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“I don’t think so.” Tori frowned in concentration. “No, I’m sure she hasn’t.”

“That means they’re assuming she’s going to the school after she leaves work at her regular time. What if she arranged to leave early? What if she gets there while they’re still there? What if she realizes what’s going on before she walks in and calls for help without them knowing she’s there?”

“What if she walks in and they kill her too?” Guy interrupted.

“That’s a possibility too but it doesn’t seem like they even considered this.” Todd shook his head. “Don’t mind me. I’m just grasping at straws. It irks me that we’re running out of time and the odds are against us on finding them before it’s too late.”

Todd’s thoughts brought on a heavy silence as they all pondered his conclusion. It lasted until Ned began to drum his fingers on the table.

“I need you to let me do something, Tori,” he stated uncertainly.

“W-what?” She clamped down on Guy’s hand again.

“Let us put in an alarm system. I know Guy’s staying here and he’d die before he let them get to you. I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said about them coming to find you or their Miss Vicky. With what you added this morning I can’t help it. I realize that the chances of an alarm making any difference are ninety-nine point nine percent against but I would feel better if you had one at least temporarily until they’re caught.”

“I agree, Ned,” Todd spoke up. “In fact, I insist.” Not letting her respond, he quickly called and arranged for a system to be installed within the hour.

The agents stayed until the alarm was in place and functioning properly. There was no other reason for them to linger so they returned to their office, leaving Guy and Tori alone.

“Is there any way I could go to the library this afternoon?” Tori asked the instant the door closed behind the men. “Even if it’s just for half an hour, I’d really appreciate it if I could. I miss talking to Diana. I feel like I’m shutting her out and I don’t want her to think that, too. I know I could always call her or ask her to stop by here but it would mean more to her if I came to her. I won’t even ask you to leave us alone. It’s just that…oh, I don’t know.”

“It’s okay, Tori. I understand. And I admit that I’m going overboard with the paranoia and protectiveness. I can’t help it and I’m not going to stop. I’m sure it’s starting to seem like it but I’m not trying to make you a prisoner in your own home. Tell you what. You let me call Barry and ask him to check out the library first and I’ll drop you off for a few hours.”

“Drop me off as in leave me there while you go somewhere else?”

“Yes. As you pointed out before, they’re not coming here today. If this were Thursday, I’d agree only if you promised to stay within arm’s length of me. Barry and I need to go over a few things on other cases anyway. We can do that while you’re with Diana. Afterward, if you’re ready to eat something, we could go out for an early dinner. Maybe catch a movie too if there’s one you want to see.”

Tori stared in amazement. “Jeez, that almost sounds like you’re asking me for a date.”

“What if I am?”

Her jaw dropped. “Are you?”

“Actually, yes. Interested?”

“Um, well, okay, sure. I don’t really get it but why not?”

“What’s not to get? Granted, you’re stuck with me for now and we’re doing this backward but so what? I’m attracted to you and want to spend time with you, so what’s wrong with a little socializing?”

“Nothing, I guess. It seems a little weird.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable we can come straight home.”

“No. I’d like to go out.”

“Great. Let me call Barry and we’ll get going.”

“Then I better go change my clothes.”

Guy laughed. “Yeah, I guess I should too. Even if you decide you don’t feel like going out later, these jeans have seen better days.” He looked down at faded pair he’d grabbed in his hurry to be dressed before Todd arrived.

“Hmm.” Tori tilted her head. “You’re probably right but it’s too bad. I kind of like the way they’re worn in all the right places.” Her face turned bright red at his grin. “I don’t believe I just said that.” When he couldn’t hold in a chuckle, she fled from the room.

Chapter Eleven

“How are you and Guy getting along?” Diana asked when the conversation lagged.

Tori shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” Diana’s expression told her she wanted more of an answer. “We’re sort of going on a date tonight.”

“Oh?” Diana waited.

“Yeah. He thinks he’s attracted to me or something so he asked me to dinner and a movie.”

