“Do you see something?” she whispered.
“No. The rain’s coming down hard. You got any beer?”
“I’ll get you one.”
When she came back into the living room, Goldie had a fire sparking in the fireplace. She smiled and handed him the beer. “I love a good fire. And tonight I’m chilled to the bone. I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.”
“I haven’t been in here since you guys moved to New Mexico.” He went over to the couch, kicked off his boots, and plopped his feet on the coffee table.
Aunt Patty would freak out if she saw him.She went upstairs, peeled off her clothes, and took a quick shower. She slipped a long fuzzy nightshirt on and padded down the stairs. She loved seeing him in her space. He made her feel comfortable, safe, and breathless all at the same time. Hailey sat on the couch and tucked her feet underneath her.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
She nodded. “I really did think I saw someone. Though the streetlights were so dim that it was hard to see much.”
“There’s been power outages all over town. Every time we get a bad storm, the streetlights start acting up. It’s so weird. And I’m positive you saw someone. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you gotta listen to your gut. You know, that inner voice that tells you when things aren’t right. The question is who was it? Was it just some damn perv who gets off on watching women, was it someone who was going to harm you, or was it someone you know?”
She rubbed her arms up and down. “I only know one thing—it wasn’t Nolan. Whoever it was made my blood run cold. I got a real bad vibe about him. I don’t know.” She shuddered.
He grasped her arm and tugged her to him. She willingly went, and he cocooned her in his embrace. She nestled into him, inhaling the scent of leather, wind, and antiseptic. Her hand fell loosely around his waist. She couldn’t believe how taut his muscles were. “Were you working when I called?”
“Yeah.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m sorry if I interrupted you.”
“You don’t need to ever apologize for my help. I told Ryan I’d watch out for you.”
See? You’re making his kindness to be much more than it is. Again. When are you going to learn? Him being here is all about Ryan and their friendship.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She froze. There was no way he could read her thoughts. “Nothing. Why?”
“You stiffened up on me.”
“Oh. I was just thinking that it’s probably a drag for you to keep watch over me. I mean, I don’t hold you to your agreement with Ryan.”
“Did I say it was a drag?”
“No… but I’m sure there are women you’d rather be with right now. You don’t have to stay. I’ll be fine.”
“I want to be with you. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“Just to make sure I’m safe, right? Of course. That’s why you’re here.”
He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back so she was looking straight into his smoldering gaze. “You know that’s not the whole reason.”
The intensity of his stare sent shock waves straight to her core. “It isn’t?” she breathed.
An intense heat sizzled between them. “No. It isn’t.” He pressed his mouth on hers, his kiss searing her lips. Letting go, she fell into the kiss, parting her lips, coaxing his tongue to invade. Whimpering in anticipation, she trailed her hands around his body, feeling each line, each ripple of his perfect physique. He delved his tongue inside her mouth, tangling it with hers in a fiery, passionate, and demanding dance. Running her fingers down his spine, she drew him closer until there was no space left between them.
“Hailey,” he said against her mouth, the sound of her name on his lips unfurling a desire deep inside her. She savored every letter as he rasped her name over and over, her heart fluttering and the ache between her legs throbbing.
It was magical the way his lips connected with hers. Even though they’d kissed before, she hadn’t known who he really was then. At that moment, the world fell away. The way he held and kissed her was comforting in a way words never would be. Amid the hunger, the lust, and the desire, there was softness and understanding, and it was that naughty and nice combination that drove her insane with want for him.
The phone ringing pierced through their desire, and Hailey cursed its interruption. By the frown on Goldie’s face, she suspected some choice words were running through his head. Glancing at the screen, she sucked in her breath: it was Ryan. Not wanting to break the connection she and Goldie were sharing, she decided not to tell him who it was.
“Hello?”
