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  “Where are you staying?” he asked.

  She looked up at him and put her hand on his chest. Dex tried to ignore the way his heartbeat sped up and his chest tightened from her touch. Jesus, she’d touched his chest too many times to count when they were younger, but he didn’t remember it inciting a rise in his pants. Or maybe it had but he’d been really great at ignoring it. Fuck. That weekend she’d come back had changed everything—and nothing at all. It didn’t matter. This was Ellie, and he wasn’t going there with her. He suppressed his desire to let Ellie in again.

  “Thrive!” Mitch yelled from across the bar.

  Ellie turned quickly in Mitch’s direction and clung to Dex’s chest to steady herself. “Hey, I think he’s calling you.”

  “Yeah, that’s Mitch. Every time I come into the bar, he does that. It’s kind of his way of greeting me. He and Reg work for me. We were just about to have a meeting before I saw you.” He put his hand on hers and pulled it from his chest—missing it instantly and chiding himself for feeling that way. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

  “Hold on.” She leaned over the booth and tugged her suitcase from beneath the table.

  How the hell did I miss that? He realized that she hadn’t answered him about where she was staying. “Wait. Is this your first night here?”

  She looked at the suitcase, then back at Dex, as if she were trying to figure out the answer. “It is,” she finally said.

  “Are you here for a week?”

  “No. This is all my stuff. I’m moving here.”

  Holy shit. Your entire world fits into one suitcase? He remembered when Ellie had left her foster family when they were kids. She’d told him that people had a lot of wasted stuff and that she preferred to keep only what she needed. He realized now that she’d probably said that to protect herself, so he wouldn’t think less of her. Damn it. I could never think less of you. Everything about Ellie was so much more valuable than material belongings could ever be. Nothing and no one in his life had ever replaced her, and he didn’t know if anyone or anything ever could. He reached for the suitcase, and she struggled to get it out of his hands.

  “I can do it, Dex.”

  Same old Ellie.

  “I know you can. I was just trying to help.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder with one practiced snap of her chin and tugged the heavy bag behind her.

  He could hear the unsaid words in his head. I don’t need your help. I can do it myself. That’s what she’d said when they’d first met. She’d been in fifth grade, he in sixth. Because Ellie was a year younger than him, he’d immediately put her into the ignore column of his brain. Ellie had been living with a family a few blocks from Dex’s house, and when she’d stepped off of the bus, she’d dropped her binder. He’d stopped to help her pick up the contents and she’d snapped at him. I don’t need your help. I can do it myself. Having grown up with a four-star-general father, Dex knew when to step back and shut up. But standing back and watching her run after the papers that had been carried in the wind went against everything his hippyish, peace-to-all-creatures mother had ever taught him. He’d picked up the papers that had fallen at his feet, and Ellie had glared at him with those beautiful—though at that moment dart-throwing—eyes and hadn’t said thank you when he tucked them into her binder. In fact, she hadn’t said anything at all, and neither had he. But like two peas in a pod, from that day forward, they’d walked home side by side in amicable silence. When they’d reach the corner of Marlboro and Carlisle Streets, where Dex turned right and Ellie turned left, Dex would lift his hand in a waist-high wave and Ellie would lift her chin and walk away.

  During those afternoon walks home, Dex had been drawn to Ellie’s strength as much as her quiet vulnerability. Dex was a quick study, and he’d learned what made Ellie comfortable and what set her off. Like a baby hawk, he’d imprinted onto Ellie with silent adoration. When Ellie climbed into her silent place and shut him out, he was there for her. That was all she needed—and maybe even all she wanted.

  Chapter Four

  ELLIE STRUGGLED TO maneuver the bulky, heavy suitcase through the crowded bar, stopping to wait for people to move out of her way every few steps as she followed Dex toward the bar. There was no way in hell she’d be able to find Dina’s apartment with the way New York was suddenly spinning around her. She made a mental note that rum and Coke was now officially off her list of valid options for alcohol. She hadn’t eaten since early that morning, she was tired, and she was pretty sure that she was about to meet Dex’s girlfriend—and quite possibly the skinniest woman she’d ever seen.

