Page 38 of Monk (K19 Security Solutions 7)

“At home?”

Saylor cocked her head this time. “No, why?”

“Come here.” Monk took Saylor’s hand and pulled her onto his lap. “I need some PDA.”

“Me too,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“When and where is our date?”

“Friday, and uh, my place?”

Monk shook his head. “I’ll pick you up at…where will the girls be?”

“At my friend Poppy’s house, and she’ll probably pick them up around five.”

“I’ll be there at a minute after.” He winked. “Wear something nice.”

“We don’t have to—”

Monk put his fingertips on her lips. “Yesterday I asked you to tell me how I could spend more time with you, and I also told you that I want to get to know you better.”

Was she really ready for this? She kept her heart under lock and key for a damn good reason.

There was so much she liked about Monk; the sex was fantastic, but he was also smart and funny and charming. That combination meant she was susceptible to so much more than disappointment. She could fall in love with Monk, and then get her heart broken for the second time in her life. When, not if, that happened, she’d never recover from it.

He cupped her cheek with his palm. “Baby steps, Saylor.”

“Are you reading my mind, Monk?”

He tightened his hold on her, and she put her head on his shoulder.

“I know you struggle with wanting to protect your girls. I also know you struggle with doing the same for yourself. It doesn’t take a mind reader to know that I am pushing you past your comfort zone. The truth is, I am as far out of my own, but each time my head reminds me of that, my heart tells it to shut up.”

Saylor turned her head so she could kiss his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’ll see you later, Saylor.”

“Yes, you will, Monk, but not until Friday.”

—:—

Saylor got off his lap and walked down the steps of the deck to the trail that would lead back to her place.

; As much as he missed the warmth of having her body so close to his, he wouldn’t complain about having the opportunity to watch her walk away.

Her long dark hair was up in a ponytail that swished back and forth as she walked, and her legs looked impossibly long in her cut-off shorts. The snugness of her t-shirt gave him a quick reminder of how she’d looked naked in his arms.

He’d been getting ready to go for a run when she walked up, and he was glad he hadn’t missed her.

He stood up and ran down the steps. “Saylor,” he called after her.

She turned around and shielded her eyes from the sun.

“Are you a runner?”

“I used to be.”