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Once, she would have been filled with want and jealousy over that. She’d wanted nothing more than a big, tough man who turned to dough for her.
“You’re shivering, baby.” Raid grew closer and pulled off his jacket. “Come here.”
“I . . . I . . . why do you keep calling me baby?” she asked.
“I’m not sure you’re ready for me to answer that right now.” He held out his jacket. “Let me put this around you.”
“But then you’ll be cold.”
“I’m not worried about me right now. I’m worried about you. Step forward,” he ordered.
Her body was moved and he put the coat around her shoulders before her brain caught up. Instant warmth surrounded her as well as his scent, which was so delicious. But she couldn’t let herself show how any of that affected her.
“Hannah, I’m sorry that I scared you,” he said in a soft voice that made her shiver for an entirely different reason. “But you had me worried. You were walking along without a clue I was behind you. So fucking dangerous.” By the last sentence, his voice had hardened and she could hear the displeasure in it.
She swallowed against the need to apologize again.
This was her life. He wasn’t her man or her guardian.
He wasn’t responsible for her.
“Hey, I’ve got to get back to Laken. She’s not feeling well,” Duncan said, walking swiftly toward them. “I’ll drop you off on the way, Hannah.”
Except her place wasn’t on his way. It was in the opposite direction. But before she could open her mouth to argue, Raid spoke up.
“As I said, I’m taking Hannah home. You get back to Laken.”
Duncan paused, then stared down at Hannah. “That okay with you?”
“Yes, of course. You go.” What else could she say?
So much for the ice queen, who was trying to look out for herself.
Still, he hesitated. Duncan was a good man. But he needed to put Laken first. She definitely came before Hannah, who wasn’t really worth his time. “Go, Duncan. I hope Laken is all right.”
“You’re taking responsibility for her?” he said to Raid.
Responsibility for her? No. Nope. She shook her head, but neither of them was looking at her.
Drat.
“Yep, I am. I have her.” Raid gently held her arm as though he thought she might run away.
She tried not to flinch, but she couldn’t stop herself.
He glanced down at her as Duncan left with a wave.
“Can you let go of me?” she asked as calmly as she could.
“Promise me you’re not going to try and take off,” he countered.
“As if I could outrun you,” she scoffed.
“Hannah,” he said warningly.
“I’m not going to run off.” Sheesh.
Old-Hannah hadn’t been a runner. New-Hannah was, but not literally. She was just running from her problems.
So far . . . that wasn’t working out that well for her. Her problems just seemed to follow her around.
Probably because you are the problem.
“Come on, let’s get you home.”
He was a steady presence beside her. He didn’t talk, which was surprising. There was no joking around or craziness. Just Raid walking beside her.
Seeing her home safely.
Under other circumstances, she would have given her right leg for this right here. For Raid Malone to walk her home, to care enough about her comfort to provide her with his jacket.
For him to be here with her like this.
But these weren’t other circumstances. And she was too busy worrying about how to get rid of him when they got to her apartment to really enjoy the moment.
He’d been following her. A shiver ran down her spine.
What if Steven came back? He knew that she lived in Haven, which wasn’t a big place. He could easily find her if he came looking.
Perhaps it really was time to move. Her sense of safety had been severely compromised, and she wasn’t sure if it would ever return.
You feel safe with Raid, though.
Yeah, she did. But it wasn’t like she could hire him to be her bodyguard.
What would she pay him in? Cuddles and kisses?
Yeah, right.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Steven wasn’t going to come looking for her. He had what he wanted from her.
There was no way she’d ever see him again. She was safe.
Sure, she might be broke, dirty, and scared of her own shadow.
But she was safe from Steven.
She hoped.
4
They reached the bottom of the stairs to her apartment.
Hannah turned to look up at him. She had to get rid of him as soon as possible. “Thanks for walking me home.”
“Don’t even start with me, Hannah,” he grumbled.
Huh? What the heck did that mean?
Raid took off up the stairs. She stood, staring after him. Shoot. She should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.
Also . . . she was damn glad for security lights. Because the sight of his ass in those jeans as he strode up the stairs . . . truly epic.
