As the rain poured down, she’d stood across the street, watching him while he waited for his food. As soon as he left the restaurant, she’d high-tailed it across the street and into the alley behind him.
She was trying to catch up to him when he’d taken her by complete surprise, spinning around and pushing her against that wall. She’d tried to tell him who she was, but he’d knocked the wind out of her, making it impossible to speak.
By the time she could talk again, he was pushing his gun against her chest. Right above her heart.
Fear had left her frozen. To be fair, Gracie had never even had a gun pointed in her direction, much less had one pressed against her body like that.
She looked down at the small, round bruise beginning to form on her skin. She wasn’t mad at him for it. How could she be?
Her thoughts returned to that moment in the alley. Not the fear and uncertainty she’d felt, but the powerful way Nate had moved.
He didn’t appear to even have to think about what he was doing. He just attacked with strength and purpose. In a weird, twisted way, it was almost beautiful to see.
Shaking those thoughts away, Gracie went back to the task at hand. Wrapping the large, black towel she’d used around her body, she secured it between her breasts before opening the door and walking out into Nate’s bedroom.
She started to look around for something to throw on when she spotted his favorite shirt laid out on top of his bed. Next to it were some running shorts and a pair of socks.
Smiling for the first time in days, she started to undo the towel when the door opened, and Nate stepped inside the room.
Letting out a little squeal, Gracie quickly covered herself and held the towel in place. Their eyes met and Gracie froze. She wasn’t the only one.
They both stood like that for a solid ten seconds before talking all over each other.
“I was just changing into—”
“I’m so sorry. I was just checking to see—”
They both laughed nervously.
“You go first,” Gracie offered.
“No, please.” Nate held out a hand. “Ladies first.”
“I-I saw these and assumed you’d left them for me.”
“I did. You weren’t carrying anything with you in the alley, so I figured you’d need something for tonight.”
Nate’s thoughts must have returned back to that moment because his eyes lowered toward her chest. Not in a sexual way, but more of a clinical, assessing manner.
“Shit.”
He mumbled the low curse before closing the distance between them. Slowly, as though he were afraid to hurt her, Nate raised his hand to the small bruise.
His fingertips traced the tiny, reddish-blue circle, sparking a flame of desire as they moved across her delicate skin.
Gracie felt her pulse quicken and tried with all her might to control her breathing. It was so hard to do when the man who’d invaded her most recent dreams was this close. Touching her in such a gentle, caring way…while she was practically naked.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to—”
“I know.” Gracie covered his hand with hers. “You didn’t know who I was,” she spoke softly. “How could you? You reacted the way you’ve been trained, that’s all.”
Nate’s stunning eyes rose to meet hers. Gracie stared into those deep seas of blue and then lowered her gaze to his mouth.
She wanted to kiss him. Had thought of little else ever since the last time she’d been here.
Gracie didn’t know if it was her adrenaline running on full steam or the roller coaster of emotions she’d experienced as of late. But something inside her said to go for it. So, she did.
Rising on her tiptoes, Gracie glanced back up at him one last time before closing her eyes and pressing her mouth to his.
