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“Do you have any idea how easy it was for me to get in here?” Cal asked, his crystal blue eyes fastening on me. Scratch that, I had a large fireman sitting on my bed, and he was in navy pants and a matching blue button-up uniform shirt, complete with silver badge and way too much swagger.
“Breaking into my hotel room now?” I said and crossed my arms.
“It wasn’t difficult,” he said. “Especially since your lock is busted. It’s not safe, Lana.”
It was the same argument he’d been giving me for the better part of a week. And I’d been successful in ignoring him. Until now.
“You’re the only one breaking in!” I snapped.
“That you know of. Either the lock is super shitty due to the quality of this place or someone broke it and has already been in here.”
“Could that someone be a blond pain in the ass?” I said, looking at him hard to make my point. Not looking at him hard because the way his uniform fit tightly around his strong biceps, with just a hint of the tattoos he concealed beneath barely peeking out. And also not staring an extra second to appreciate that muscular chest leading down to a black leather belt. He stood casually and flexed his hips.
My gaze snapped up, and we both knew what I’d just been caught staring at. But Cal in his fire uniform came second only to Cal naked. Another thing I wasn’t thinking about…
“I miss you, Kitten.” He took a step toward me. “And I think you miss me too.”
He delivered a smile so dazzling I rocked on my feet from its power. But when he fired off both dimples, I was swooning.
No!
Damn it, I was losing my mind because I was exhausted. Between the funeral, confrontation with the evil step-mother and her little son too, not to mention Jack’s hot gaze that left first degree burns on my skin, I was spent. And in no shape to fight against Cal’s charm.
“You should go,” I said.
“Okay,” he agreed easily. “As long as you come with me.”
“No,” I said, unable to keep the shaking out of my voice. “We’re done, Cal.” It was the second time I’d said that in less than an hour. And it hurt just as badly as saying it the first time. Because Cal was right there with Jack when it came to deceiving me. When Jack had left, Cal stepped in and made me believe in love. Believe in myself. Made me hope.
The prick.
He made life so easy. Too easy, because I fell in love with him and gave him all the pieces Jack had left broken, and he’d taken them, and put me back together. Only I found out that he’d made an arrangement with Jack to have his time with me. Apparently, they’d both wanted me and had to work around that. So they’d thought they were giving me a chance to be with each of them, so I could then choose. Too bad I fell in love with both of them.
Cal made the brazen in me rise. He let me claw at what I wanted and hold on tight. He let me have my control, giving me power over myself. He let me run, whenever I needed, but he always came after me.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” he said. “I know you’re hurting. I know I fucked up. I know today was hard on you. I would have been there…”
I looked him over, registering that since he was in his uniform… “You’re on duty?”
He nodded. “I came here to take you home with me.”
“Cal, I can’t,” I whispered. Because his home was so warm and welcoming. It felt like him, and if I closed my eyes really tight, I could feel the soft sheets of his bed against my skin and the spicy smell of his skin as he climbed in next to me…
I needed these memories to go away, not repeat them. Because I was already losing a losing battle.
“I’m not looking to control you,” Cal said, regaining my focus on him. “I’m looking to protect you. Show you that I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, the bottom of his shoe scuffing against the carpet. He tucked that stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So damn sorry. For what you’ve gone through, what I put you through. Please believe that I never meant to hurt you.”
My pulse sped up and my forehead hurt from the deep frown marring it. It was all I could do to keep my eyes from watering. Part of me did believe him.
I took the smallest step toward him.
“I just want to protect you. I’ll give you space, but let me at least keep you safe.” His voice was smooth, and I knew too well he was playing good cop.
Let him?
Again, the second time I’d heard that. Both Jack and now Cal had spoken to me like this whole situation was in my hands. Like I held the power and dictated what they could and couldn’t do. If that were true, why did I feel so weak? So alone?
I looked into those deep blue eyes and, for a moment, remembered how only a handful of days ago I was lost in them. Stared at those same eyes and told him how much I loved him. Funny how life changed in moments. Seconds.
