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shelves and poured himself a drink as he stared down at her.  “He didn’t mean any harm.  He’s just … different.”
    Cindy looked up to meet his eyes.  “Understatement of the year.”  She lifted the glass for another sip, but paused, alarm bells going off in her head.  “Different how?  Should I be worried?”
    Monroe stared over his glass of amber liquid and ice.  “On both accounts, I’m not sure.  He won’t harm you.  He’s just appreciative I think.”
    “That’s a helluva reaction for appreciation.”
    “He’s not sure how to express his gratitude.  I don’t think he’s experienced it much before.  Certainly not for someone so … unassuming.”  Monroe tilted his head at the last word, as if not sure if it was the appropriate term.
    “Unassuming?” Cindy scoffed, slightly offended.
    Monroe set his glass down.  “What I mean is that RedKnife is only used to individuals helping him that he believes can afford to help.  Men who are big, strong, wealthy.  I don’t think he’s ever received assistance from a small female who works as a bartender.  You’ve thrown him off.  He only ever responds to power and, no offense, but you’re about the most powerless person he’s ever encountered.  And yet, you offered him your aid.  You helped him, and he’s…confused.”
    “Well what does he want?”
    Monroe threw back his glass of whiskey, draining the contents.  “I’m not sure.”  His eyes turned to the door, shaking his head as he contemplated the question.  “But he does want something.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    Monroe’s eyes slid back to her.  “Because RedKnife doesn’t like confined spaces.”
    Cindy’s eyebrow’s hiked as her eyes scanned the empty bar.  “This is hardly a confined space.”
    “It is for him.  The last time he entered a building voluntarily, it was to protect the injured wife of his only friend.  He also doesn’t speak often, hardly ever as a matter of fact.  The few words he shared with you tonight is more than he’s ever shared, even with me.”
    “It was more than a few words,” she clarified, then regretted mentioning it when she saw the shock that washed across Monroe’s features.
    He tilted his head, a smile curling his lips.  “It would seem, Ms. Sambrano, that you have earned yourself an admirer.”
    Shit!   She should have kept her damn kisses to herself.

Chapter 6
    When her shift ended at two, much to her relief, RedKnife was nowhere to be found.  Cindy locked up the bar, then took the elevator to the main floor.  Exiting the main house through the back entrance, she practically ran to her black Charger where it waited for her in the parking lot.  Once inside her car, she locked the doors and checked her rearview mirror to make sure no large, angry men were hiding in her back seat.  She drove the mile down the main road that led off the estate and waved at the guard on duty before peeling out in a mad dash for home.
    Her apartment was in the city, which was a good forty-five minutes from the estate.  Monroe kept a cabin on the grounds that staff could use to crash in if they were too tired for the drive back to town, but tonight she wanted to be in her own bed.
    After forty-five minutes of tense driving, and constantly checking her rearview mirror to ensure she wasn’t being followed, Cindy pulled into her driveway, locked her car and was walking briskly to the door to her apartment when she heard a high-pitched whine.  Stopping, she pulled her coat tighter against the chill as she scanned the area until her eyes caught sight of a large gray and black dog limping across the parking lot towards her.
    “Hey, puppy.”  Puppy her ass, the beast stood nearly to her waist.  She bent slightly and held out her hand, praying it didn’t attack.  “A-are you hurt, baby?”
    The dog cautiously approached, reaching out his nose to cautiously sniff at her fingers.
    It was a big dog, wolf-like, with deep-brown