  Dex stopped short and turned around. Ellie smacked right into his chest, which felt really good and smelled even better. Note to self: Dex smells way too good after rum and Coke. No more rum and Coke.

  “I’m sorry.” Dex laughed. “Are you okay?”

  No. I’m horribly embarrassed and I suck at the moment, but you smell really good, so I’m just gonna leave my nose pressed between your pecs for another breath or two. She looked up into his smiling eyes. Jesus, what am I doing? It’s Dex. Ugh. Moron move number seventeen for the night.

  “Sorry.” She pushed away from him and wobbled, sober enough to note that his jeans hung dangerously sexy across his hips.

  He put his hand on her shoulder. “You sure you don’t want me to take that bag?”

  She narrowed her eyes in the way she knew he’d understand.

  He sighed. “You are one stubborn woman.”

  “Thank you,” she said with as much snarkiness as she could muster.

  Dex shook his head and waved a hand, leading a path to a barstool.

  “Thank you,” she said as she climbed up on the stool. The stool began to spin, and with one hand holding her suitcase, she reached for the bar to stop the motion—and missed, sending her suitcase keeling to the side while the stool continued its obnoxious whirl.

  Dex grabbed her knee and steadied her.

  “I’ve got it.” Ellie felt herself falling right back into the girl she had been so many years ago: tough, resilient, in control…and cold. Shit. She was acting cold and she didn’t like it one bit, but the alternative was not good. Acting on her feelings for too-sexy Dexy was dangerous.

  “Regina, Mitch, this is Ellie Parker.”

  Ellie heard Dex introduce her, but his hand was searing a hole in her jeans right through to her bone. She forced her gaze from his hand to his friends’ curious eyes.

  “Hi.” Ellie noticed that Regina was also staring at Dex’s hand. Oh great. Now I’ve pissed off his girlfriend. Why the hell didn’t he tell me he had a girlfriend instead of sitting at my booth for so long? Now the skinny girl would give me the evil eye forever. She pushed Dex’s hand off her leg with a quick brush of her elbow. Better. Sort of.

  “Mitch.” The scruffy guy with a head of curly hair held out his hand.

  Ellie shook his warm, doughy hand.

  “Ellie. Ellie. Ellie.” Mitch looked at Dex. “Ellie?”

  She could see him trying to place her. It was glaringly obvious that Dex had never mentioned her, which stung, though she knew it shouldn’t. She’d kicked him to the curb when she’d left. Why would he ever want to talk about her—or for that matter, why was he being so nice to her now? Because it’s who he is. I should get the hell out of here before I do something stupid and hurt him again.

  “Parker,” Dex said. “We went to school together.”

  “School. College?” Regina crossed her arms and dragged her scrutinizing gaze from Ellie’s head to her toes.

  “No, high school.” Dex took a step closer to Ellie. A step she recognized as protective, as he’d done when they were younger. His body angled a little bit in front of her, his shoulders back, his leg touching hers.

  I don’t need protecting anymore. She felt heat radiating from him. Oh God. Maybe it’s all in my head. I’m drunk and Regina can tell. She thinks I’m here to scam on her boyfriend. Panic clen
ched her gut, and Ellie slipped into protection mode. She sat up straighter and locked eyes with waify Regina.

  “We lived around the corner from each other.” Ellie hoped she didn’t sound as swoony as she felt.

  “Ah, cool,” Mitch said. “So you know all the Remingtons?” He waved the bartender over. “Another round, please?”

  The Remingtons had their issues, like all families, but she’d never felt safer than when she was in Dex’s room at night, and being in Dex’s arms was not something she should be thinking about when she was three sheets to the wind.

  Ellie waved her hand at the bartender. “No, no, no. None for me, thanks.” She slid off the chair to her feet and waited for the room to stop spinning again. “I really should get going.” She looked toward the back of the bar, then the front. Damn, she couldn’t remember Dina’s address, and she was feeling very light-headed. She dug out her phone and texted Dina.

  What’s your addy again?

  “So soon?” Mitch asked. “Stick around. We’ll grab a bite to eat and you can tell us about what Dex was like as a teenager. Give us something to tease him about."

