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“So now that you’ll be able to recognize them, can we go back?”
He snorted, resisting the urge to look at her other drawings as he closed the sketchbook and handed it back to her. “Not likely. My other reasons still stand. Why are you so anxious to put yourself back in danger?”
Shrugging, she twisted her fingers together. “I want to help you and Justin. And I really don’t like that he’s still stuck with the Bad Guys because you rushed me away to safety. I’m not a damsel in distress, but I’ve done nothing except act like one since I met you. Besides, I have absolutely no doubts that you’ll do your best to protect me. I have complete faith in that.”
His breath caught at the complete conviction in her voice and sky-blue eyes, and he cleared his throat, searching for words. The only person who’d ever had that much faith in him was Justin. His aunt and uncle had been kind, but while they’d always taken care of him, they were also distant, with both him and their son.
That was probably why they’d grown so close so quickly growing up. They were each other’s support system, and no one believed in him more than Justin.
But now there was a gorgeous woman with a heart of gold entrusting him with that same amount of faith, and he felt humbled beyond measure that she thought he was worthy of it. And he was determined to make sure her trust wasn’t misplaced.
“What if my best isn’t good enough in this case?” he asked, his words coming out hoarse.
There was pure confidence in her voice when she replied. “I know it is. I can see the desire and need to protect me and find your cousin shining from your eyes. It’s so strong, I can practically feel it down in my soul.” Pausing, she blushed, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. “That probably sounded more dramatic than I meant it to, but it’s still true. And I already know you’re not a man who lets anything stand in his way when he decides to do something.”
He swallowed hard as emotions overwhelmed both him and his dragon. Awe, gratefulness, resolve to protect her no matter what—and something else he wasn’t sure he could identify. He ran his eyes over her, taking in her tousled black curls, light blue eyes, perfectly bowed lips, and then down her small frame, trying not to linger on the way her breasts filled out her V-neck top.
The urge to stare was strong as desire washed over him, but he forced his gaze down to her red painted toenails before retracing the journey. He met her eyes, taking in the faith and trust shining from the blue depths, still trying to figure out what else he was feeling.
Whatever it was, it was strong enough to steal his breath, and it seemed to be affecting his dragon the same way.
Realizing he’d been quiet for too long when she raised a delicately arched eyebrow, he cleared his throat as he searched for words. “I can’t tell you how much your faith in me means, Katia. Justin’s the only one who’s ever trusted me that much. But that’s exactly why I can’t go along with your plan. The need to protect you burns inside me, and if I use you as bait, it’ll go against that and every instinct in my body. I can’t do it.”
Frowning, she shook her head slowly. “But you barely know me, and what about Justin? Isn’t he more important? I don’t want to be the reason for even worse things to happen than getting his finger cut off.”
“He’s not more important than you, and I know you well enough to know I’ll do anything to protect you. We’ll find a way to get to Justin back, I promise you that, but it won’t be by risking you.”
She looked stunned and then she glanced away, looking past him to the window while she took a deep breath. “Like you with your cousin, I’ve never had anyone besides my uncle who put me or my safety in front of anyone else before,” she said softly, her eyes coming back to meet his. “I wish you’d take me back so we can save him, but I promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to help you find and rescue him.”
“It’s a deal, so long as you don’t try to put yourself in harms way to do it. Did you call your uncle and let him know what’s going on?”
Amusement filled her eyes as she smiled. “Yeah. He wasn’t too happy that I was in trouble, and he offered to call his so-called mafia contacts to take care of the Creepy Dudes. He also said to tell you that if you hurt me or anything happens to me, he’ll sic those same men on you, and that he has all your info in the hotel’s system, so there’s no hiding from him.”
He chuckled in response, but he was positive her uncle meant every word of that. “The threat isn’t needed because I have every intention of taking care of you, but it’s duly noted. I’m glad you have someone in your life who cares as he does.”
“Me too. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without him. Probably stayed dirty and hungry when my mom was still around, and then placed into foster care after she left. He’s the best.”
Colton couldn’t imagine how Katia’s mother hadn’t loved and taken care of her, but he was glad her uncle stepped in to do those things when her mom dropped the ball. His aunt and uncle might have been distant with him and Justin, but they’d never gone hungry or not been given the things they needed.
“Okay, I need to get a shower. I didn’t get a chance this morning, with staying in the truck all night and then getting you the hell out of there. You hungry? I can order a pizza.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Don’t answer the door for anyone while I’m in the bathroom, okay? I’ll be out of the shower fast enough to get the pizza when it gets here.”
“I won’t.”
He studied her gorgeous face for a few more moments before placing an order for delivery. Wh
en he was finished, he grabbed his bag, watching as she settled back onto the bed with her sketchpad.
And the whole time, he was still trying to figure out what in the hell the elusive emotion he felt for her was—but he was no closer to an answer than he’d been the first time he felt it.
Chapter Five
Silence filled the room as Katia’s pencil flew over the sketchpad, her eyes quickly moving back and forth between the paper and Colton. The only light in the room came from a dim lamp on the nightstand, but it was enough for her to see him clearly.
When he came out of the bathroom after his shower, it had been all she could do to keep her mouth from popping open. He’d been wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung pajama bottoms, and his glorious, muscular chest was bare.
