The date had failed miserably. Sure, Calvin had managed to obtain the information he’d gone looking for, but the rest of his evening was a failure because, while he’d been roughing up Tony, someone was roughing up his date.

And now said date tried to placate him with, “It’s not your fault.”

“I shouldn’t have left you alone.” A woman alone around men drinking? Might as well drop a gazelle amidst a herd of lions. The a-holes in the alley had culled her from the crowd and moved in for the kill. He just didn’t know why she’d entered the alley in the first place. Did she have a secret vice?

“You were taking care of our drinks. You couldn’t have known my ex’s friends would accost me. Don’t worry.” She patted his arm. “Even if you hadn’t shown up, I would have handled it.”

“I could see how you were handling it.” Trying to look brave but appearing so small next to the guys.

She needed protection. A guard. A bodyguard like him.

No, what she needs is a gun. He even owned one just the right size for her hand.

“Dillon and Zach are mostly talk. Since the divorce, they seem to think it’s their job to harass me for dumping Brock.”

“How about I harass them for harassing you?” Why oh why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut around her? What happened to his calm and cool persona? He was the guy with the patience of a rock. He could sit on a stakeout for hours. Lie flat on a rooftop, even in the rain, eye to the scope, waiting for the money shot.

Seeing Lily get grabbed by another guy? He’d almost strangled both of the men in the alley—and that would have caused some shit. Especially as there were quite a few witnesses he would have had to silence. Law enforcement—and Harry—tended to frown on mass killings.

Why couldn’t this evening have gone like he wanted? I had a plan, dammit. In his plan, he’d figured to take the neighbor out on an easy date. He’d learn she was an annoying or boring housewife with ex-husband issues. She’d be desperate and bitter. In other words, easy to get out of his system.

His plan had failed in epic fashion because he was more enthralled by her than ever. Look at her, sitting prim and proper in her seat, hands folded neatly, lips pressed. He couldn’t help but want to pull the car over and yank her over the console into his lap.

He wouldn’t. Not just because she might say no, but because his car really wasn’t built for that kind of make-out session.

But my bed is.

The chances of getting her to visit his bedroom? Probably slim to none at this point.

He pulled into his driveway, and she didn’t wait for him to come around before opening the passenger side door and stepping out.

“Thank you for the evening.” She shut the door with a resounding thud and walked away. For a moment, he stared at her before scrambling from his car. Things couldn’t end like this.

A certain Bond fellow wouldn’t allow it, and neither would he.

She whirled as she heard him approaching. “What are you doing?” He could hear the fear in her tone, see the trepidation in her gaze.

What happened to the trust they’d built?

“A gentleman always walks a lady to the door.”

“I can walk myself.”

“Why are you mad at me?” He asked the question bluntly, having noted her coldness since the altercation. “Is it because I used violence to quell those guys?” Some people couldn’t handle it. Best to know now given his employment.

“I don’t care what you did to them. You did what you had to. Violence is probably the only thing Dillon and Zach understand, but in doing so, you put yourself on their radar.” She shrugged. Small defeated shoulders. “For that, I’m sorry.”

“You’re worried about me?” He couldn’t help a note of incredulity. “You do recall I handled them with ease, right?”

“Yes, but they’ll be back. They won’t let you off the hook.”

“Retaliation?” He laughed. “They can try.” He’d shut them down rather fast. “You do realize, with my mad skills, death is only one of the tools I have in my arsenal. I could probably beat them to a pulp with one hand tied behind my back.” A training exercise at the academy.

“You shouldn’t joke about this. It’s really serious.”

“So am I.” About you. He managed to hold back the words.

They reached the front step of her house, and she paused. “Even though things ended ugly, I did have fun tonight.”

“And by fun, you mean cleaned me out because you’re a pool shark.”

She smiled. “That will teach you to underestimate a woman.”

“You’re right. It will.” Because he kept underestimating her charm. Her impish smile begged him to do something more than talk.

She pulled out her keys, but paused with her hand on the knob. “Goodnight, Calvin.”

She turned the knob, and the door opened a crack. She hesitated, probably because he’d not yet moved. Probably because he knew he was on the cusp of something. Something that had him reaching to cup her head, drawing her close, leaning down to meet her when her tiptoes didn’t reach high enough.

Their lips brushed, a soft sensual slide that wrought a shudder in him and a soft sound from her. He pulled her closer, meshing his mouth more firmly. Truly wanting to taste her lips.

She melted into him, her body molding to his. His free hand reached down to cup her ass. Her lips parted, breath panted. Arousal rose and swirled between them, hot and heavy—

The squeal of tires and the rev of an engine saw him tearing his mouth free. As he whirled to look at the street, he noted the bright, blinding glare of a car using its high beams as it sped close. Instinct, honed over the years, screamed, “Danger!”

He shoved Lily down just in time.

Gunfire erupted, a single blast from a shotgun spraying pellets only feet from where they stood!

Like hell. Not on his turf.

The hunter within awoke, and it wanted blood. First, though, he needed to protect Lily and get rid of possible witnesses.

Then…this assassin would play.