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“You’re not leaving?” I’d only asked him to stay for the police part, and despite what he’d said to the cops about handling a new security system, I didn’t expect him to follow through.
“Why would I go?” For the first time, Cash’s voice turned grumpy. “I said I’d stay. No way am I leaving you without a functional security system. Duncan would have my hide.”
Ah, yes. His obligation to my brother. Not any attachment to me.
“Thought this wasn’t a job for you.” I really needed to work on my petulant tone, and Cash narrowed his eyes like he too was running out of patience for me.
“I owe your brother far more than sorting out a plan for keeping you safe.” The grim note to his voice had me wrapping my robe a little tighter around my torso. It was easy to forget that he and Duncan had seen real action, stuff that likely made the rat prank seem silly.
“I get it,” I said, even though I didn’t, not really. I didn’t have that sort of bone-deep bond with anyone, no ride-or-die bestie waiting in the wings. Ezra was as close as I had, and I didn’t delude myself. There was a limit to how far he’d go for me and vice versa.
“We can start with the grounds.” Cash strode purposefully to my front gate. My robe swished around my bare legs. I so was not dressed for a trek around my property.
“Wait. Can I get dressed?” I asked as we re-entered my courtyard area.
“Oops. Forgot about that.” Turning, Cash swept his gaze over me. I’d had far more heated once-overs in my life, but the intensity in his eyes, the way he didn’t seem to miss a single detail, made me shiver nonetheless. “Yeah, sure, you can get dressed. Lead the way.”
“Pardon?” I paused with one hand on the garden gate. I wasn’t sure where I’d thought he’d wait, but him following me wasn’t at all what I’d expected. “You’re coming with me to get dressed? My room is upstairs on the other side of the house.”
“I know me following you everywhere is a drag, but I’m not convinced there’s not more trouble waiting. Better safe than sorry.” He clapped me on the shoulder with a big hand. Every time he touched me, my body temperature increased by ten degrees. Weirdly, his touch also made me feel heavier. More solid. Less like the ball of loosely held together energy I usually was. “Let me check your room?”
I nodded, and he did too, and for a moment, it felt like my agreement actually mattered to Cash. My life was full of people who did whatever the hell they wanted, often in the name of my best interests, but Cash had a way of making me feel like my answers to his suggestions were important.
“I—” I opened my mouth in an attempt to express something resembling gratitude, but Cash cut me off with a groan.
“Damn it.” He pointed at his long-since abandoned bag of fast food on the grass. “Food’s likely ice cold now.”
“Sorry.” Focusing on the ruined food was far better than finding words for feelings. “I have a box of fresh fruit though. At least Autumn left that.”
“Guess I can swipe a banana or something.” Cash quickly retrieved the produce box from where it was sitting in the courtyard. “At least fruit is better than the protein bars your brother lives on. And probably better for me than fast-food crap. Since I’m not at the mercy of the chow hall menu anymore, I’ve been indulging myself a bit too much anyway.”
He patted his middle, and yeah, he was thicker than Duncan and some of the other SEALs I’d seen, but there wasn’t an ounce of extra anything on the guy.
“Ha. There are worse things to indulge in.” I meant it as a tease, but his expression shuttered. Shit. I hadn’t meant substances, but before I could explain, he gave a sharp nod.
“True. I need to watch food, though, now that I don’t have a crazy PT schedule.”
I had to fight my impulse for a flirty retort, settling for a light tone as I walked the rest of the way to the house. “You could take up yoga.”
“Think I’ll stick to the gym.” Toting the box of fruit, he followed after me.
“Your loss.” I laughed, but I meant more than just yoga. I highly doubted he was anything other than straight, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong. Entering the front hall, I headed right for the circular staircase that dominated the space. I’d give Cash the full tour after I had some damn jeans on.
With that objective in mind, I bounded up the stairs and made a sharp right turn for the main suite, trusting Cash would follow.
“Let me go first,” he ordered at the door to my room, handing me the produce box.