  Regina tapped her upper lip with her index finger. Ellie noticed a tattoo crawled across her shoulder. She squinted to get a better look.

  “Viper,” Regina said.

  Ellie started. “Sorry. I was…er…sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Regina’s stare didn’t relay anything even close to okay.

  “Um, do you know where the ladies’ room is?” She needed to splash water on her face and get her head on straight before trying to hunt down Dina. She worried that Dina was too busy with the guy she took home to even look at the damn text.

  “Sure. I’ll show you where it is.” Dex laced his fingers with hers.

  Regina’s stare rendered Ellie mute as Dex led her through the bar and down a set of stairs. The stairs were steep, and she was glad for the stability of Dex’s hand.

  “Your girlfriend hates me,” Ellie said.

  “Girlfriend?” Dex stopped on the stair below her, and Ellie nearly toppled over him.

  “You have to stop doing that.” Her hands were on his chest again. He stood two steps below her, leaving them eye to eye, as they’d been in grade school when they’d first met. She remembered how sweet Dex had been. The other kids never spoke to her, and when she’d dropped her binder, they’d trudged right through the mess. But Dex had stopped to help. She’d wondered what he’d expect in return. She’d learned through the foster system that help was never free. But he hadn’t asked for anything, and day after day, Dex had waited for her when they got off the bus, and he’d silently walked with her toward her house. You’ve always been there for me.

  “Sorry.” He cocked the right side of his lips into a sexy, lopsided grin. A grin that still felt familiar even after all the years they’d been apart. “Regina’s not my girlfriend. She’s my employee, and a good friend.”

  Ellie arched a brow. “Coulda fooled me. Whatever she is, she hates me already.” She swayed on the stairs, and Dex put a hand on her waist to steady her. He was always steadying her. Especially tonight.

  “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just protective of me, that’s all.” He took her hand again. “Come on.” With one hand on her lower back, he guided her down the rest of the stairs to the ladies’ room. “She’ll grow to love you—like you—just as much as I do. Promise.”

  “Stop holding my hand. Your protector doesn’t like it.” Protector? Like Dex needed protecting. Who was she kidding? Hadn’t she proved that he needed to be protected from her when she’d left without saying goodbye? Twice. Ellie looked over her shoulder at Dex as she opened the door to the ladies’ room, stirring memories of when she’d left four years earlier. Sneaking out while he was still asleep. She swallowed the guilt that tried to strangle her as the door swung closed behind her.

  She went to the bathroom, washed her hands, then splashed cold water on her face and stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were glassy, her cheeks rosy. Damn it. She never drank. Why did she have to drink tonight of all nights? Fucking Bruce, that’s why. Asshole. She’d had a great job in Maryland and she’d loved her roommates. Sure, they were a little messy and a little loud when she was grading papers, but she’d liked them, and they’d liked her. Then he fucked up her life. She could no sooner have stayed in Maryland than she could have pretended they’d never dated. Her gaze shifted to the door. And then there was Dex. The other reason she drank tonight. He was so unexpected, and everything about him was comforting and safe. She didn’t need safe. Safe is never really safe.

  CHRIST. WHAT AM I doing? He hadn’t thought of Ellie in…a day. Maybe. Shit. Who was he kidding? Ellie lingered in the back of his mind like a wave. Memories of her came and went, some more powerful than others, but always making an appearance. He wondered what had become of her and where she was living. But mostly, he wondered whose window she was crawling into at night. She was just as tough as she’d always been, but something dark lingered in her eyes, and Dex wasn’t going to sleep well until he found out what it was. She came out of the ladies’ room and he rose from the bottom step, where he’d been sitting.

  “Where did you say you were staying tonight?” he pushed.

  Ellie’s smile faded. She dug in her purse for her phone. “Um. A friend’s.”

  Shit. Everyone knew friend was code for boyfriend, or hookup. Tough Ellie wasn’t the hookup type. Or at least she didn’t used to be. “Well, don’t you think you should call him?”

  She typed a text and lifted her eyes to his. “Her. Dina. I know her from college. Or at least I thought I knew her. She left earlier with some guy, but I can’t remember her address. I can call information.”

