bad girl on the wrong side of the tracks again, suddenly numb.
I knew that this was a possibility. Even probability. Coming clean with him was the right thing to do, even if it tore us apart. I was going to have to find a way to be alright with that.
“Is there something else?” he asked.
I nodded, my back teeth almost chattering as I tried to hold myself together. My hands were twitching, but I was afraid to touch him again.
“Take a breath, and just tell me, please,” he said.
Looking up at him, I tried to smile. “Damn those amazing sunshine eyes,” I teased.
“Sunburst. Now spit it out before I worry any more.”
Nodding, I said, “Okay, so I just need to say...” I had to take another ragged breath. “I realize that you can’t be with someone like me and I understand and I’m sorry if I led you on but I hope that we can still be friends on some level.”
His chest stopped moving as if his breath had frozen. “Do you not want to be with me?” he whispered without air.
I blinked hard. “I do, but–”
The kiss that crushed my lips was the first time he was ever slightly rough with me. Daniel yanked me into his lap, holding me so tightly I was startled.
Then his lips met my forehead gently, showing me how tender he truly was. Suddenly he stopped. “Bailey, you really want this? Do you want us to be... us?” I nodded eagerly. “And you realize that we’re going to have to break down some walls?”
I nodded again. “I swear, I’ll tell you everything. If they’re doing all of those hotel jobs, that means my dad is trying to boost his retirement fund before he quits.”
“Shh, that’s not what I meant.”
Looking up at him, I swallowed hard and tried to blink away the tears.
“I mean that I’d like it if you’d be my girlfriend. Publicly. Which would mean coming to events like the police charity ball. Would you be comfortable with that?”
I erupted in giggles, so drained that I couldn’t stop myself. “Not comfortable, but I could do it. I can manage enough interesting bakery and neighborhood small talk that nobody would grill me further.” I stopped myself from biting my lip. “And I’m pretty good at diversions, redirecting attention, and getting people to talk about themselves instead.”
“Sneaky little thing,” he grinned. Then his eyes blazed as he kissed me again, deeper, slower. “Bailey,” he murmured against my lips, “I need you.”
“Really?” I moaned, my hands clutching his shoulders.