“And you accepted. Does that mean you’re attracted to him too?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. He’s not really the jerk I thought he was at first and he’s not hard to look at or anything. I could be interested but I wonder if it’s not really a case of hero worship. He dropped everything to come to my rescue so I could just be reacting to that and not really to Guy as a man. He’s a little overwhelming with the protector bit so it could be the same thing in reverse for him.”

“Hmm, I suppose that could be the case. Or you could both be honestly attracted to each other. Don’t be so quick to rule that out.”

“I won’t. We talked about it and decided to give the idea a chance.”

“But?”

“But it doesn’t seem really likely. I saw the woman he was with at the bar that night, Diana. She was supermodel material. I can’t imagine why he’d go for someone like me when he’s used to that. You must have heard some of the things Barry’s said. I get the impression that he dates a lot and they’re all similar to her.”

Diana sighed. “You still don’t believe what I keep telling you. You, Victoria Banks, are so much more than you see yourself as. Maybe Guy sees what I do. Maybe he looked beyond the mask you wear and realized how special you are. Maybe he considers your fresh, clean flawless complexion a change for the better after dating model-types who overdo the makeup. Maybe a perfect body isn’t enough for him. Maybe he appreciates your intelligence and truly wants to know you better. Don’t be swayed by his reputation. I suspect he is one of those men who keeps looking for what he really wants in all the wrong places. He could very well be the type who falls hard once he finds what he wants. A man like that is generally very devoted to the woman who captures his heart.”

“Maybe. It doesn’t really matter though because I’m not ready for anything like that. I don’t even know what I want for me yet so how could I possible know if Guy or any other man might fit with me?”

“All right, Tori. As long as you’re not using that as an excuse to prevent him from getting too close to you because you’re still afraid that everyone you meet will one day turn their backs on you like your family did, I won’t hound you about it. Just think things through very carefully before you make any hasty decisions that you end up regretting.”

Tori and Diana spent the next few hours happily discussing the new books that had arrived during the past week. They were still at it when Guy returned to collect Tori for their date.

“Did you girls have a nice chat?” Guy asked, trying to draw Tori into a conversation.

“Mm. How about you and Barry? Get everything done you needed to?”

“Yep. We had that taken care of in an hour.”

“Oh. So what did you do the rest of the time?”

“Hung out. We planned on sitting in the coffee shop but I couldn’t do that.”

“What?”

“You were too far away so we ended up sitting in the parking lot even though one of the rookies was in the library.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I am. She was posing as a college student doing research. I’m sure you were within her sight the whole time.”

“Oh God,” Tori groaned. “That makes me feel like such a moron.”

“Why?”

“I had a baby-sitter and didn’t even realize it. Jeez, she must have hated that.”

“No, Tori. She was doing her job protecting a member of the public who is in danger. She was there to help if you needed it, not to baby-sit. According to Barry she really had some things to look for so it wasn’t all downtime.”

“Oh. Okay.” Tori stared at her plate and fidgeted nervously, barely responding for the next few minutes.

“What’s going on in your pretty little head now, tiger?”

“Nothing. Sorry I’m not better company. I’m not good at all this dating stuff.”

“What makes you think that? We’ve spent the last week together without you being at all nervous around me.”

“But we weren’t out on a date.”

“Technically, no, but you’ve known I’m interested in you. What’s the difference between us being here instead of having dinner in your kitchen? You said you liked to come here so it can’t be the restaurant.”

“It just is. I can’t explain, so why don’t you just ignore me and eat your dinner?”

Guy’s hand reached across the table and claimed hers. “Would you please look at me?” He waited for her to raise her eyes. “I can’t ignore it because it’s bothering you. I don’t want to ignore it because that’s not the way I work. I refuse to ignore it because it is affecting us. I will, however, drop it for now as long as you understand that I only asked because I want to know you. All of you. We said we’d be honest with each other. If I’m making you uncomfortable I need to know so I understand why. You don’t have to pull any punches with me, tiger. Feel free to say anything because I’d much rather hear it than have you hide it. I may or may not like it and I may or may not react like an overbearing jerk but you already saw me at my worst so I know you can handle it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, you’re pacifying me to shut me up, or okay, you’ll keep that in mind and talk about it when you’re ready?”

