“There’s a simple solution, you know.”
She raised her eyebrows.“For which dilemma?Finding the person who’s after me or where I’m going to stay?”
His mouth slid into that oh-so-sexy grin.“I’m working on the first dilemma, but I’m referring to the second.”
She shoved a piece of toast into her mouth and inched her eyebrows further up her forehead, waiting for him to continue.
“You can stay at my place.”The statement came out low, almost pleading.
Butterflies swarmed in her stomach and the bread in her mouth grew soggy and thick.Dez reached for her water and washed it down.She coughed and sat forward, all relaxation leaving her muscles.“I, uh, appreciate the offer, but—”
“But you’d rather stay here where they’ll return?I mean, I can spend the night on the couch again if that’s what you want.”
Her mind spun like a merry-go-round.In any other situation it’d be just plain strange to have a cop camp out on her couch, or stay at his house.But having Aiden close by was comforting.His presence offered her a sense of protection that she’d never felt with a guy.
Not that she’d needed it...until now.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said, waving her hand in the air.“Take on this responsibility of being my bodyguard.If it were anyone else you wouldn’t suggest they stay at your house, would you?”
He sat back in his chair and folded his broad arms across his chest.“Correct.But it’s not anyone else.”His words came out strong.
She swallowed.
He shrugged.“Look, stay with me, don’t stay with me.Doesn’t matter.But you can’t stay here by yourself—and are you willing to jeopardize your friends’ safety by staying with them?”
Without a doubt she wouldn’t put her two best friends, McKenna and Josie, at risk.Both of them would insist she stay at their house, and while McKenna’s boyfriend and Josie’s fiancé were more than capable of keeping them safe, it still wasn’t a situation she wanted to lay on them.Besides, just a few months ago Josie had nearly been killed by a crazed stalker.Surely her friend was still on edge.Even if she still glowed from Quin’s proposal a few weeks ago.
“Well?”Aiden asked, impatience riding his words.
She drummed her fingernails on the top of the table.“How many bedrooms do you have?”
He dipped his chin.“I think you remember my bedroom very well.”
She narrowed her gaze, resisting the urge to swat him.Doing so would only make her want to touch him more.“That’s not what I asked you.”
“One.”He scooped up his plate, stood, and strode to the sink.“But don’t worry, it’s a king bed and I don’t snore.”
Snoring was the last thing she was worried about.
***
After dropping offDez at work, which he’d insisted on, Aiden pulled into the parking lot behind the station.He hated leaving her at her shop, but it was daytime, and she at least had another staff member with her.He got out of his car and walked to the door, the midmorning summer air warming his face.
Inside, a few people hung out in the waiting area.The scent of coffee and cleaner met him as he opened the door to the area behind the front desk.
Leslie, their receptionist, greeted him with her usual big smile.“Hi, Aiden.”Then her brow turned down.“You look tired today.”
He chuckled.“Thanks, Les.You always know how to make a guy feel good.”
She waved him off and answered the ringing phone.
He reached one of the six desks that took up the room and dropped into his seat.He had a full day of filling out reports and checking into Ray ahead of him.
“Thorne,” a voice called.
Aiden turned toward the sheriff’s office.Hank stood at the partially opened door and jerked his head, motioning him inside.Aiden stood and entered the room.
“Have a seat,” Hank said.
