Page 108 of Wasted

She spun back and walked to the near side of the counter that bordered the kitchen. “I really should go.”

He shot her a surprised glance, tea kettle in his hand.

“I don’t feel right imposing on Treese to stay with Sydney longer than necessary.” That was the truth, even if it wasn’t the entire reason she wanted to leave. “But will you promise me you won’t follow Clinton Glenn? You can’t follow him now anyway, since you don’t have a car.”

“About that…” Cillian set the kettle on the counter between them. “I’ll need to borrow your car.”

“What?”

“Or I could get a rental. But it’d be cheaper to use yours, and I don’t think I’ll need it for long.”

“Is that your way of ensuring I won’t go anywhere without you?”

“Totally.” He squeezed his lips together and nodded with an attempt at innocent eyes.

She fought against the smile that wanted to come in response to his adorable expression. The man was incorrigible. “If I promise not to drive anywhere without you, will you drop this idea to tail Clinton Glenn?”

“Nope.”

“Cillian.” She folded her arms across her sweater.

“Victoria.”

She narrowed her eyes.

He chuckled. “Okay, but I’m serious.” He made an effort to sober his expression. “And you’d see I’m right if you’d think about it for a second. I’m worried about you and Sydney, too. You’re right she’s in danger as long as you are. But she obviously won’t leave you, which I don’t blame her for, by the way.”

His mouth quirked at one side. “You do have a calming effect about you. At least when you’re not mad like right now.”

She took in a long breath through her nose as she gave him a sidelong look. It was obvious what he was doing, trying to charm her into relaxing and persuade her to agree with him. But it was working anyway. “I’m listening.”

“All I’m saying is that you and I both know Glenn is going to keep after us until the police arrest him. It’s obvious he thinks if he silences us, we won’t keep pushing this and making the police take him seriously as a suspect. So we’re in danger until the police get him.” Cillian planted his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “I think the lieutenant is taking Glenn seriously, so it shouldn’t be too long before they bring him in. But until then, it’s up to me to keep you safe.”

“And what about you?”

He blinked at her. “What about me?”

“Who will keep you safe?”

His eyebrows dipped, and he tilted his head, staring at her.

She lowered her arms. “If you follow Glenn around, he could become aggressive, as I said. He could change his modus operandi and decide to confront you to your face.”

A slow smile curved Cillian’s lips. “You are worried about me.”

She forced a swallow down her tightening throat. “Yes. Of course, I am.”

He walked around the counter and, before she could think or react, he stood in front of her with nothing between them. “Do you remember what you used to like about me?”

The question startled her, pounded her heart against her ribs.

His gaze held her captive. “’Cause I remember what I loved about you. We had a lot of fun together. Remember that?” He took a step closer, narrowing the gap between them.

She couldn’t answer if she’d wanted to.

He was so close, those magnetic eyes holding her. “You showed me life could be good. That it could be beautiful when you were with me. You made me better, Vicks. And you made me want to be better.” His fingers brushed her hands where they dangled at her sides.

The touch woke her from his spell.