She reached for the bottle, but he said, "Let me."
He poured her more of the fruity red and as she accepted her glass, their fingers intertwined. Her lightest touch sent a jolt through him. "I always assumed I'd have what my parents have," she said.
He had to ensure nothing his father did haunted Alice or him from his grave. Perhaps he should have listened to her mother and kicked over the casket to see if Mitch was truly dead, but either way, he had to keep things slow with Alice until he knew she was safe.
He settled in his seat and decided he'd delay the rest of the conversation until later. "What is that?"
"My dad is a stable guy who never gets upset about anything. Colt is the same way." So in this logic, he wasn't stable. She continued like she hadn't said anything offensive. "I always assumed I'd find a no-drama type of guy to settle down with."
He reached for the badge that he no longer carried. Memories flooded him of people who acted like they were fine only to be arrested moments later. The air around him cracked and he shouldn't be here, but at no point in his life did anyone think him rash. He lifted his chin and asked, "I'm dramatic?"
She gulped her second glass of wine. He sat straighter, but didn't want to push her. She then said, "Your entire family is constantly in the headlines and supposedly someone wants you and anyone you love dead. So yeah, you qualify as dramatic."
It wasn't him, but the lifestyle he was born in. He couldn't change his past, but he had a say in his future. "You can't look beyond that?"
She sighed. "I'm with you right now because you think someone pointed a gun to my head."
The kisses hadn't registered as important enough. He'd have to test that. "That's it?"
She leaned closer. "John, you and I are not a long term thing. You're going to get bored and leave."
He settled his elbows on the table so they were eye to eye. "You have no faith in me."
She reached out and touched his arms. Electric bolts shot through him. She kept her voice low, "Don't take it like that."
The waitress came back over with another bottle and the prime rib dinners. She set the table. Both of them sat back until the server left. John picked up his fork and nodded. "Let's just enjoy our dinner."
"Bon appetit."
Silence hung in the air while they ate. John finished his meal first, wiped his lips clean and glanced at her. "My father's death upset me more than I realized, Alice. You being here is the most important part of all this, and I don't want to lose what we could have."
She picked up her fork. "Let's enjoy tonight and this beautiful setting. The future doesn't have to be answered right now."
His gut twisted like she'd stabbed at his manhood. Every other woman at this point in the relationship wanted more than he'd give. Once again, Alice was different. She picked at her food unaware his mood was off. He tried to follow her lead, but then she said, "I hope tonight made you feel better after what happened at your brother's place."
"You asked to go out." He shook his head and massaged the bridge of his nose. "I'm here because of you."
She closed her eyes. "John, you confuse me."
His hands fell to his sides. "Likewise."
She swallowed like she tasted something bitter. "Maybe I should just go back to the farm."
"No. I 'couldn't live with myself if something happened to you.
"Everything was wrong right now. This started because of his foul mood. "Please don't make this worse."
She picked up her fork and ate in silence. Then she placed the fork back down, but stared at the silverware. "I'm trying to make everything better. I don't know if I believe anyone is truly after me. I still think it's the President that was the target at the funeral."
Something else had to be bothering Alice. His mind raced through everything she ever said to him, and then the math clicked in his head. "When is your condo available?"
"Tomorrow it becomes empty." Her gaze flew to meet his. Her eyes were crystal clear blue. Whatever she said next was something she believed. "As no one has taken any shots at my head in the past few days, I think I should just move into my condo."
He sat absolutely still. The email threat had been real. He vividly remembered the glass shards that flew through the door as the bullet passed over her head. He kept his tone even. "That's not a good idea."
"Why not? It's not a good idea for me to stay with you."
She should have the same memories. She was there. He dropped his napkin on the table. "We should have just gone home."
Her gaze narrowed. "Why?"
He leaned forward, but she took her hand off the table. "You are not safe on your own, not yet. I'll contact someone else in my old department, other than the boss, first thing in the morning."
She squared her shoulders. "It's my choice."
This was insane. She acted like she wanted to get killed. "Don't you care about your own life?"
She shrugged, but then stayed still. "Of course I do, but the Morgan family is taking all my energy."
He froze. What did his family have to do with anything? "Don't let it."
"Your money means you're the star of everything."
She sounded jealous, which made no sense. He leaned closer again. "What are you talking about? My money buys security, and that's what I'm talking about."
She pressed her lips together. Whatever he said wasn't getting through to her. "Let's just go."
He stood up and waited for her to follow. "Okay."
Once home, he'd find a better way to keep her there. If something happened to Alice, he'd never forgive himself.
Chapter Twenty
Alice hugged her waist and gazed at a piece of Spanish art from old Cuba that hung near the inside door. She could see it from the outside as they drove toward the garage. The bright color contrasted with her feelings. This was the final night that she would be staying with John.
With her head down, she turned toward John's profile. He couldn't see her eyes behind her sunglasses. Tomorrow, she moved out on her own. Tomorrow her real life started. Victoria could stop by. If she was lucky, John might also show up. Their date had been the opposite of romantic. She'd kicked him while he was down.
He parked the car in the garage. She studied his strong jawline. His kisses lit her on fire, despite his back and forth emotions. Perhaps with time that didn't include funerals, they had a chance at a stronger relationship. Dating John would be the prize she had always wanted, but never thought she'd have. She didn't dare to hope.
Perhaps she should settle. If somehow she could have one night with him, it would be enough.
John took her hand and led her into the house from the garage.
If she stripped off her shirt and threw herself in his arms, perhaps he'd finally take her. The thought played in her mind as he locked the door behind them.