Her Undercover Defender

She held up her hands, surrendering. “I don’t want to be the cause of your demise,” she said, chuckling.

After he’d paid the bill, they headed down the street toward the bar. One of his favorite things about this part of the country was the reliable weather. They had a clear night, with a moon just past full hanging in the sky and an interesting woman at his side. Life was good.

“Thanks for a fantastic dinner,” she said as they walked down King Street toward the bar.

“My pleasure. I’m glad you came with me. It bugs me to eat alone in public,” he confessed.

She glanced up at him. “You must do a lot of cooking, then.”

“I’ve learned a few skills. A guy’s gotta eat.”

“A girl, too,” she said with a grin. “Cooking for one can get old in a hurry, though.”

They joined the line of music fans waiting to enter Benny’s. “Is that a subtle way of inviting me to dinner at your place?”

Her smile stretched wide. “Maybe.”

“Thought so. I eat anything and everything except Brussels sprouts.”

“Even if I roast them in coconut oil?”

“Veggies scented with suntan lotion.” He winced. “That doesn’t sound like a good plan.”

“Then I’ll come up with something better, I promise.”

“Thanks,” he said as they entered the bar and joined the fans eager for Battery Lane to get started. He caught her watching him and asked about it.

“Sorry. I pegged you for more Beach Boys and less Garth Brooks.”

“You think you’re the only one allowed to have eclectic tastes? I like a lot of things,” he teased as he smiled into her pretty face.

The comment brought a warm blush to her cheeks, or maybe that was just the crowd packed tightly all around them. Regardless, it looked good on her. The band took the stage to an enthusiastic roar from the crowd. David was able to relax and enjoy the music and the woman beside him.

Knowing she had an early shift, he kept an eye on the time. He paid their tab and led her outside after the second set. “Want to take a walk down by the water?”

“I’d like that,” she said, turning with him toward the Battery. “It’s a nice evening.”

They strolled past historic mansions glowing with holiday lights until they reached the park at the peninsula. The sound of the water and the gentle breeze coming in off the harbor put a nice cap on what amounted to a perfect evening.

“Did you have fun?”

“I must not have shown it well if you have to ask.” She paused, leaning back against the rail and gazing up into the sky. “I’ve had the best time, David. Thank you. Next time, dinner is on me.”

“That depends,” he hedged.

“On what?”

“On whether the next time we go out it’s a date.”

“Oh.”

He waited for more of a reaction, but she walked on in silence, her face turned away from him, looking at something out in the harbor.

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“No. It’s just me,” she said quietly. “Between work and Trey, I haven’t taken much time to socialize.”

“You and I have socialized quite a bit,” he pointed out.

“As friends,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed it.”

“Fair enough.” He let it go, for now. “We don’t have to decide anything tonight.”

Her footsteps slowed, and she pulled her jacket tight across her body. He suddenly wanted to wrap her in his arms and shelter her from the cool breeze and anything else taking aim at her. He shook off the feeling. Friendship was one thing. If he started believing the role he was playing, he was doomed to fail the mission and the woman.

Except this wasn’t just a role, this was his new life. “It should be a date,” he blurted. They stopped again and he studied her face in the moonlight, wishing for some insight.

“It can’t be,” she said.

The depth of his disappointment surprised him. “Why not?”

“Because if this was a date, I’d be nervous and that would ruin it. It’s been ages since I was on a date. Out with a friend is better.”

“All right.” They walked on in silence as he contemplated her logic. “Would you agree that we’re two unattached people taking a stroll that might be interpreted as romantic?”

“By whom?” She glanced around, and the wind caught her hair. She shook it back from her face. “Stop teasing. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”

“I don’t know if I can.” He liked teasing her, liked the sparkle it put in her soft green eyes. “Not having a precise definition for tonight might ruin the evening for me.”

She laughed, giving him a light elbow jab to his side. “That ballad in the last set warped your brain.”

He denied the accusation and changed the subject. “Would you like to go out with me on the boat sometime?”

“As friends?”

That definition was better than pushing for something more that appeared to be destined to backfire. Having spent so much time avoiding serious relationships, he’d never had a girlfriend on his boat. Only guys and family had joined him for fishing or diving. “Friends bring the bait,” he warned as they turned back toward the garage on King Street where he’d parked his car. “That’s my rule.”

“You just made that up.”

