“Oh, right. Eleven hundred at myairpark.”
“I’ve got a meeting I can’t miss. Expect me closer to eleven thirty. Thanks for the heads up.” Crockett hungup.
Alexandra didn’t budge, her soft, steady breathing an indication she’d fallen back tosleep.
Last night, after she’d calmed down, she’d asked a lot of questions about Kimberly’s cancer. He’d told her everything he knew, which wasn’t much. When she’d asked how long her mother had, he’d answered honestly. “Colton told me three-to-six months, but the oncologist said everyone isdifferent.”
Her sadness had turned to anger. She’d threatened to give her brother a piece of her mind. He’d let her rant. When the anger had burned off, soft, quiet tears of acceptance and understanding had begun to flow. In the end, she’d thanked him for doing what her family couldnot.
When he’d tucked her into his bed, she’d asked him to stay. So he did. She’d snuggled into him and conked out. He’d laid awake for a while, holding her in his arms and listening to her breathe. This was the first time they’d spent the night in the same bed. Damned if he didn’t want it to be for a differentreason.
Her beautiful essence surrounded him. He didn’t want to leave her, but he had a full day ahead of him and a major work crisis to deal with. Moving slowly, so as not to disturb her, he rolled away, then slunk out of bed. Before walking into his bathroom, he turned back.Peaceful and sobeautiful.
After brushing his teeth, he turned on the shower faucet and stepped into the glass-enclosed marblestall.
Inasmuch as he wanted her in his bed every night, he was a realist. Sex happened at the club. But even if they did start sleeping together at his place, she would return to California once Kimberly had passed. Her move back east had always been temporary. He’d anticipated seeing her, but he’d never envisioned she’d be the one woman he’d hook up with at Incognito. And he’d certainly never expected she’d be living withhim.
What didn’t surprise him was the way he felt whenever she was near and every time their eyes met. Or how she belonged in his arms. Or that he’d do whatever it took to help her and keep hersafe.
He turned off the water and dried himself. The body shop had repaired Alexandra’s car and his mechanic had run diagnostics to ensure the vehicle was road-ready. Crockett had arranged for his cousin, Danny, to meet them at her home that evening. Unbeknownst to her, he was moving herout.
Even though she’d probably contacted the housing agency and requested a different place to live, he didn’t want her moving in with another stranger.Too risky.Since she’d walled herself in emotionally, he’d create a no-pressure living arrangement. The lengths he would go were over the top, but he’d waited a long, long time for a second chance. No way in hell would he let her slip through hisfingers.
After raking his hands through his damp hair, he stepped into his bedroom. Bedroom lights on, Alexandra bent over, making his bed.Ah, hell.Though she’d slept in his gym shorts and a T-shirt, her long legs hijacked his attention. A rush of heat swept throughhim.
She turned. Her gaze roamed down his naked body—pausing at his junk—then back up. “Good morning. Thanks for lastnight.”
Ignoring his thickening shaft, he stepped close. She, however, glanceddown.
“If you’re comfortable driving, I’ll drop you at my mechanic’s,” he said. “Your car isready.”
Her breath hitched. “I’ll beokay.”
He braced his spine against the need to haul her into his arms, throw her on his just-made bed and love her for hours. “Most of the roads are drivable. Be careful on the sidestreets.”
As she peered at his chest, she shuddered in a breath. She lifted her arm and, for a second, her delicate fingers hovered inches from his skin. A groan shot out of him. Hell, he wanted her so fuckingbadly.
Without shifting her gaze, she ran her long, elegant fingers through her hair. And his jutting cock banged against her T-shirt. This living arrangement was proving to be one hell of a challenge. He wasn’t embarrassed he had a boner. He was agitated he couldn’t start his day by sinking inside her and finding pleasure in all thingsAlex.
Grunting out his frustration, he walked to his dresser, pulled on black boxer briefs and a white undershirt. He had to get out of his bedroom in the next five minutes or all bets were off. Sitting on his bed, he tugged on black dress socks, then retreated into his closet todress.
“I’m going to get ready for work,” shecalled.
We need different sleeping arrangements. Or I’m going to have a permanent case of blueballs.
On the way to his mechanic’s, he told her he’d be at the Eastern Shore all afternoon, but would meet her at her home after work. “My cousin, Danny, will be joining us. We’re moving youout.”
“What? Where will Ilive?”
“With me.” She opened her mouth to protest. “Meet me at your house at five. Don’t go in withoutme.”
After making sure her car checked out, Crockett thanked his mechanic and left. He thought twice about paying her bill, but decided against it. Her auto insurance company covered the majority of the cost. And he didn’t want his good intentions to be misconstrued. She was an independent woman who could take care of her financialobligations.
On the way to his off-site meeting in DC, he called his assistant. “Ellen, I’m sorry for the earlycall.”
“One second, Crockett.” He listened while she said goodbye to her high school-aged son. “I’m back. What can I helpwith?”
“After my off-site meeting, I’m heading to Maverick’s airpark on the Eastern Shore so I won’t be in allday.”
