“Yes. I’m okay with you clearing the place. I may have only known you a short time, but I’m beginning to understand your need to ensure my safety, which includes going in before me. But I’m not going to stand outside like a sitting duck waiting to be shot at. I’m going to come in with you. I’ll just follow you carefully.”
It wasn’t ideal, but arguing about it wouldn’t be conducive to either of them. “Sure. Stick close.” He held out his hand, and she took it without hesitation.
Together they walked in, Marie flicking the light on. Everything looked fine. Not a cushion out of place, and the boxes that still needed to be unpacked remained in the neat group against the wall.
It didn’t take them long to move through the other rooms until they found their way back to her living room.
Her tiredness was evident in the slump of her shoulders and the way she’d yawned five times in a matter of minutes. Isaac knew he should go. Knew he should walk out the door and leave her alone, but he didn’t want the night to be over. Which was totally selfish considering she’d worked a long, physically grueling shift, while he’d been sitting at his desk looking at camera footage. A mind numbing, butnecessary part of his job. And he should tell her about what they’d discovered today. It would mean he’d have to stay longer, but it would also mean that she’d be awake and she needed her sleep.
“I know you told me not to pick you up, but there’s stuff I need to tell you about the case.”
“The case? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
His lips quirked up. “It’s better thanyour attempted kidnapping;much more efficient to use one word.”
She chuckled, like he hoped she would. “That does make sense. I know I should ask you to tell me…”
“But you’re tired and all you want is a shower and your bed,” he finished for her.
“Yeah, that.”
“What I need to tell you can wait. I’ll pick you up and talk to you about it on the way to work, okay?” He was confident that what he had to say wouldn’t affect her concentration for the rest of her working day. He’d already advised her, and there were no issues with her phone when he’d dropped it off earlier.
“I’m too exhausted to argue,” Marie sighed. “If you want to get up at the ass crack of dawn to take me to work, that’s on you not me.”
He loved when she sassed him, he wanted her to do it more. “It is. And I do. I’ll let you go now.” Isaac leaned forward and gently closed his mouth over hers.Desire flared to life, but he squashed the flame. Now wasn’t the time, no matter how much he wanted it.
When they pulled apart, Marie’s fingers had scrunched his shirt and her body was pressed up against his. He wanted to keep her close, but stepped away before he gave into the temptation to stay. Of course, he would be staying in his car again, but she didn’t have to know that.
“I should let you go,” he said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before stepping away.
Marie studied him for a few seconds. He withstood it, and didn’t look away. “You’re going to stay in your car again, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m guessing if I tell you that you’re being ridiculous and it’s unnecessary you’ll ignore me anyway?”
“Pretty much.”
Her chest rose and fell as she took a long deep breath, his eyes tracking the movement, noting the way her full breasts pressed against the tight T-shirt she was wearing. His cock stirred in his pants, and he silently cursed and willed his body to settle the hell down.
“Why don’t you stay here?”
Her invitation shocked him. “What?”
“You heard me. Stay here. I don’t like the idea of you spending the night in your car again. It’s not safe.”
She was worried about him! He hadn’t gone through what she had. There were a lot of other things he’d suffered through and some of them were bad, but expected because of the situation he’d been in. Her situation was entirely different. She hadn’t expected to have guns pulled on her and her ride blocked in.
God, he couldn’t stop thinking about what might have happened if he hadn’t been there to stop it. He was missing something, of that he was sure, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
“Isaac? You okay?” Her hand touched his, and he returned his focus to her, aware that he hadn’t responded to her offer.
“Maybe I’m a little more tired than I thought I was.” He hadn’t realized until that moment that he was tired. That the thought of spending another night in his car didn’t appeal, but he would’ve done it for Marie.
“Then stay here and not your car,” she urged, and he couldn’t ignore her plea.
“Are you sure you want that?” He glanced at the sectional that took up most of the living room, it looked like it would fit his frame easily.
