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Livvy pulled back, hating the interruption. The timing was horrible, but it was a relief to focus on Jensen and the overwhelming desire to be close to him and push away the horror of Treven Rindlesbacher being out of prison and pursuing her.
“We’re ready to head out, sir.”
“All right.” Jensen looked at her. “Do you have what you need?”
“Yes.” She closed her suitcase, zipped it, and hauled it off the bed.
He took it from her, his fingers grazing hers and sending a wave of warmth from her fingertips up her arm. The simple touch reminded her of their connection. She’d never felt anything like what she felt from a simple touch or look from Jensen. He had deepened that bond as he built her up and respected her.
Jensen gifted her with his perfect smile and placed his hand on her lower back to direct her out of the house.
Livvy longed to melt into him. What a man. She wanted him to be her man as much as she’d wanted to succeed with her music career. She’d spent hours practicing every day since she was a small child to accomplish that goal. What kind of time or energy would she need to direct at him to get him to fall for her?
The chief of all of Augustine’s police force was going to take part in her personal protection. Stay with her at the safehouse. Delegate his responsibilities to spend time with her and teach her to fight. Their time together would be a far cry from a vacation, but being near him felt like a safe and warm paradise to her.
They walked out into the chilly night, police officers escorting them. Her neighbors appeared to have given up on watching the mayhem because of the cold or their own exhaustion. Livvy hated to leave her home. Despite Treven finding her house and leaving a note and a dead dove when he’d escaped from prison a month ago, she’d always felt safe and comfortable here. She wasn’t safe here any longer and she’d miss her house and especially her piano.
Jensen opened the passenger side door of his dark gray Volvo and escorted her in. She smiled up at him. She was safe with him. Comfortable? In some ways, but not completely. He was too thrilling, mesmerizing, and exciting to be completely comfortable.
He put her suitcase in the back of the vehicle and then talked to the sergeant outside for a bit. Then he climbed into the driver’s seat, pushed the start button, and slid the car into gear.
He gave her a reassuring smile as he drove away from her neighborhood. “Is it hard to leave?”
“Yes.” She didn’t want to dwell on being thrust out of her safe space and comfort zone. “Especially knowing I have a hole in my wall and spiders, mice, and snakes are going to creep in. What if they get inside my piano?” She shuddered.
He chuckled. “The incident control crew will cover the hole and tape it off securely. I’ll make certain they do a thorough job and keep your house and piano safe.”
“Thank you.” She angled toward him, studying his profile illuminated by the soft lights of the dash while he drove through the dark night. “Where are we going?”
“Well, if you aren’t opposed, we’ll use my house.”
“Your house?” Her stomach pitched at the idea. All alone at his house? Just the two of them?
He glanced at her, then focused on the road. “The safehouse that we usually use is occupied by one of Sutton Smith’s men guarding a famous lady who needed to escape a stalker. Sutton has been helping us look for William and Naomi with his ops who are spread all over the world. Now just for Naomi. We wanted to repay the favor.”
“Sutton Smith.” She nodded. The billionaire philanthropist was very well known and provided security for many high-profile people. “I guess we can get trumped by his guy.”
“Do you mind going to my house? My security is top-notch and we’ll have officers stationed inside and out at all times.” There went her idea of being blissfully alone with him. “And I can more easily get work done from my home office.”
“It sounds great.” Though she wished he’d protect her by himself. That was silly, though. He had work to do, and it would be smarter to have more officers around, as long as it wasn’t the two who’d stopped by after the first dead bird and murmured, ‘Treven’s coming,’ as they left. Though when she confronted them, neither would admit to saying it and acted like she was crazy and paranoid. She shuddered at the memory. “It won’t be Officers Bradford and Palmer?”
“No. Those two are on a very short leash.” He smiled slightly, though there was little humor in it. “I assigned them to prison duty after they bothered you the last time. Nobody likes prison duty.” His smile became more genuine. Possibly an inside joke?
Livvy had no desire to smile. She blinked at him, and a hard, cold knot formed in her gut. “Prison duty? That’s the worst spot those two could be! They could have helped Treven escape.”
“No.” Jensen shook his head decisively. “Our prison is top-notch, and those two don’t have any kind of security clearance or contact with the prisoners. They are on exterior duty only. The shift commander, who is the highest-ranking officer at the prison tonight, woke Treven up and saw him with his own eyes. I’m sorry to doubt you, but it’s impossible that Treven was at your house tonight.”
Livvy folded her arms across her chest. She didn’t want to be at odds with the man who was helping her, the man she was fascinated with, but she knew what she’d seen. Jensen didn’t believe Treven could be free. She didn’t blame him as all the facts showed he was right, but he’d know soon enough she hadn’t been disillusioned.
“I promise you it was him,” she insisted. “I’ve only seen eyes like his on him, his dad, and Sophie’s daughter Sunny.”
“Excuse me?” Jensen stared at her. Luckily his car was high-tech enough it basically drove itself. “Sophie’s daughter is Treven’s? But she was engaged to Jonathon Lathum. I thought he was Sunny’s father.”
“Oh.” Livvy’s gut churned. She hadn’t meant to betray her friend’s confidence. “I thought you knew … You’re so close to the August family and all the princes.”
He shook his head and focused on the road. “I know Treven was obsessed with her and William tried to use her and Sunny to manipulate Malik, but I had no idea she’d dated Treven.”
“She didn’t. The scumball raped her and then threatened to torture and kill Malik and her parents just like his men had done to Jonathon if she breathed a word of who Sunny’s real father was or what he’d done to her.” Livvy grimaced. “I thought you knew. Please don’t say anything. Sophie obviously wants that to stay quiet. Probably for Sunny’s sake.”
