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“Is that it?”
“Yeah. ’Preciate you.”
“Good. I’m going to sleep and hopefully this time won’t be awakened by a stranger or a gun.”
McKenna’s bed was calling her so she wasted no time heading out the room, only stopping when he called out.
“Ay?”
“What?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she sneered, having had her fill of Carter for the time being.
“Ay, hold up.”
She turned and noticed him holding her phone. With hesitation she moved closer to accept the device.
“You’re trusting me to have my phone?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“What if I…”
“You won’t,” he said confidently and delivered his final words in a teasing manner that didn’t help pacify her mood. “Night, McKenna Smith.”
She didn’t bother returning the parting words and instead left the room, crossing the hall to hers, slamming and locking the door right after. She crawled from the foot of her bed, sliding under her tousled covers, pulling them up over her body, allowing her muscles and mind to settle. She curled her phone into her chest with her thoughts racing.
Gripping it in her hand, she closed her eyes, shaking her head. There really wasn’t anyone she could call or anyone she would throw in harm’s way by bringing them into her bullshit, so she turned to her side, cradling the phone close. It made her feel a little better to have it near. As worried as she should have been about the stranger lying across the hall in her spare room, she wasn’t.
Deep down inside she believed Carter when he’d promised her no harm, so her mind settled and she slowly drifted off to sleep, the sexy stranger she was sharing space with heavy in her thoughts. She could see his face and body so vividly in her mind that she had to fight back the smile that threatened to surface before she rolled her eyes, angry at herself for being turned on by a man who had forced his way into her life.
“Get your damn head right, Kenni. That man is trouble you don’t need,” she whispered into the darkness before she gave into her exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Three
When McKenna’s eyes eventually peeled open and she checked the time, she felt as if she’d missed the entire day. It was just after noon but considering she hadn’t actually fallen asleep until four in the morning she wasn’t surprised.
Tossing back the covers, she sat up slowly, swinging her legs across the side of the bed, allowing her toes to meet with the cool wooden floor before pressing the balls of her feet into it. She lifted her arms above her head to give a good stretch to alleviate the stiffness in her neck and back. When her eyes landed on the aged wooden door which was shut tightly and locked, McKenna was reminded of the reason why.
He’s here!
She eased off the bed, padding to the door, leaning in close to see if she could hear anything on the other side. Not sure why other than there was a stranger in her home.
One who’s injured but still deadly.
McKenna nervously raked her fingers through unruly hair before hurrying to the bathroom for a quick shower. After she dressed in old sweats and a t-shirt, she moved through her skin care routine, brushed her teeth, and did the best she could to manage the half curly, half straight mass that was all over her head. Deciding on two French braids that landed just close enough to brush her shoulders, she secured the ends and pushed out a nervous breath before leaving her room.
The first stop was across the hall where she inched close to the door to see if she could hear any movement. The only thing she picked up on was a light snore so she hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. Not sure why other than she needed an excuse to lay eyes on the intruder.
She knocked softly and after a few minutes with no response, she twisted the knob, pushing the door just enough to peek in. Carter was on his back—one hand beneath the sheet that covered his waist and the other resting on his chest.
She took a minute to admire how attractive he was. Far more attractive than he’d been hours before with a frown locked between his brows and intense eyes that seemed to say far more than his words could relay. They held promises of danger that aligned with the stories she’d heard about men like him.
McKenna pulled her lip between her teeth as she studied his chocolate frame. Carter’s neck, chest, and arms were littered with tattoos. Some were simply thick outlines while others were colorful enough to have her head tilting slightly to examine the patterns. His muscles were present, not overly defined but she could clearly trace the outline of their existence. Even as he rested with the muscles around his eyes and jaw relaxed, Carter’s presence still presented an unspoken threat that caused her to err on the side of caution, even with something as simple as taking in his handsome features.
Shaking the thought, McKenna moved into the room, leaning just enough to extend an arm to set the bottle of water she’d brought with her down, but before she could retract her arm, Carter’s large hand wrapped around her wrist. When her eyes met his, they were troubled but she forced a nervous smile, attempting to hide her rushing pulse.
