“Nothing is going to happen to you, Valentina. I won’t allow it.”
“Not to argue a handsome man trying to be my knight in shining armor, but you can’t be everywhere all the time. You have your own life.”
“Maybe you’ve underestimated me.”
At least I could laugh. “Maybe that’s why I came to you. You made me feel safe before, as if nothing and no one could hurt me.”
The moment was captured in wishful thinking that had no place. He was so handsome, so kind and yet I’d felt something lurking deep inside of him that transcended anything having to do with the law. He would do what it took to keep those he cared about protected.
He glanced down at my hands then back up to my face in an entirely different way than he’d done all those months ago. Heated from anger.
And from desire.
The crackling sensations were almost overwhelming. I could just sit here and be perfectly content. Yet the longing from before had returned. I sensed it with him as well.
My skin tingled from thoughts of the way he’d touched me, his roughness turning into sheer rapture.
“I’ll need to see your phone. Maybe the number of the person who called you can be traced.”
“Okay. My guess is he’s too smart for that. Criminals have far better methods of keeping their privacy highly secure than typical civilians.”
Every time he laughed, even halfheartedly, another series of tingles created heat between my legs. “Again, you don’t know me very well. I have tricks up my sleeve. It sounds like you know what you’re talking about.”
“I bet you do and I read books.” I took a sip of the drink, grateful to have something to do with my hands. He was so close I feared reaching out and touching him in a way that would change everything.
“You’ll be surprised. Your suggestion of security prompts me to ask you. How did you find me? I don’t have my address listed anywhere for obvious reasons.”
He had a way of making me crazy with desire and nervous at the same time. “I’m full of surprises as well.” When he looked at me quizzically, I was finally able to laugh. “There’s a program a friend of mine introduced me to after what happened. If you have a phone number and it’s attached to an address whether on a bill or your house loan, the address can be found. Unless you use a program called Delete Me, which wipes out your footprint. At least it’s supposed to.”
“Meaning you used the program on yourself.”
I nodded; finding the right words around him was difficult. “I thought I was safe.”
“Sadly, you’re right in that there are people who specialized in locating individuals. If they want to find you, they will.”
Another shiver tickled every aching muscle.
I’d yet to tell him I’d also enrolled in several self-defense classes. I’d never wanted to find myself in another position where I couldn’t defend myself. But would it matter when a monster had been freed from his cage?
“However,” he gritted out. “I might need to explore the program you used to wipe out my existence. At least petty criminals have no access to specialized equipment or programs.”
“I hope you don’t just disappear. I’d like to have you around.” When I was nervous, I spouted off at the mouth. Often with very inappropriate sentences.
His smile slowly grew wider. “You would, huh?”
When Bella moaned, our attention was drawn away. “I should get her home. I’m sure he’s long gone.” I knew I was making light of the horrific situation, but I also couldn’t live my life in sheer panic. That wasn’t living.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“What do you mean?” I looked into his eyes.
“I mean you’re going to stay right here. I have plenty of room in the house.”
“I can’t impose on you that way. My mama did raise me right.”
“You’re not imposing. I insist, even if it’s just for tonight. We need to sort this out. Plus, it’s raining.” With a dark chuckle that sent another heated vibration through me, he nodded toward the window where the rain was coming down in sheets.
Another horrible reminder. God, I hated rain. I stared out the window until he gently touched me on the leg.
