“You can’t follow me around all the time. I have a job—two of them. I’m building a life.”
“Maybe not, but we can make sure you have someone with you wherever you go.”
I blinked at him a few times, trying to clear my vision. “Beckett, I was a prisoner once. I won’t ever be that again.”
“That’s not what I’m suggesting—”
“You are. Maybe it has prettier window dressing, but it’s the same at the core—someone watching my every move. I didn’t fight this hard for my freedom only to put bars on my own windows.”
Beckett reached under the table and took my hand. “I’m sorry. I just—I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’m taking precautions. I promise.”
He nodded slowly, releasing my hand. “What would you say to some self-defense lessons?”
“From you?”
“I’ve got decent training. I worked in some less-than-safe areas and needed to know that I could handle myself.”
I picked up the cylindrical pastry again. “Sure.” I thought of how easy it had been for Walter to approach me on the street. To threaten and intimidate. “I think that would be good.”
Beckett pushed a little bowl of sauce in my direction. “Here. Dip it in this.”
“What is it?”
“A sweet orange sauce. I promise, it’s good.”
I dipped it into the liquid and took a bite. My eyes widened. It was the perfect balance of salty and sweet. “That’s amazing.”
He winked at me. “I’d never steer you wrong.”
The riot of sensations that careened around in my chest had me struggling to swallow. “Thanks for this.”
Beckett’s expression gentled. “I like seeing you experience new things. It reminds me that life still has an infinite number of possibilities in store for us all.”
“That sounds like a pretty good reminder to me.”
“It is.” He spun some noodles around on his fork. “Tomorrow, you and me. How about we check something off that list of yours?”
I swallowed against my suddenly dry throat. “Sure.” It was only a four-letter word, but it was dangerous. Because the more time I spent with Beckett, the harder it would be when he left one day.
18
BECKETT
I filled the largest mug I could find with coffee and inhaled the dark brew as if the scent alone would help wake me up. Sleep last night had been a disaster. It was the same nightmare as always, only this time Jael hadn’t transformed into Shiloh. She’d morphed into Addie. And the gunman had been Brandon.
I jolted as my cell phone buzzed on the counter. Hayes’ name flashed across the screen. I picked it up and hit answer. “Morning.”
“How’s Addie doing this morning?” he asked. Everly whispered something to him in the background. “Why don’t Ev and I bring you guys over some breakfast?”
“You told Everly about the note?”
“No, but you know gossip around town. It didn’t take long for it to make the rounds that Brandon and Addie had a run-in. Ev is going to kick my ass when she finds out that I didn’t give her the full story.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face and took a long pull of coffee. “Wouldn’t telling her go against some sort of confidentiality or something?” I’d texted Hayes last night to keep him in the loop but told him that Addie hadn’t changed her mind about pressing charges.
Hayes grunted. “I’m not a psychologist or lawyer, and Addie didn’t file any reports. But I’m not going to share something you told me in confidence. Ev’s worried enough already anyway.”