“I-I’m okay. Just…cold.” She shrugged and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
The thing was, it wasn’t cold out tonight. It was warm and humid. Sticky, almost. There wasn’t even a breeze. He would’ve frowned but held that back and kept a casual, pleasant expression on his face. “You were headed home?” He hoped that was the case.
“Yes. I-I was running late to the premiere and had meant to stop for gas on the way. But I was going to be too late if I got gas then, so I didn’t stop. I didn’t have enough to get home without stopping.”
“If you’d said something, I’d have followed you to make sure you were safe. I’ll finish here, and then follow you home. Make sure you get inside safe.”
“Oh, thank you. That’s really nice of you.” She placed her hand on his arm and turned her green eyes up to him. “Thank you again for saving my life.”
Her slim delicate fingers were cool upon his arm. Shock was his assessment.
“Any time,” he said and then, redirecting her, he added, “You okay to drive home? You still look a little shaken up.”
“I’m okay now. I can drive.”
He wasn’t so sure. “How far is it?”
“About twenty minutes.”
He’d have preferred knowing miles, as that’s what he’d asked her, but wasn’t going to press her on it. If she were like his cousin, Katelyn, she wouldn’t have any idea how many miles.
Christie didn’t seem like a practical sort of woman. Girly from head to toe, she was the kind who needed looking after. An innocent. The kind bad men would pounce on if someone weren’t protecting her. The someone tonight being him, which he didn’t mind in the least. It was in his nature to protect.
Though she wasn’t the sort he usually went out with, and this wasn’t a date now, he felt a strong need to protect her, as if she were his, under his protection. It seemed she brought that out in him. And perhaps the live shooting event they’d been through together had created a bond, as intense situations tended to do; a friendship, if nothing more, though he liked her. He liked her enough to want to ask her out and get to know her better.
She was rubbing her arms and the movement moved the low-cut neckline of her dress. He admired the view, but he wasn’t the only one in this parking lot watching, and he wanted her out of here and home safe again.
She smiled at him. “This is really nice of you. To stop and help me get gas and to follow me home.”
Finishing, he closed and twisted the lid on the gas tank, pushed the cover over top of it and then walked back around to her open window.
She sat inside, her hands resting on the bottom of the steering wheel. From his vantage point he could see down into her cleavage. His gaze went there though he hadn’t intended it to. Her soft curves looked touchable and enticing. The view teased. He’d have loved to see more of her breasts. Just as any other red-blooded male would have.
Looking up at him with those green eyes, she said, “Thank you. I appreciate you helping me with the gas.”
“You’re welcome. You ready to drive?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Then start her up. I’m right behind you.”
“Okay.”
He walked back to his car, and she started hers. Soon, they were driving along the roads, which led to her house.
She drove slowly, five miles under the speed limit, like someone who hadn’t had enough sleep or was driving home from a party after a few too many. His concern for her made his brow furrow, as he wondered at her state of mind. It was a good thing he’d seen her on his way home and had stopped.
Her house was on a street where older cottage-style houses lined both sides, and well-groomed trees stood in the grassy areas of the median. She drove into her driveway and parked. Her house was painted white, had soft blue shutters and a black roof. Blue and purple flowers out front had taken over. He pulled in behind her as she opened her car door.
He got out of his car and walked up beside her. “Nice house,” he said.
“I’ve lived here for three years,” she said. “I love it.”
“I can tell. I take it you enjoy gardening and flowers.”
“Flowers? Oh I’m all about flowers.” She giggled.
Is she nervous, or is there something funny I missed?
