Page 11 of Defending You

The service elevator opened to a concrete hallway on the ground floor that was not accessible to the clientele. Cici had no idea how Asher had gotten access to it. She expected him to offer to pull her suitcase for her, but he didn’t, so she dragged it along behind her, following him to a steel door.

“Stay with me.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

If he picked up on her sarcasm, he didn’t let on as he pushed open the metal door and stepped out into the muggy air.

They were behind the hotel in a loading zone. A brick wall hemmed the area in on the far side. It was twilight, a much prettier word than the ugly setting deserved.

Asher looked both directions, then turned left and started walking at a good clip with those long legs of his. Cici wasn’t short, but she practically had to jog to keep up.

They reached a road that ran alongside the hotel, crossed it, then entered the alley behind the neighboring building. Traffic sounds were muted. The sharp scent of rotting food mingled with exhaust from a truck idling at the corner. Two blocks down, they turned on a one-way street toward a wider road at the other end of the block lined with parked cars. The thump-thump of music carried out through a door on the right. She glanced through a window and saw a long bar stretched along the far side of the room, a few small tables in the rest of the space. It looked like an after-work crowd that had lingered through dinner. They drank from longneck bottles and short glasses, munching from bowls of nuts and plates of food.

At the mouth of the alley in front of them, a police car passed slowly, then parked, its taillights reflecting off the pavement.

Asher grabbed her arm. “Stop.”

She did, the slamming of a door setting her nerves on edge. What was happening?

Before she could voice the question, Asher snatched her suitcase and shoved it beneath a car. Then he backed her up to the brick building, wrapped her in his arms, and pulled her close. “Play along.”

“With—?”

Her question was cut off when he lowered his head and kissed her.

A thousand reactions hit at the same time. Irritation. How dare he kiss her without her permission?

Fear, because those cops were probably searching for her.

But bigger than both of those—and much more intrusive—was her body’s reaction, which had her arms slipping over his shoulders and around his neck, pulling him closer.

Holy cow.

Had she ever been kissed in her entire life? She’d thought so, but she’d never experienced anything like this.

His lips were soft yet commanding. The arms that held her, strong and comforting. She rose to her tiptoes, wanting to get closer, wanting a little bit more. Maybe a lot more.

“Excuse us.” The voice came from a woman and held a hint of amusement.

Asher ended the kiss and stepped back, turning toward the cops, who watched from a few feet away.

There were two of them, a man and a woman. The man had his arms crossed over a broad chest. The woman’s hand rested on her holstered weapon. Both of them were studying Asher and Cici.

“Oh,” Asher said. “Sorry. I mean…not really, but… Uh, can we help you?”

“What are you two doing here?” the woman asked.

Asher chuckled and ran a hand over his hair. “Sorry, we were, uh… Just, you know.”

Her eyebrow hiked. “This isn’t exactly the most romantic spot for…you know.”

The male cop smiled, and Asher did too. “Right. You’re right. We got a little carried away. My car’s parked…” He nodded vaguely in the direction of the alley behind the building.

The woman’s eyes narrowed as she focused on Cici. “Do you feel safe, ma’am?”

Asher’s arm tightened at her waist, then dropped. He shifted to put space between them.

“Safe?” She squeezed Asher’s biceps and giggled. “Who wouldn’t feel safe in these arms?”