“Good morning,” she said, her smile warming her eyes. But as quick as it came, it was gone, and she promptly stepped back. “Seriously, Hunt, you don’t need to hover over me. The detective yesterday is on the case. Nothing else happened last night. I’m fine.”
“Then why did you call me?”
She looked anywhere but at him, quickly moving to the coffee maker and making a pot. “I was freaked out yesterday. Today, after a good night’s sleep, I’m fine.”
Not believing that for one moment, he closed the distance between them again, running his hands down her arms. The scent of burnt nuts infused the air, the coffee dripping into the pot, as he pressed a light kiss to her shoulder. She shivered against him, and he smiled against her skin. “I need to go out for a couple hours.” Police work came with a lot of red tape. Hunt had never been happier that he had friends who could cut through that tape quickly. “I’m going to call Ronan over to stay with you while I’m gone.”
She spun around, caught between him and the counter. “What can Ronan do?”
“Protect you,” he said immediately. “Ronan’s a former Navy Seal. I suspect he can do quite a lot to anyone unwelcome in your condo.”
Her brows drew together. “Didn’t I already say I don’t need a babysitter?”
“Lottie,” Hunt said, frustration tinging his voice. “Someone broke into your condo yesterday. It spooked you enough to call me, asking for help. Regardless of what your mouth is telling me, I can see in your eyes that you’re still spooked.” He took her face in his hands, feeling so damn good to finally have his hands on her. “I’m your friend, first and foremost. Helping you is no different than helping any of the Phoenix family. We take care of each other. Until the person is found, I’m sticking close.” He lowered his mouth to hers, smiling at how her breathing turned rough. “Deal with it.”
She leaned a little toward his mouth, her lids fluttering, before she sucked in a deep breath and pressed against his arm. “What happened last night can’t ever happen again.”
He dropped his arm, letting her pass. “Yeah, hate to break it to you, but I can’t agree to that.”
She turned back to him with a cute glare on her face. “I mean it, Hunt.”
Any other woman, he’d back away, but he knewthiswoman. He read her lies. Her desire dripping from her. He took a big step forward, watching her step back until she hit the wall. He stuck his knee between her legs, and she gasped, pressing her sex against him. He thrust his hands into her hair. “What was that you were saying?”
“This can never work,” she rasped.
“I’ve waited for you, Lottie. I can keep waiting. If you want to slow down, fine. If you want to get to know me better, fine. But this is the last time I will you ask you. This is it. No more games. You push me away again after what you offered me last night, we’re done. For good.”
A long, daunting silence paused. “I…”
“You, what?” Hunt asked roughly, unable to stand the silence any longer. “What do you want, Lottie?”
Trapped in his hold, locked into his gaze, he saw the guards fall. “You,” she finally whispered. “I shouldn’t. I told myself I wouldn’t let this happen. But I do, Hunt, I want you.”
Burning with intensity, he dropped his mouth to hers, saying all the things he couldn’t put into words. He could wait. He’d been patient so far. Butthis,whatever this was, it was the beginning of something they’d both waited a long time to enjoy.
He was in for the long haul.
Standingin her kitchen a few hours later, Lottie finished placing ham on the bun. Ronan had arrived before Hunt had left, and he’d made small talk with her on her morning dog walks. He seemed to enjoy the dogs as much as they enjoyed him, and she saw why everyone had enveloped Ronan into their inner circle. He was a good, stand-up guy. She asked him, “Do you want mustard on your sandwich?”
“Sure, thanks,” he said, his voice taut.
Glancing over her shoulder, she found him at her window, scanning the area, acting much like the solider he was. Ronan looked so much like Kieran from the back. Same hair color. Same muscular physique. Same chiseled jawline. But as he turned his head to scan the other side of the road, and then the buildings, his piercing green eyes held a darkness that Kieran’s simply didn’t have. That man had seen some things.
Her skin crawled with worry, a sense of dread at the situation she found herself in that she needed Ronan’s protection. She dipped the knife into the mustard jar and then smoothed some on the bun. She had no idea what Hunt was doing, but sheknewhim. Without a doubt, he was finding a way to hunt down the person responsible for her break-in.
Her hand shook as she placed the knife into the dishwasher. She gripped her wrist and took a breath, forcing herself to calm down. She needed to get a grip. As she closed the dishwasher, a knock sounded on her front door.
Startled, she jolted up with a gasp. Ronan said, “I’ll get it.”
She stayed put, gripping the edge of the counter, when Ronan opened the door.
A familiar sharp voice said, “Move out of the way. Right now!”
Ronan’s brows shot up. He took a step back, his hands up in front of him in surrender. “Calm down.”
“I have mace, and I’ll use it,” Nessa growled.
Lottie laughed, quickly moving toward the front door. “Ness, this is Ronan, not a burglar.” When she reached them, she burst out laughing. Nessa had her mace aimed at Ronan. “What are you doing?” she asked her best friend.
