Chapter Eight
Sunday, Jennifer finishedbraiding her hair and secured it with a rubber band when there was a knock at the door.She peeked her head out of the bathroom.“Come in,” she yelled.
She heard the door open and close, but no other sound.She ran to her bedroom to get a jacket before she walked toward the living room.At first, she didn’t see anyone.
“Good morning, Jennifer.”
Her head jerked toward the sliding glass doors where Grant stood in the shadows next to them with his arms crossed.He was so ruggedly handsome in faded jeans and a blue long-sleeved t-shirt.She could look at him all day.She walked toward him, smiled, and stopped when she got a foot away.The look on his face made her nervous.He didn’t look mad, really, just cold and detached.She took the remaining step and stood on tiptoe, and when he didn’t bend to kiss her, she kissed his chin.She retreated several feet before she looked up into his eyes.
“I remembered,” she said with a shaky smile.A chill ran down her spine, and she started to fidget when he continued to watch her.She took a few steps back.Her brows puckered.“Listen, Grant, I would totally understand if you changed your mind.It’s Sunday, for God’s sake.You must have better things to do than feed animals.”
He stayed silent for another moment as the tick in his jaw grew.
“Is that what you think?That I don’t want to go with you, and that’s why I’m upset?”His voice got lower and rougher as he talked.
Jennifer shrugged her shoulders.“I guess.Why else would you be upset?”
Grant’s frown grew, and he shook his head.“Let me get this straight.You remembered when I asked you to kiss me hello and goodbye, but you couldn’t remember my request to keep your door locked and ask who it was before you opened it?”
His voice took on a tone she could only describe as skeptical and deadly at the same time.A deep flush crept over her face as she bit her bottom lip.
“You’re right, I didn’t think, but—”
He took a step toward her.“There are no buts, Jennifer.Not with your safety.”
“You’re right, Grant.”
He closed the short distance between them and clasped her shoulders.“I don’t want to be right.I want you to be safe.”
Her hands went to his chest.She could feel the tension in his stomach through his dark blue t-shirt and felt terrible.“Okay.I’ll try to do better.”
His hands became caressing as his eyes softened.
“I know you will because I’m warning you, there will be consequences if you don’t.”
She tried to take a step back.“What consequences?”Her eyebrows snapped together.“You don’t have the right to give meconsequences.”
“I’m making it my right.”He held her in place.
“But you—”
“Promise me you’ll do as I ask?I can’t tell you how to do your job, even though it scares the shit out of me knowing you handle vicious dogs, because I respect that you know what you’re doing.But what I’m asking is just for your security.”
