Read Online Safe in His Sight by Regan Black - Free Book Online Page A

There were mistakes in law school, but none quite as grim as her childhood. She wanted to avoid stirring up the old pain of cutting herself free of her dysfunctional past. Although her mother never believed it, Julia did care. “Why are we here?”
    He leaned against the car door, concern evident in his eyes. “Let me just say it once, okay?”
    She didn’t like the sound of that, but he exited the car before she could say so. Like last night, he draped his arm around her shoulders, giving her shelter from the colder air out here near the river. “I’m wearing a perfectly good coat,” she reminded him.
    “And my arm is even better.” He gave her an unrepentant wink as he opened the back door to the club. “We have time to grab something hearty while we wait for Grant.”
    The late hour and the savory scents smothered any further argument she might have mustered. After a quick exchange with one of the cooks, Mitch had her seated out of the way at a prep counter, a steaming bowl of French onion soup in front of her. It smelled divine.
    “Dig in. Leftover from lunch service. Want a salad?”
    “No, thanks.” A sudden wave of shyness chased through her. “This is great.” The man was a force of nature and she either she was too weary or too foolish to put up any appropriate resistance.
    It had been years since anyone had cared enough to feed her. She’d dated since coming to Philly, or rather she’d gone out with groups occasionally. None of those experiences made her feel as if her welfare mattered. It must be something in Mitch’s community values as a firefighter, some innate gene for compassion and kindness.
    She slid a look at him and gave him a bright smile to cover her sudden sadness. In her world, cold and ruthless were the right strengths to cultivate for success. They were people at absolute opposite ends of the spectrum.
    *
    Mitch kept an eye on Julia while she ate the soup. The lack of color in her cheeks and the worry in her green eyes made the situation more challenging. He had no experience as a private investigator and had only pulled a few shifts as extra security when his cousin, in charge of staffing big events like concerts and hockey games, needed the manpower.
    Being a buffer for Julia was completely different and it made him uncomfortable that he didn’t really know what he was doing. True, it kept his mind off his problems, but that wouldn’t help her if he screwed up. As he ate, he reviewed the best options for delivering the update to Grant. It would be a hell of a lot easier if he had a real lead to share with them.
    The back door slammed open with a bang and Julia practically leaped off the stool.
    “Easy,” he said. Under the counter, he bumped her knee with his. He must not be doing a very good job if her anxiety was increasing with him around. “Would you rather listen to the band while I fill in Grant?”
    “No. I should be there.”
    “Should be there—or shouldn’t be seen out partying?”
    “Both,” she said, her voice firm and her eyes clear as she met his gaze. “Don’t try and shut me out.”
    “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied.
    “Please.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re a guy.”
    “No kidding?” He didn’t take the bait. His sisters had taught him not to argue about the general faults of being a guy. “You could wait back here and have more to eat.”
    “That picture sent to Haywood was no coincidence,” she said, eyeing the people moving through the kitchen. “He told me it came in just before the meeting.”
    Not long after they’d had lunch together in the park. Mitch suppressed an ugly oath.
    “It has to be from the stalker.”
    “I agree.” The bastard was making her afraid of everything. He didn’t dare speculate how things might change now that Mitch was in the picture. He was about to suggest they shake things up even more when Grant caught his attention from the kitchen doorway and motioned for them to come to the office.
    Mitch