Fiona felt herself softening. His words and touch soothing her like he probably planned. She tried resisting, but it was proving difficult, especially when he looked at her like that. With such intensity and sincerity. He acted like she mattered to him. Like he cared what happened to her, but that was impossible. She was justJoaquín’s sister; she meant nothing to him. Had only been a curiosity. With that last thought, she was able to pull free from his web and took a step back out of reach. “I don’t want you staying at the house with me,” she said evenly.
Vincent’s face hardened. Gone was the easy smile. Now she saw the formidable Delta Force operative. It terrified and excited her at the same time. “We’ve been over this. I’m staying with you until the stalker is found. You’re not safe.”
“Then I’ll stay with Savannah and Bennett. I’m sure he can protect me.” She tilted her chin up, daring him to say his friend and fellow teammate couldn’t protect her.
“You would risk your best friend’s safety?” Vincent challenged her with a raised eyebrow.
“Never,” she spat, then realized she just played herself into his hands.
“Then I don’t see why we are having this conversation. You’ll stay at your brother’s and I’ll protect you there,” he said as if his word was law.
Well, it wasn’t to her. She had made the decision when she came back from the Congo; she was tired of having others tell her what to do. She was tired of not having a voice, and she wasn’t about to back down on that now. “I’ll stay at my brother’s house, but if you want to protect me, it can be from outside.”
The look onVincent’sface was almost comical. She was sure he wasn’t used to women telling him what to do outside of the bedroom. Well tough.
“That’s not what we agreed to.”
“Funny, I don’t remember us discussing it. I remember you telling me what you’re doing withmylife.”
“Ask, don’t tell,” Squeaker whispered softly.
Vincent’s face pinched. “I did take over and for that I’m sorry. I’m used to taking charge. Will you allow me to stay at your brother’s house to protect you?”
Fiona wanted to remain strong in her conviction. She had already said no.
“I only want to keep you safe. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.” Oh, he was good, she’d give him that. The man knew how to pull at a woman’s heartstrings.
“Why?” she couldn’t help but ask. “Why do you care what happens to me all of a sudden? Is it because of my brother?” She didn’t want to be some duty to him. An obligation.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ve always cared what happened to you.”
Fiona gulped. He’d said something similar to her earlier today. She hadn’t wanted to believe him, but she was starting to.
“I may not have always shown it, but I’ve always liked you. The thought of some crazy person out there stalking you scares me.”
Fiona’s eyebrows shot up. He was scared for her?
“Please, let me stay with you. I’ll stay in the spare room while you take your brother’s. You won’t even know I’m there.”
Fat chance of that happening. She was hyperaware of him and knowing he would be sleeping only a few feet away from her was not about to lull her into sleep. If anything, it would keep her up. Dammit, she was supposed to hate him not still be attracted to him. She thought she was over this crush of hers. Then he had to go and be her knight in shining armor and say all the right things.
She tried thinking about this logically. Vincent offered to help her with her stalker problem. She couldn’t risk going back home before the stalker was caught and her family learning the full truth. Her family could never know. They’d only keep her under a stricter lock and key. Her only choice was to trust Vincent and Squeaker to help her before her stalker decided to do something drastic. Her safest bet was to stay here and try and solve the problem.
“Fine, you can stay atJoaquín’s but don’t expect me to clean up after you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, baby girl.” He winked at her, making Fiona blush. She couldn’t remember the last time a man winked at her. “Squeaker, we’ll leave you to it. Call me when you get something.” Vincent clasped her on the back, making the kid jump.
“You’re still here?” Squeaker looked up at them, confused.
Chapter 8
After a trip to Vince’s and the grocery store, they arrived back to Ortiz’s around lunchtime. Fiona hadn’t said much to him since they had left Squeaker’s. Vince didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Hecouldn’timagine having a stalker after him and being scared enough to travel halfway across the US to get away. Something about the situation nagged at him. Hecouldn’tshake the feeling Fiona wasn’t telling him the whole story.
He’d seen the photos, so he knew someone was after her, but he didn’t understand why it would make her run away from home. Her family was scarier than any stalker could ever be. It had to be something else, but he didn’t know how to ask without upsetting her. He didn’t think it had anything to do with the Congo as he had first thought. It had something to do with this stalker but he didn’t know how to ask her. He wasn’t adept at talking to women about their problems. He knew how to whisper a few pretty words and get them back home, not how to help them deal with something like this. Maybe he should call Bennett and have Savannah come over and talk to her. She was more likely to confide in her than him.
Fiona looked at him with lust in her eyes one moment, then anger the next. He didn’t know what that was about. Shecouldn’tstill be mad about what happened four years ago, could she? He had already apologized for that. But try as he might, hecouldn’tfigure out why she was being so quiet.“Do you want me to make some lunch?”Vinceoffered. He wasn’t much of a cook but even he couldn’t mess up a sandwich.
“No thanks,” she said woodenly.
