Page 20 of My Undead Heart

“What’s with you?”

Exhaling the air in my lungs, I shake my head and decide to suck it up and be truthful. This is Jared, after all. “Don’t you feel ... I don’t know.” My gaze finds his and I chicken out. “Never mind.”

His lips pinch together and he raises one eyebrow. “What?”

“Violated?”

He shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. “After what that jerk said? No. But I’m pissed as hell he put his hands on you.”

I set my coffee on my desk and stand to better meet his stare. He’s got to understand how wrong things could have gone on Friday, but he’s not acting at all like a person who’s scared to ever leave his apartment. No, that would be me. “He would have beat the shit out of you. I’m almost sure of it. If it weren’t for that bouncer ...”

“Mia. What’s really going on?” He reaches out and grasps one of my hands in his.

“It’s just after what that cop said. That I should watch how I dress.”

His brow narrows. “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you think she was right!”

“No. But let’s just say I’m more than a little gun shy to do it all again. I felt so underprepared. Helpless, you know?”

“That I can understand.” He winks and squeezes my hand before dropping it to retrieve my coffee cup and place it back in my grip.

“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes, which only causes his smirk to grow.

“So, do something about it.” He shrugs.

If only it were so simple. “Like what?” I roll my eyes and bring my coffee to my lips, sipping the still warm liquid.

Jared glances around the office and chews at the inside of his cheek. His gaze snaps back to mine and his eyes widen with delight. “What about taking a self-defense class?”

Huh. I tilt my head and consider the possibility. “That’s actually a good idea.”

“I don’t understand why you seem so surprised. I’m brilliantly smart at least fifty percent of the time.”

The business card from the hot and maybe-not-completely-the-asshole-I-first-thought-he-was-bouncer is tucked safely inside my purse. I should have thrown it away but I didn’t. However, I’ve had the good sense to not even look at it before now. Not even once. Probably because I don’t trust myself to not take whatever info is on there and stalk him madly. Like some crazy ass chick with no self-restraint who only wants to get well acquainted with his nether regions since there’d be no other reason to connect. But now ... Maybe I should see if he teaches self-defense. He did say he was an instructor.

“Earth to Mia?”

“Sorry.” My face heats with the image of Matt caging me in with his powerful arms and whispering directions into my ear right before he pins me to a bed.

Jared’s chuckle washes away my daydream. “You’re having naughty thoughts.”

“Am not!” I practically shout, drawing unwanted attention from nearby co-workers.

Jared’s lips pull wide with a conspiratorial grin and he steps closer to drop his voice. “Yousoare. Who is he? The new guy from marketing? A little young for you, but he’s got nice lips.”

“No. No one from work.” I shake my head.

He bumps my shoulder with his. “Damn, girl. Dish. I need to know who’s fulfilling your fantasies mid-conversation with me. What’s his name?”

“What’s going on?” Nick from accounting, like the slimeball snake he is, appears from behind my cubical wall. Resting his arms across the top, his eyes light up with interest. “Who we talking about?”

“Go away, Nick,” I bite out, not even a little nice.

His grin pulls with his smile and he nods his head. “Oh, I see how it is. This some top secret design meeting?” Clueless. Completely oblivious to how much we despise him.

Before I can open my mouth with a smartass retort, Jared interjects. “Yep. That’s it. If we have budget issues, we’ll call you over.”

Nick winks before backing away and walking over to the breakroom. I glance at my watch and realize it’s almost time for lunch. The day is already blowing by.