He draped an arm over her shoulders. “You’ll never prove it.” They both chuckled. “Do you like to fish?”

“I’m not sure I remember how. It’s been a long time.”

“Not for me. I’ll give you a refresher course.”

“I’d like that.”

“I guarantee you’ll have a great time.”

* * *

TERRI BELIEVED HIM. Somewhere in the past few weeks David had become the balance her life needed. She couldn’t be all about the work, and she’d vowed to stop worrying over her brother. Or at least she’d vowed to worry less about him.

David’s arm around her shoulders felt nice. Like his friendship, his arm was solid and steady and warm without the weight of pressure or expectations. On the way to the parking garage, they chatted more about fishing and his love of underwater diving. She loved to listen to him. His passion was contagious and he made her want to take a class and get certified. It would be a good, healthy hobby and something completely new.

She needed new and healthy things to start closing the gaps of her fractured family. It was frustrating to think about her first Christmas alone in the house where she’d grown up. She needed someone to share all those memories of her family traditions with. Maybe she should take David up on his outrageous offer and immerse herself in the happy chaos with his family. He didn’t say things he didn’t mean, she knew that, and his family sounded like good, fun people. Trying something new, if only for a day or two, would be healthier than her original plan of taking on extra shifts over the holiday week.

“Is it work?” he asked as he merged with the light traffic on the interstate. “Something has you distracted.”

“Kind of.” She paused for courage, holding her chilled hands in front of the heating vent. “I’d planned to work extra shifts, but if you were serious about the Christmas invitation, I’d like to accept it.”

“Fantastic,” he replied, sounding as sincere now as he had when he’d extended the invite. “My mom will be thrilled.”

“You’re sure it won’t throw everyone into a tizzy?”

“In my house the philosophy is always the more the merrier. I’ll be sure they understand we’re not...you know.”

“Not what?” she asked, wanting to tease him a little. The way he said it, she had one of those rare and forbidden images of something physical with David. He might be handsome and sexy, but that didn’t make it any more appropriate to imagine jumping her new friend. The last thing she wanted to do was to botch a friendship that was working so well. This wasn’t the right time for serious or involved. Maybe it was finally her time—her time to discover what she wanted beyond work and responsibilities.

“Dating.”

Oh, how she wished he’d never brought up the dating question. None of these thoughts would be plaguing her if the conversation hadn’t come up. When he pulled into her driveway a few minutes later, she hurried to find her house key. She turned to thank him for a fun night, only to see he was coming around to open her car door.

Like a date.

“I can be a gentleman even if this isn’t a date,” he reminded her.

She thanked him and climbed out. He walked her all the way to the door. On the porch, key in hand, she suddenly didn’t want to unlock the door. The moment she did that, this wonderful evening impersonating a normal woman not on a date would be over.

“If this was a date,” she began, not quite able to look him in the eye, “I’d be getting butterflies right now.”

“Butterflies?” He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Over me?”

“You know, about the...kiss.” She did not just say that. Humiliation crowded into her throat.

“Ah...the kiss.”

She looked up and the grin on his face, as much as the twinkle of mischief in his eyes, made her relax. Thank goodness, he wasn’t reading too much into her silly confession. She’d let herself get carried away. They were friends. Friends who shared a taste for loud music, cheese-covered pasta, the ocean and excellent craft beer. The truth was she needed a friend more than a lover.

“Thanks for a great night, David.”

“I’m glad we did this,” he said. “It was almost perfect.”

A frown tugged at her brow. “Almost?”

His gray eyes were dark as his gaze dropped to her mouth. He leaned in and his warm hands rested lightly on her shoulders. Her breath caught and she knew with a sudden and lovely clarity that this night truly was moving into date territory. The butterflies that had been swirling in her belly moments before quieted as his lips met hers.

The kiss, sweet and gentle, was full of promise and over too soon. The brisk night air rushed between them, cooling her lips, but it couldn’t erase the underlying heat that set her body tingling.

“Good night, Terri.” He stepped back.

“Good night, David.”

She slipped inside and leaned back against the door, content to wait there until her knees stopped quaking. She licked her lips, catching the subtle taste of him there.

“Oh, my,” she whispered when she heard his car leaving the driveway. Moving forward with her life, putting herself first, had some definite perks.

Suddenly, she couldn’t recall why on earth she’d been so reluctant to make that move.

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