“It actually belongs to my former lieutenant. He just rents the place out to me.”
“Where does he live?”
“Retired, living on a houseboat down in the Gulf.”
He moved to the microwave and pulled out a bowl of steaming macaroni and cheese.
I smiled up at him, my stomach rumbling with hunger while my heart twirled in my chest. “You remembered.”
“Hard to forget. That’s all you ever ate.” He placed the bowl in front of me then handed me a fork from the drawer nearby.
Those girly fantasies paled in comparison to what was going through my mind right now. Reid may have been fully dressed but it wasn’t hard to imagine what he looked like underneath that faded gray T-shirt that stretched across his muscular chest and those worn out jeans that hung from his hips. He’d shed his black leather jacket he had on before to reveal the holstered .45 and a badge on his hip. It was kind of intimidating.
And sexy as hell.
He’d let his hair grow out. The dark strands grazed his broad shoulders, teasing the tense muscle with each sharp turn of his head. He was still incredibly handsome but in a rugged, much more grown up way that made my belly flip with each glance he tossed in my direction.
“I meant to ask you before, how’d you get here?”
“I hitchhiked,” I said around the hot bite of noodles and cheese.
“You did what?” His handsome face hardened to stone. “All the way from Florida? Jesus, what the hell were you thinking? Do you know how fucking dangerous that is?” His breathing had picked up, his chest rising and falling with every word.
“Calm down. I made sure to only get in the car with kind strangers.” I smiled my sweetest smile but he wasn’t impressed.
“You think this is a joke?”
His high-handed attitude was beginning to piss me off. “My car is a piece of shit. It would have never made it this far. Besides, he was able to find out where I live, don’t you think he knows what kind of car I drive. That’s why I withdrew all of my savings to avoid using credit cards. I’d say that’s pretty damn smart, wouldn’t you?”
His blue eyes flared with anger, his jaw hardening from the strain of gritting his teeth. “No, it’s pretty fucking stupid. Why the hell didn’t you call me?”
“Would you chill? Geez… I made it in one piece, didn’t I? I haven’t heard from you in years, apart from the annual birthday card you send. I was hesitant about even coming here. But if you’re going to continue to belittle me, then I’m out.” I slid from the stool and grabbed my backpack from the table, heading for the door.
Reid sidestepped, blocking me with his large frame. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I shoved at his hard chest but he didn’t budge. “Get the hell out of my way, Reid.”
“No.” Was his only response.
“What’s your problem? Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like a complete asshole.”
“Newsflash, sweetheart, I wouldn’t have to be an asshole if you didn’t do stupid shit.”
I shoved at his chest. “Ugh, get out of my way.”
“I told you, you’re not fucking going anywhere.”
“Yes, I am.”
His body pressed against mine, caging me to the wall next to the door. “No, you’re not. You came to me for help, now I’m in charge of your safety and you’re not going anywhere without me, understand?”
My breathing became ragged, forced. The conviction in his voice and his closeness were intoxicating, weakening every defense I had. His hungry eyes zoned in on my lips before bringing those deep blue irises back to mine. I found desire there.
Need.
