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He sat down, his weight bringing her naturally closer to him, and without hesitating, he wrapped his arms around her. It felt good to hold her, to know she was safe, and to know that, as she sank against him, her face burrowing into the folds of his shirt, she trusted him.
“How’s your head feeling?” he asked after they’d sat there for a few minutes. “Should I get you more ice? Ibuprofen?”
“No. Don’t leave.” She shuddered and held on to him tighter.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I-I still can’t believe that he hit me like that,” she said, her usually strong, vibrant voice now quiet and fearful. “He’s never hurt me before. Well, not physically. You tried to warn me.”
“Hey. How would you expect a guy with twice your strength was going to deck you?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything more.
“Did he say anything to you? Anything to help us understand why he’s here?” he asked.
He knew what she’d told the police, that she’d barely reached him when he struck her, angry that she’d followed him. But he knew the timeline. He’d heard their voices as he sped through the streets trying to reach her; he just hadn’t been able to understand what they said.
She didn’t answer right away. “Nothing worth repeating. Just some things to hurt me.” She leaned away from him as something occurred to her. “Oh. And he saw us last night on the beach. He knows who you are. Knows you’re a PI and that you’re the one who tailed him last summer.”
Hell. He hadn’t realized Spencer got such a good look at him that night. The parking lot had been dark, with most of the lights burnt out so that, combined with the baseball cap he’d drawn down over his face, he’d thought he was indiscernible. “That’s probably why he didn’t show at the dock.”
She was still so quiet. Whatever Spencer had said to her had obviously hurt her, and it left him angry and frustrated that the man had that power to so easily draw blood. He pulled her back against him, wanting to soothe her. “You’re so much better off without that pathetic excuse for a guy in your life, Waverley.” His voice was hoarse from the emotions that gripped him. “You are worth more than a hundred Spencers, or Tracies or Julies, for that matter. You are Waverley Abbott. Fearless and strong and—”
“I don’t feel so strong or fearless right now,” she said, her voice low and defeated.
“Hey. Remember that day you walked into my office? How you had absolutely nothing, no money, no job, no place of your own? You could have fallen apart but you didn’t. Instead, you sashayed around with that tight skirt and that brilliant smile emanating joy and hope and optimism, refusing to take no for an answer. You’ve rescued defenseless cats and kittens from starvation, and you’ve rescued me from the boring monotony of my life. You’re beautiful, Waverley. Inside and out.”
“Y-you don’t have to say all that to me,” she said finally. “I know who I am and what I look like. I’ve come to terms with it. But I couldn’t delude myself into thinking I’m beautiful.”
“Heaven help me,” he said, shaking his head, trying to tamp down his anger and frustration at hearing this, even now. He touched her chin gently until she lifted it and looked into his eyes. “I wish you could see yourself how I see you. Shining so bright. So damn bright. If you did, you would never doubt how beautiful you are again. You’re everything a man could want in a woman. What I want in a woman.”
Her mouth opened as if in surprise at his words. “You would want someone like me?”
“You’re just about the only woman that I do want. Have been since I first saw you.”
Her eyes widened as she processed this, and damn if he didn’t see a flash of joy in her eyes.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “I never thought it would be possible.”
“It’s possible, Waverley. So much that it’s killing me right now to sit here and not show you exactly how much I want you. It’s going to burn me up from the inside out.”
She hesitated for the barest second. “Show me, Reynolds. Please.”
He knew he should say no. That he should tell her going down that road would only bring a bunch of unwanted complications later. That she deserved to be with someone more like her, someone who could offer her everything she deserved.
But hell. He had never been very smart.
Maybe he could just give her a glimpse, a taste of what she stirred in him. It didn’t have to go beyond that.
Before he could second-guess his decision, Reynolds leaned forward and captured her lips with his, enjoying the sweet softness of them just as he had with all the kisses before. But this time, there was no one to see and no reason to hold back.
It was like a dam broke as he pulled her closer to him, his hands roaming her lovely body, enjoying all the temptations that he’d only imagined before as she sighed and moaned, each sound only making him hungry for more.
He pulled away, taking a ragged breath as he met her gaze again. He had to be sure.
Because this wasn’t done. Sleeping with a client, an employee, a woman who could be back out of his life again as soon as this ruse was over and Spencer behind bars.
But hell if he cared. Because right now they both needed this. They both needed to feel and experience what they had to offer each other.
