Even Villains Have Interns by Liana Brooks Page A

right?”
    No. “Yes.”
    “You look a little pale.”
    “Long day at the office.” He couldn’t seem to
convince his feet to move. Everything he wanted was just across the
threshold and he couldn’t take that step. Delilah stood up, long
limbs stretching like a ballerina ready to dance. The way her hips
moved as she walked toward him was mesmerizing. Every curve begged
to be touched. Caressed. And oh, how he wanted to reach out and
hold her. But he couldn’t.
    She stopped in front of him. “Alan? Are you sure
you’re not hurt?”
    “No worse than I was.” She took his hand in
hers, and the warmth broke the spell. He shook his head. “Sorry.
Tired.”
    “Shock,” she said with the authority of one who
had seen it before. Delilah tugged at his arm and brought him
inside. “Let’s sit down and eat.”
    Alan took his coat off and tried to reorder his
thoughts. She wasn’t doing this on purpose, he was certain of that.
At least, ninety-five percent certain. He’d been on the receiving
end of seduction before and it usually involved less clothing on
the part of the seducer. One girl had gone as far as to wait for
him in his dorm room wearing nothing but a bright blue thong.
Delilah was still dressed in her suit from the office.
    “Alan?” She laid the plates on the table with
efficient ease. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    “You’re shaking.” She came to him, hands
brushing his arms. “Are you cold? Sick?” Concern and fear filled
her dark eyes. “What happened?”
    “Nothing.” He stepped away, retreating to the
familiar comfort of his overstuffed couch. “It’s... silliness. I’ll
tell you after dinner.”
    She raised a questioning eyebrow. “It’s really
hard to partner with someone, or guard them, if they’re keeping
secrets. I find it particularly annoying.” The muscles around her
eyes tightened with anger.
    He sighed in defeat. “It’s been a bad day and to
come home to this...” The words trailed off as he choked on the
rest.
    She sat down across from him. “I didn’t think
I’d scare you. I didn’t even think about how shocking it must be to
get shot like that. I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.” She
shook her head in disgust. “You weren’t here at eight and I didn’t
want to sit on the landing while the food grew cold.”
    “It’s not that.” He licked his lips as he tried
to think of a way to explain. “I’m not good with emotions I guess.
It’s getting shot, the press conference, Arámbula’s viewing, police
reports, there was a lot of emotional stress today. Other things. I
came home on the defensive. And then you were just here. Sitting
here.”
    “I’m so sorry.” Delilah stood up and slipped on
her shoes. “Try to eat, please? And I’ll, um, send you a text or
something if I hear anything about our mutual friend.”
    Alan spun around in confusion. “What? Where are
you going?”
    Delilah stood frozen by the hall closet, coat in
hand. “Home?”
    “I thought we were going to eat dinner together.
Catch up. Talk.”
    “Not when you’re already stressed out.” She
pulled her coat over. With a sweet smile she walked over and kissed
him on the forehead, a virgin-saint blessing the sick. “It’s not a
big deal. This can wait until you recover.”
    “I’m not stressed!” Alan protested.
    “Then what’s wrong?”
    He sat back, staring at the curtain-covered
windows. “I was happy.”
    Silence filled the room with an unwelcome
chill.
    “I’ve never had someone waiting for me. Never
had someone care if I was sick, or late, or dead.” Old pain stabbed
at his heart. “I’ve never come home to a hot dinner before.”
    “Well, it’s not like it’s home cooked or
anything,” Delilah said with the brittle laugh of someone
desperately trying to escape the deep end of the emotional
spectrum.
    He nodded, still refusing to turn around. A hot
meal made him tear up? Very manly. Very romantic. He sighed and
waited for the door to creak open as