Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Gideon gave him the finger, making sure to keep it along the neck of the beer bottle away from the bartender. Javier was having way too much fun at his expense.
“Maybe we should have the women befriend her. They could come to the bar and talk about what a great guy you are.”
“Fuck you, Javier. You know they’d be worse and more invasive than your investigations.” Which was true. Jaimie, Rose and Rhianna were fiercely protective of the men in GhostWalker Team Three. Jaimie and Rhianna had grown up on the streets with them, and Rose had married into the team. Gideon wasn’t about to unleash those women on Rory.
“I’ll figure it out.” If he was going to win his lady, he was going to have to do it on his own.
He heard a soft sound emerge, the perfect replica of a field sparrow, the little female singing her song. Looking up, Rory was singing the notes as she made several drinks at once.
Gideon looked down at the ice-cold beer she’d sent to his table and responded by sending back the notes of the male field sparrow. The song was short and to the point, asking the little female if she wanted to meet him later.
She sang the notes again as she worked, and he answered her a second time. Startled, Rory looked up, her eyes meeting his. A small smile lit her face. Her nod was nearly imperceptible. But he didn’t miss it.
3
Gideon had to be the most fascinating man Rory had ever met. She had no idea what compelled her to agree to meet with him after the bar closed, and truthfully, right up until the moment she stepped out the back door and saw him waiting for her, she considered calling it off. She opened her mouth to tell him she’d thought better of it, but a thousand butterflies took flight in her stomach, and not a single sound emerged.
He stood draped against a column in the parking lot, looking so much a part of the night, she could barely make him out, and there were lights scattered throughout the lot. He had dark hair with a few streaks of silver in it. She knew his eyes were blue because she’d secretly studied him in the bar. At night they appeared darker, but then if the light caught his gaze just right, he’d have an odd glow, much like an animal that could see in the dark.
He straightened to his full height, and she realized he towered over her. That might have intimidated her, but she realized immediately that he had covered a slight wince. Not an outward one. There was no change of expression, but somehow she read more of him than she expected, as if they were connected.
When he’d left the bar after last call, she’d noticed he’d been cautious when standing and that his friend had hovered. Again, Gideon hadn’t shown annoyance, but she’d felt that he hadn’t wanted his friend to call attention to him.
Rory smiled at him. “I’m Laurel Chappel. My friends call me Rory.”
“Gideon Carpenter. Thanks for taking a chance on meeting with me. Especially so late.” He nodded his head toward her apartment building. “I thought we could talk in the Koi Garden. I’m not sure why they named it the Koi Garden when the koi were eaten the first month they were ever put in the pond and never restocked, but the name remains.”
The garden was situated right next to her apartment building, but she’d never gone into it. She’d always intended to. It looked peaceful and inviting, but when she had a day off, she nearly always went to Golden Gate Park and hiked around.
“I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to go inside and look around.”
She was a little shocked she could manage to speak. Up close, he took her breath away. He really was a gorgeous man. Fit. He moved with fluid grace, although she did have that strange sensation that it wasn’t as easy for him as he made it look.
They walked together down the sidewalk, Rory setting a slow pace, thankful she had thought to use her inhaler before she left the bar. As she continued along the sidewalk, Gideon suddenly halted and indicated a narrower pathway that cut between two buildings.
“Don’t you walk this way? It cuts your time in half.” He frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. Of course, you wouldn’t. It isn’t as well lit. I’m used to not worrying about my safety. That was a really ridiculous question to ask you.”
Rory could tell he was genuinely upset with himself that he’d made the inquiry. She peered into the narrow pathway between the buildings. It wasn’t a dirt alleyway. Normally, she felt confident that she could defend herself against any attacks, but danger clung to Gideon like a second skin. The feeling of threat wasn’t directed toward her; in fact, she felt safe with him. Safe wasn’t something she was used to feeling.