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Staying next to him sounded very … nice. She’d be safe, close to the man she was enthralled with. Was there a chance he had ulterior motives and wanted her close as well, or was it simply the most convenient arrangement to give his officers a measure of privacy downstairs?
“You designed and built this house?” she asked.
“I worked with the designer on the plan and hired everything else out.”
“Why did you build an extra bedroom and bath next to your master?” she asked as they ascended the staircase made of wood and wrought iron.
They reached the top and stopped outside the first bedroom door. He met her gaze. “I assumed when I married and we had children, we’d want a nursery of sorts close by. Not have to run two sets of stairs to check on or feed the baby.”
“Oh.” She wanted to believe he’d imagined her as his wife, but that would be more presumptuous than imagining he’d bought a piano for her. The image of them in the nursery, her holding the baby while he held her … Her playing the Petrof while he stood close by and watched her with pride and longing in his gaze.
She had to stop her random and unrealistic thoughts. She’d never be free of Treven, and Jensen was hardly proposing.
He pushed open the bedroom door and set her suitcase inside. “Let’s get you settled so I can head to the prison.”
That sobered her and redirected her daydreams to nightmares. He was going to confront Treven. Unless she was right and Treven was nowhere near the prison. She shuddered. Where had the creep gone after he left her house? Could he have followed her here?
She looked out the two-story windows of the main area, easily visible from this loft. Darkness was all she could see. Dark like Treven’s heart. What if Treven and his men were circling the property, looking for a weak spot? What if they killed one of these diligent officers to get to her? What if they killed Jensen?
“Are you all right?” Jensen asked, his voice soft and kind.
“I don’t want to put anybody at risk with Treven out there somewhere. He’s psychotic, and he won’t stop until he’s forced me to marry him, or he’s dead.” She didn’t want to wish death on anyone, even Treven, but she could think of no other solution that would grant her freedom.
“My people are exceptionally trained. They can take care of themselves if Treven’s guys somehow came here and got through my security fence.” Jensen stared down at her. “You’ve been very brave on your own, Livvy, but you’re safe here. I promise he will never touch you again.”
Livvy’s heart thudded faster. She loved his promise and the warmth in his dark eyes. “Thank you, Jensen.”
“Can you rest? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She didn’t want him to leave, but that was silly. His people were competent, the property secure, and she would be safe here. “Can you leave me with a pistol? I’ll sleep better with one on the bedside table.”
She didn’t know what kind of response she expected, but his wide, beautiful grin was a pleasant surprise and broke the tension. He drew a 1911 from the small of his back. She hadn’t even realized he was carrying, but she should have. She’d never seen him not armed. It was enticing the way he drew that pistol, studying her the entire time, flipped it in his hand so the butt was extended toward her, and held it out.
“Have you used a 1911?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Okay.” He handed it over. Their hands brushed, and she felt the warmth of it all the way through her body. “Please don’t shoot one of my officers by mistake if they surprise you.”
She laughed, but it was unsteady. That was because of the effect those dark eyes and any slight touch had on her, not any worries about shooting one of his officers. She knew how to handle a gun. “I promise. I’ll only shoot if my wall and window explodes and Treven tries to yank me out of your house.”
“If that happens, you have my permission to unload the entire clip.”
She shivered at the thought. Jensen looked like he wanted to reach out to her, but he stepped back instead. Maybe he was interested in her, but not enough to risk crossing any lines of propriety.
“I need to go. You’ll be all right?”
“Yes.” She pointed the gun at the floor like Cap had taught her, but gestured to it with her free hand. “Thank you for trusting me with this. Do you have another pistol to take with you?”
He looked surprised, and then he chuckled. “I do.”
“Do you have a lot of guns?” She imagined he did. The Augustine people’s safety and police work was his life.
“Tomorrow, before we go shooting, I’ll show you my gun safe. I think you’ll be impressed.”
“We’ll see if you can impress me, oh highly respected and far-too-enticing police chief.” Maybe she shouldn’t have thrown the last bit in, but he was too enticing, and she wanted him to know how she felt. Truthfully, everything about him impressed her. The only thing she’d change was she’d like him to wrap her up tight in those strong arms and hold her for a very long time.
He grinned and lifted a hand. “See you in the morning.” Turning, he entered his master suite.
