crock. He had already decided to keep his distance from her. He wasn’t sure how he would do that exactly. If she approached him and asked if she could sit with him, he knew he wouldn’t have the heart to say no.
But when Bastien and Melanie made their attraction known, things had gotten a little snippy for a while between Mr. Reordon and Melanie. Cliff didn’t want the same to happen with Emma, particularly since he wasn’t sure Reordon considered Emma as irreplaceable as Dr. Lipton.
Todd offered no explanation, and Cliff didn’t ask.
Dread pooled in his stomach. Irritation rose until he swore inwardly. Couldn’t he have one damn thing he could look forward to each day? Just one. Damn. Thing? Was that so much to ask? A nice meal with a beautiful woman who made him smile and laugh? Who made him feel like a man rather than a crazed vampire whose days were numbered?
A ding sounded shortly before the doors slid open.
Their boots clomped on the floor like a drumbeat as they strode forward. Every fascinated, curious, or nervous stare that met his made Cliff’s ire rise. Which one of them had run tattling to Reordon? Was it him? Or her? Or them?
“You okay there, Cliff?” Todd asked, sliding him a sidelong glance.
“Sure.” When anger continued to rise within him—something it did more often now—Cliff drew in a deep breath and forced his tight muscles to loosen. “What’s the extra man for?”
Todd shrugged. “I missed breakfast today.” As if on cue, his stomach rumbled. “I’m hungry as hell, so Simmons is going to take my watch while I eat lunch.”
Cliff looked at him in surprise. “Oh.”
“What’s wrong?” Mischief lit Todd’s green eyes as he smiled. “Did you think Simmons asked to come along so he could ogle you while you eat? You’re not that good-looking, you know.”
Cliff laughed.
The other guards laughed too as Simmons gave Todd a hard shove.
As they entered the cafeteria, Cliff wondered if the occupants would ever stop going silent and gaping when he entered.
Emma was nowhere to be seen, he noted with disappointment. Had she chosen not to come so the gossip would die down?
“I like this,” Todd murmured, nudging him with an elbow.
“What?”
“Everybody going quiet and staring.” He puffed out his chest and adopted an exaggerated swagger. “Makes me feel like a celebrity.”
Smiling, Cliff shook his head.
Once Mason happily provided them with lunch, they headed for Cliff’s usual table.
Cliff arched a brow when Todd pulled out the chair next to his, sat down, and began to inhale his lunch.
“What?” the other man asked around a mouthful of burger.
“Is there a reason you’re sitting beside me instead of across from me?
“Yep.”
If he thought sitting beside Cliff would make it easier to tranq him in a worst-case scenario, Todd was mistaken. “And that is?”
“Wait for iiiiiiiiit—”
“Hi, baby!” a cheerful feminine voice called.
Cliff looked toward the entrance.
A pretty Latina woman was grinning and waving. Beside her, Emma walked quietly, a slight smile curling her lips as her eyes met Cliff’s.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Todd replied with a grin as they approached.
This must be Cynthia.
“Give us a minute to get our lunch,” she said.
“Sure thing.”
Cliff forced himself not to turn and watch them as they continued on to the lunch counter. Heart lightening, he instead kept his expression impassive and focused his attention on consuming the gargantuan bowl of salad Mason had prepared for him.
Todd grimaced. “I don’t know how you can eat that shit without salad dressing.”
Cliff shrugged. “As long as it has lots of walnuts and raisins in it, I don’t need the dressing.” Although he still wasn’t a fan of celery. Mason must’ve caught on to that though, because he’d left the celery out this time.
Nice guy.
The women returned.
Cynthia paused long enough to give Todd a quick kiss, then set her tray down across from his.
Emma set her tray down beside her friend’s.
Cliff rose.
Todd glanced up at him, then hastily rose, too.
Both women smiled and took their seats.
Cynthia smiled at Cliff as he sat down once more. “You’re a good influence on him.” She extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Cynthia.”
He gave it a shake. “Nice to meet you. I’m Cliff.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt stupid.
“I know.” She grinned. “Sadie’s been singing your praises.”
“She has?”
Cynthia nodded. “Ever since I heard you were eating lunch up here, I’ve been wanting to join you, but work kept getting in the way.” Wrapping an arm around Emma, she drew her tight against her side in