  “Ellie, your friend bolted the first night you arrived?” Dex leaned against the wall.

  Ellie shrugged. “It’s okay. She said she’d be at her apartment.”

  “What kind of friend does that?” He crossed his arms, and when Ellie tried to walk past him, he touched her arm. He felt her muscles tense beneath his touch. “Hey. You sure you’re okay?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She clenched her jaw shut. “Mm-hmm.”

  “Ellie, it’s me. I know that look, remember?” He stepped closer. Ellie didn’t like to be held in public, but in private she’d nearly crawled beneath his skin. The stairwell counted as private, and hell, he needed to hold her. Dex wrapped his arms around her and held her until she stopped her halfhearted struggling. He held her until the rigidity in her back and arms eased; then he rested his cheek on the top of her head and rubbed her back until her heartbeat calmed. Finally satisfied that her demons were at least a little further at bay, he drew back. Her beautiful blue eyes were open wide—staring past him. She pushed away.

  “Anyway, it was good to see you, too.” She stormed up the stairs and past Regina.

  “Ellie!”

  “Meeting, remember?” Regina said as he flew past.

  “Right. Gimme an hour?” He took the steps two at a time and caught up with Ellie outside of the bar. She was dragging her suitcase down the sidewalk, her boots clomping purposefully away.

  “Ellie, wait. Did your friend text back?”

  “No.” She picked up her pace.

  “El. Where are you going? It’s after midnight.” She was so freaking stubborn that it was beginning to piss him off. He grabbed her arm. “Talk to me.”

  She spun around and faced him. “What do you want, Dex? I’m in your life for a few hours and I already made an enemy. I’m chaos. Walking, living, breathing chaos. You don’t need me in your life, and I don’t need saving.”

  “Saving?” His muscles were on fire. People moved past them on the sidewalk, arcing out around the angry girl with the suitcase and the guy who must have looked like he was ready to punch a wall. He took a deep breath and closed the gap between them, then lowered his voice. “You are not chaos, and I’m not saving you. You’ve never needed saving, Ellie.”

  He
r chest rose and fell with each angry breath. “Right.”

  “Right.” He grabbed the suitcase and whipped it out of her hand. “But there’s no way in hell I’ll let you walk the streets after midnight with no clue as to where you’re going. And I don’t care if you fight with me about it, because I’m a friend, and that’s what friends do.”

  “Right.” She didn’t move.

  “Right?” Was she really agreeing with him?

  “Right, and that’s why Regina is watching you.”

  Dex whipped his head around. Regina and Mitch stood outside the bar watching the scene unfold. Damn it. What the fuck are they doing? Couldn't he have an hour to himself? The truth was, in game development and especially this close to the release date, no, he couldn’t have an hour to himself. Every Thrive employee counted on the release to be a success. He felt Ellie’s fingers prying his from the suitcase.

  “Ellie.” Her name was almost a whisper.

  She looked up at him with an expression that said, Don’t. She shifted her gaze to the dark alley beside the bar.

  “All it takes is one wrong person to drag you into a dark alley like that. Don’t make me worry. Please? I’ll walk you to your friend’s house.”

  She stood with her hand atop his for what seemed like an hour but in reality was only seconds; then she gave a barely there nod of her head, though her eyes clearly said, Whatever. Let’s just get out of here.

  Dex looked back at Regina and Mitch. “One hour,” he hollered.

  Mitch pointed at him, then steepled his hands in the gesture that they’d come to know to convey, Your place.

  He nodded, agreeing to meet them at his place in an hour; then he swung an arm over Ellie’s shoulder and finally breathed again, ignoring the rigidity that had once again claimed her body.

  “Let’s find your friend’s apartment.”

  Chapter Five

  BY THE TIME they called information, tracked down Dina’s address, and reached her apartment, the sharp edge of Ellie’s buzz had softened. She never would have been able to decipher the directions if it weren’t for Dex. She was glad for his company, too, even if she had no idea how to handle her racing heart when he was around. She hadn’t remembered how alone a big city could make a person feel.