“I’ll stake outside.”
She jerked her gaze to his face and leaned forward.“No—”
“I’m not asking,” he said impatiently.“If I go home, I won’t sleep anyway knowing someone is probably going to break in and cut your throat.”
His declaration made her insides shake, bringing back the tidal wave of fear that had heightened inside her this morning—one that she’d stifled and stomped on because she refused to live her life scared.But that didn’t change the fact that for some godforsaken reason she had an enemy she didn’t know about who really didn’t want her around.
Another notion followed...Aiden cared.Butterflies tickled her stomach.
Oh, no.
She wouldn’t get all flattered because he was the chivalrous type.He was also a cop, so naturally he’d be worried about any victim.
He slowed in front of her house.“I’ll go home quickly to shower, change, and grab some food.If you can stay awake until then, I’ll text you when I get here so you can sleep easy.”
She unclipped her buckle.Her chest ached with the weight of emotion.After everything that had happened today, she was ready to crumble.Add a kind, selfless act from the guy she’d been a bit of a bitch to this morning and it was almost too much for her to keep bottled inside.
She leaned forward and cupped his jaw.Warning bells screeched in her head.She was too unstable right now, too desperate for protection, but dang it, he’d touched her.
“Thank you,” she breathed softly.
His pupils dilated and his hand twitched between her body and his, but he didn’t reach for her.
She pressed a kiss to his scruffy cheek.“I appreciate it.”
She slid out of his car and closed the door.It took more effort than she cared to admit to walk a straight line, but she’d do it if it killed her.
And tonight, she would sleep easy knowing Aiden was outside.
Except part of her longed for him to be closer.
CHAPTER 4
Aiden rolled hisseat back and stretched his legs in front of him.He’d showered and changed into more comfortable clothes but he wasn’t getting any sleep.
Not only was it as uncomfortable as fuck to sleep in a car with streetlamps shining in his face, but he needed to be alert if someone tried to get to Dez again.
He rolled his neck from side to side.What a dumb idea.If he’d been smart, he would have suggested she stay at his house.After all, she’d slept in his bed just two nights ago.It wasn’t a wild suggestion.
Only there was no way she would have gone for that.She’d made it loud and clear that she didn’t want any more strings between them, and he’d be a grade-A asshole if he gave her the impression that his cock could keep her safe.
His stomach rumbled.He reached over to the passenger seat and retrieved the dinner he’d picked up.He opened the burger first, saving the fries and salad for later.
He glanced at his phone.No new messages.His clock read 11:13 p.m.
He’d texted Dez ten minutes ago to tell her he was outside, but she hadn’t replied.After tapping her number, he pressed the phone to his ear and held it with his shoulder.The line rang as he bit off another bite of cheese-covered meat.
“Hello?”The small, hesitant voice didn’t match any persona of Desiree he’d met so far.
He swallowed his food.“It’s me.Just letting you know I’m out front.Everything okay?”
“Sorry.I heard your text come in but I was in the bath.”
Images of her naked and soaking wet in a tub of water flipped through his mind like photos on a carousel.His dick swelled in his pants.Great.As if he weren’t uncomfortable enough, now he’d have blue balls for the next seven hours.
He placed his burger on the console and adjusted the front of his pants.“Uh, yeah.No worries.Give me a call if you hear anything suspicious.I’ll be awake.”
A yawn came through the speaker, and he could picture her crawling between the sheets.“Okay.Thanks, Aiden.”
