She raised her head to look at him, and her heart nearly stopped at the concerned look on his face. He really seemed to care.
He doesn’t know me, but still, he cares.
“Okay, Sean, let’s go home.”
He smiled and then lifted her. “Grab your purse, baby.”
“You don’t have to carry me. I can walk just fine.”
“But I like carrying you.” He looked down at her as he walked through the library.
Ava snorted, which made him laugh. He had to set her down outside the door so that she could lock it, but he immediately picked her up again and strode toward his truck.
A shiver skated down her spine, as it did almost every night. Someone was watching them. She had felt it for over a week or so, and now today.
“Are you cold?”
She looked up at him. “No, why do you ask?”
“You just shivered.”
She tried to smile. “I’m not cold.”
****
After getting Ava into his truck and belting her in, he closed the door. It was when he was walking around the back of the truck that he stopped and looked around. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up, telling him that someone was out there.
He scanned the area. When he, Mack, and Jace had been in the FBI, he’d learned to follow his instincts. Lately, one of them he’d had was getting Ava as his own. Now, he felt there was a threat out in the darkness. He just didn’t know if it was meant for Ava or himself.
It didn’t really matter, though. Any threat to her was his business, and he took protecting her very seriously.
He hated the fact she went home at dusk this time of year. It was the worst time. The shadows were long and menacing, but there were still light enough, so the streetlights didn’t come on.
Not seeing anything suspicious, he jumped into his truck. He wanted to get her out of there quickly because he needed her away from any perceived danger, and she needed to be in bed.