“Not good enough.” The words were out before he could stop them, and wincing, Carter amended, “I-I mean…regardless of how much you own, I don’t think it’s a good idea, Maeve. It’s not safe to take on a gamble like that. Not with your life.”
Glancing over his shoulder at the door — it was still closed, and no one in the hall was paying them the slightest bit attention — Carter hesitated before looking back at her again, his expression earnest as he offered, “I could take you? Granted, it would be highly unprofessional, but I can’t in good conscience let you go on your own…not when something could happen. Not when I could prevent it. It’s my job to keep you safe.”
Perhaps not in the traditional sense, since he should realistically be calling the cops to get involved, but Carter had a maddening need to do things on his own. If he couldn’t lay eyes on her and see the task through, he didn’t believe everything would turn out safely on her end.
“We don’t have to ride over together,” Carter was quick to promise. “You’ll be able to keep your autonomy and privacy…I’ll just drive behind you, and then stay in the parking lot until I see you drive off again.” Here, he raised a hand as though swearing an oath. “Scout’s honor…even if I never actually was a scout.” He chuckled. “Hopefully, I haven’t completely discredited myself.”