Executive Protection(7)

“What’s up with that?” Darcy pressed. “You meet a girl?”

“No,” he answered defensively, and Darcy noticed.

“Who is she?” Darcy grinned. “I have to meet the woman who made you start softening up on marriage.”

“I haven’t softened. I’m never getting married or having kids. That hasn’t changed.” Lucy wanted both. Marriage and kids. She’d be dangerous to get involved with.

Darcy eyed him as he munched on a handful of popcorn, not believing him. Had meeting Lucy made him fantasize that marriage wasn’t as harmful as he originally thought?

No. He barely knew Lucy. She was sexy and opinionated and determined to procreate, but she hadn’t affected him that much. He’d just have to be careful that she never did.

“You’ll have to keep me posted on that, Thad. Let me know if you start dating this mystery woman.”

“I didn’t meet anyone I want to date.”

“That nurse is pretty hot. You notice her?”

Thad looked over at him, amazed at how intuitive he was. It must be the detective in him.

“Aha. It’s the nurse!”

“I’m glad that’s working to get your mind off your ex.”

Darcy chuckled and put the bowl aside. “How’s your mom doing?” Darcy asked.

Thank God. He’d stopped talking about Lucy. “Much better. I need to make plans for when she comes home. She’s got a long recovery ahead of her.”

“After being shot like that I’m not surprised.”

Darcy had come to visit her a couple of times when she was in the ICU. He’d joined in on a lot of family functions over the years.

“There was a man at the hospital today,” Thad said. “He left when the Secret Service agents saw him and tried to talk to him. I think he ran out of the hospital.”

“Really?” Darcy looked concerned. “Did the agents chase him?”

“Only to the front lobby. He was gone by then.”

Darcy took a while to respond, thinking it all through. “Do you think he was trying to get close to your mother?”

“That’s what it looked like.”

“That’s strange. Why go out in the open like that?”

Why, indeed.

* * *

Lucy had fun getting ready for her date. She showered and took her time making herself pretty, drinking a glass of wine with some upbeat music playing. She’d told Cam she’d meet him at the restaurant. Safety first. She didn’t know him and wouldn’t risk being trapped in his car. He’d tried to get her to change her mind, but she had steadfast rules on dating. She wasn’t ready to let him pick her up at her house. On their first date they’d met for coffee. On the second date, they’d met for lunch. Now it was dinner. The serious date.

Her stomach was full of butterflies all the way to the restaurant, an upscale seafood place that had excellent reviews. She’d only been here once before with her family.

Cam was waiting for her outside. She loved that he did that rather than get a table.

He smiled when he saw her, appreciating her little black dress with his brown eyes. He was a little taller than her and had short blond hair. Handsome in a clean, businessman way. It made her feel funny. Thad’s face popped into her head at that moment.

Why would she think of Thad now? He drove her insane. And he was a bad choice for her.

“You look beautiful,” Cam said, stepping forward and offering his arm.

She looped hers with his, her butterflies becoming listless. Why was she having this unexcited reaction to him?

Inside the restaurant, they were led to a table that he already had waiting for them.

“You plan ahead.” That normally would have thrilled her. Why didn’t it now?

He smiled as he held the chair for her and scooted it in when she sat.

Was she having some sort of bad-boy episode? The bad boy attracted her more than the sure, stable type? Did her heart crave a challenge?

“Are you going to let me pick you up next time?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she answered in a light, teasing tone.

His eyes showed annoyance, just a little, before he caught her teasing and smiled.

“I was thinking we could go to a movie tomorrow night,” he said after a bit.

Tomorrow? So soon? She didn’t like how fast he was moving this. Calling every day showed his interest but so many dates in one week might be too much. Luckily, she had plans.

“I’m going to my parents’ house for dinner tomorrow night.”

He looked disappointed. “What about the next night?”

“I work until nine.”

“And the night after that?” He wasn’t going to give up.

“I volunteer at the Westside Literacy Group. Sorry.”

More disappointment intensified his expression. “Do you have to go to your parents’ tomorrow night?” He removed the silverware from the napkin on the table.

“No, I don’t have to.” She tried to keep this light. “I want to.” She wasn’t kidding when she’d told Thad she was close to her father. She was close to everyone in her family.


His hand curled around the knife as the waitress appeared and took their drink order.

When the waitress left, he said, “Why don’t you meet your parents another time? Go out with me. Besides, if you’re tied up the next three nights, that means I won’t see you for almost a week.”