Troy stands up. "I need to check the security monitors. Tomorrow, I'll get them set up so I can watch from my phone."
As he walks out of the room, I hate how needy I feel when he's gone. I want to show him how much I appreciate his story. He also didn't make a big deal out of my fear, so I force myself to sit on the couch.
Troy doesn't say anything about my new position. He never mentions anything that happened, but I catch him grinning slightly when we return to watching the movie. I smile too while pushing back my hair from my face. By the time we call it a night and I retire to my bedroom, I've even managed a few short bits of real eye contact.
Happy thoughts probably can't fix what's twisted up in me. Yet a hot man's attentions might do the trick, though.
10
~~~
Troy
Logic Takes a Holiday
Manny arrives at five in the morning, so I can go home and sleep. After we spent the evening together, I would honestly remain in the apartment 24/7. Darla now feels like my responsibility. She likes me, and I doubt she likes many people these days. I belong here with her, but I'm not calling the shots on this mission. After I tell Manny the basics about Darla, I grudgingly leave for home.
Darla's under my skin. I feel her with me on the drive to my one bedroom apartment in a nearby suburb. She lingers in my thoughts while I eat a quick piece of toast and take a hot shower. I want to sleep as quickly as possible, just in case I'm needed back at the apartment.
Touching her cheek was a mistake I won't make next time. My attraction got the better of me, drowning out all of my common sense. Seeing her smile set off something inside me, and I should have gotten the feelings under control before my fingers went rogue against her soft skin.
Dozing off, I hope Darla insists I return. I imagine her claiming she needs the only guy she trusts. I haven't felt this petty since I was a kid and wanted the new puppy only to like me.
Darla isn't a pet. She's an incredible woman trapped in a protective shell. Having seen a hint of the real Darla, I'm hooked. I need to see her smile again. I'm dying to hear her laugh.
Minka's call wakes me four hours after I crash.
"Darla's freaking. Get your ass back to the apartment."
"On whose orders?" I mumble while rolling out of bed.
"Mine, I guess. Or yours. Whoever is in charge says hurry the hell up. I'll meet you there in a few minutes."
I hang up and stagger into the shower, nearly taking the phone with me. The cold water wakes me up while a quick stop for coffee gives me a caffeine kick. Yet, more than anything else, the image a panicked Darla breaks through the morning groggy.
Minka waits for me in the apartment garage. She's clearly gotten a good night's rest based on her big smile.
"Brush your hair, playboy."
I run my free hand through the damp mess on my head. Taking a gulp of my coffee, I follow Minka.
"Last night," she says while we wait for the elevator, "when you tucked her into bed, did you happen to mention you wouldn't be working the morning shift?"
"Probably. I said a lot of stuff. Besides, I assumed she understood the score since you and I switched off last night."
Minka shoots me a dark look and steps into the empty elevator. Following her, I hit the 27th-floor button and take another gulp of coffee.
"You need to be careful," she says, tapping at the handgun strapped to her belt. "Darla isn't available, so keep it in your pants."
Grinning, I lean closer to her. "Poor weak Minka, what horrors you must suffer from following your heart. If only you could be like me and control yourself around attractive people. Oh, if only. Instead, you swoon so easily."
"You're not funny," she says, smiling. "Darla isn't some chippy you can charm with that smile."
"Unlike you, I'm perfectly capable of being attracted to someone without tripping over my dick. One day, when you're all grown up, you might find the same kind of self-control."
Minka shoves me aside when the doors open. "You're not fooling me, Sheridan."
Saskia opens the door for us while Manny stands in the kitchen. Glancing around, I don't spot Darla.
"She's in her bedroom, doing that hiccup crying," Saskia explains.
"What happened?" Minka asks.
Manny shrugs. "She came out of her room, took one look at me, and started crying. I figured she didn't like the big scary brown man in her place. I called Saskia, but Darla only cried harder. You'd think a tiny redhead wouldn't freak her out so much."
Saskia gives Manny her death glare, but he ignores her. I always knew he was nuts.
"She warmed up to us," Minka says, "so we'll take over. We don't need the entire team to babysit her at the apartment."
"Fine with me," Manny mutters, spinning on his heel. "Call me when it's time to shoot someone."