“Okay, I’ll keep it in mind. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“What did you and Todd really go outside to talk about this morning?”

“You. Todd and I know each other very well. When you walked into the kitchen he saw the way I looked at you and knew things had changed between us.”

“Wait. He knew we slept together? Oh God.”

“Yes, Tori, but he didn’t take me outside to judge you. He was concerned for your safety and the fact that my reactions could interfere with that.”

“You mean your Alpha male act might get in the way?” He nodded. “What did you say to calm him down so fast?”

“I explained why I couldn’t stay away from you until after this is over. I asked him what he would have done if Terese were the one in need of a man to wipe out the images in her head and he accepted that I had to be with you.”

“You told him all that? You actually told him all the things I said?”

“Not verbatim. I said enough for him to grasp the situation. He understands and all he asked is that I don’t go overboard in public.”

She yanked her hand from his. “We shouldn’t be here.”

“It’s fine, Tori. I promise.”

“Well, then you shouldn’t touch me.”

“Again, it’s fine. He didn’t mean I shouldn’t hold your hand or put my arm around you when we’re not alone. He meant not to flaunt our relationship in front of his team. He trusts me to control my behavior and stay out of the way if something comes up but the others don’t know me like he does. If I make my feelings obvious someone else may request that I be pulled from the investigation. Todd doesn’t want that any more than I do so he reminded me of the possibility and how I can prevent it.”

“If you say so. This is so embarrassing. I can’t believe he knew we had sex just by watching you look at me. He must think I’m such a slut.”

“One, we’re consenting adults and it’s no one’s business what we have or have not done together. Two, Todd already figured out that I want to be with you and would go to extremes to convince you that you want me too. Three, he and my sister are very open about their sexuality so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Four, he still thinks that you are one hell of a woman just like he did yesterday. There is absolutely nothing about you that gives the impression of sluttishness in any sense of the word. I understand that you have to get to know him for yourself but I guarantee that you’ll eventually agree that Todd’s a good guy.” Tori didn’t say a word. “I’ll get our waiter to pack this up and we’ll go home.”

Tori swallowed the lump in her throat at the flash of disappointment that crossed Guy’s face. “Do we have to? I’m sorry that I ruined our date so far but maybe we could try to salvage the rest of it. I mean if you want to.”

Guy smiled at her suggestion. “Sure thing, tiger, if that’s what you want too. Going to let me hold your hand in the movie?”

She giggled. “What are we, thirteen? Or were you already more advanced than that by then?”

“I’m not sure I like what you’re implying. You seem to have the wrong impression of me.”

“Do I? I wasn’t trying to insult you. It’s just so obvious that you have way more experience than I do, Guy.”

He considered what to say. “I won’t deny it. Does that bother you?”

“I don’t know yet. It depends.”

“On what?”

“Oh, Guy, it is you,” a breathy voice interrupted their conversation as a well-endowed woman in an extremely tight dress leaned over the back of Guy’s chair, pressing her cleavage to his shoulder. “I thought it was when you came in but I wasn’t sure since you didn’t stop to say hi.”

“I’m sorry, Candy. I didn’t notice you.” He blatantly caressed Tori’s hand and smiled at her a beat too long. “This is Victoria Banks, my very special lady. Tori, Candy’s a former acquaintance of mine.”

“Tori.” Candy glared. “Well, I guess I won’t bother inviting you to drop by later. But give me a call when things get back to normal, okay, Guy? Ta-ta.” She sashayed back to her table after wiggling her fingers and batting her eyelashes.

“I really should have warned you.” Tori couldn’t stop laughing at the look on Guy’s face. “She’s been trying to get your attention since we got here.”

“Since you’re still here and laughing I’ll assume I passed that test. Tell me, what did you expect to happen when she came over here?”

“I wasn’t sure. I really thought you’d be much happier to see her. She seemed insulted when you called her a former acquaintance but not enough to keep her from propositioning you.”