Page 8 of Flawless

He smirked. “Meaning?”

“I’ve been told I’m a bit of a firecracker.”

His tongue was firmly planted in his cheek when he muttered, “You don’t say.”

“And you’re a rock. Solid and steady. I like that.” I need that. I would never say, I need you. Those words would never leave my lips, even if I thought them.

“A rock, huh?” The flirty glint in his eye told me he hadn’t forgotten what we’d been about to do earlier.

“Come home with me.”

My mama had robbed me of a lot of things in my life: love, stability, security, but I’d be damned if I’d be robbed of the night fate promised me with this man.

“Baby, you need a good night’s sleep. You’ve been through hell.”

The way he said baby, with that deep, raspy drawl made my skin tingle.

“So have you. So, let’s get a good night’s sleep together.” I raised my right hand. “I swear I won’t come on to you, unless you want me to.”

He laughed before his smile slipped and his eyes dimmed. “I do want to hold you tonight. I want you to know that you’re safe⁠—”

I touched my fingertips against his full lips. “Okay, keep talking like that and I take back my promise. I will come on to you.”

He lowered his head, touching his forehead to mine. “What the hell am I gonna do with you, girl?”

“Anything you want.”

Chapter Four

Cameron

We’d both been so exhausted by the time we fell into Rylee’s bed just before dawn, that she’d curled her body around mine, her head on my chest, and fell asleep within minutes.

I’d stroked her hair, caressed her bare back, and smiled when she released a contented sigh and burrowed deeper. No sex, yet it felt like we’d forged a connection that ran even deeper than the physical connection we would have made, had the phone not rung when it did.

And I didn’t know how the hell to process the feelings I was having as I made myself at home in her kitchen, making eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee while she showered.

“Hey, handsome.” She stood in the doorway of her kitchen, smiling. Her hair was full and sexy, but she wasn’t wearing makeup. Her curves were on full display in a white tank top and faded jeans that skimmed her feet, barely revealing red painted toes.

“Hey, yourself. Want some coffee?”

“You’re my hero.” She poured herself a cup and added sugar before leaning her backside against the counter to watch me cook. “Okay, I know I didn’t have any of this stuff. I’ve been on the road for weeks and haven’t gone shopping in forever.”

“I got up a while ago, showered, and went out to pick up some staples.” I plated the eggs and bacon and set it on the kitchen island. “No big deal.” She was watching me while I buttered a stack of toast, making me wonder what she was thinking. “What? Did I overstep?”

“God, no.” She curled her hand around my bicep. “It’s just that no guy has ever done this for me before. Not even after sex.”

White-hot fury, I could only define as jealousy ripped through me when I imagined her mornings-after with guys who didn’t care enough to treat her right. “No guy has ever made you breakfast? What kind of losers have you been dating?”

“Sorry, I didn’t know guys like you actually existed, or I would have looked harder.” Her wink was sassy as she rolled forward on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Seriously, thank you for this. And for everything. You were a godsend last night.”

“Glad I was here.” I meant it. If I’d stayed at Austin’s guesthouse, ruminating about the bastard who’d abducted my sister, I would have gone crazy. The smartest decision I’d made was hopping in my truck for a faceoff with the doll-face who’d propositioned me.

She ran her hand down my back as I plated the rest of the food. “So, what are your plans for the day?”

“I should go and check on my sister in a bit. What about you? Do you have to go to the hospital?”

She nodded, looking dejected. “I don’t want to, but I should.”