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She didn’t have to exert much energy into locating Carter. The open floor plan offered an enticing view of Carter’s back. He was shirtless so her eyes traveled over his beautiful brown skin, his broad shoulders littered with ink and muscles down to the briefs and sweats riding low on his waist.
His stance was relaxed, offering a spectacular view of strength and arrogance that she was now accustomed to. Carter’s arm lowered slowly to his side, giving visibility to a blunt pressed between his fingers. He shifted his body when he spoke but kept his focus on the twelve foot window.
“How did you sleep?” he rasped.
“Good.”
McKenna had no clue how he knew she was there. She hadn’t said a word and her socked feet were quiet against the wood planked floors. When he lifted the blunt to his mouth, inhaled, and released a cloud of smoke, she made her way to him. She pressed her back to the glass panel, turning so she was granted the beauty of his profile before he slowly turned his head and took her in, inch by inch. She felt the intensity of his heated gaze as it dragged over her skin.
Carter was quiet for a moment.
“What’s on your mind, Kenni?”
“How do people know about me? I thought that was the point of staying away.”
His expression tightened. A muscle ticked in his jaw, shifting Carter’s face into a mask of fury.
“I fucked up. When I called you that night I was across the street from your house. Someone must have been watching me. The same phone I used was left at my apartment.”
“Here?” McKenna’s eyes went wide and Carter shook his head.
“Not here. No one has access to this apartment.” When her brows pinched in confusion, he further explained, “I have places I use. Mostly just to sleep, shower…”
“Sleep with women?”
Carter smirked, but didn’t address the comment right away. “Last night, when I got there, the package was waiting. The phone I used was inside. I crushed it before I left your house. Someone went behind me and got it. They must have also gotten their hands on the one I left you.”
“I threw it in the trash in my bathroom which means whoever it was got inside my house.”
Carter’s expression turned cold again.
“Yeah…”
“What now?”
“I’ll handle it.”
Carter stepped away from the window, crossed the room, and ashed the blunt in a crystal block that looked more like a paperweight than an ashtray. McKenna pushed away from the glass and followed him into the kitchen.
“You know who did this?”
“Yes, McKenna, I know. You don’t have to worry about any of this.”
“I have a life, Carter. A job, people I care about. Don’t tell me not to fucking worry…”
With two controlled steps, Carter’s palm was at the back of her neck, his fingers curling around it. The warmth of his breath fanned across her skin followed by his lips grazing the curve of her jaw, the sensitive spot just below her earlobe before he emitted a low growl of anger, his thumb easing over the same spot his mouth touched.
“No one will get close enough to hurt you, Kenni. It’s why you’re here. They should have never had access in the first place. That’s on me. I’m rectifying the situation.”
She gasped when she felt his other hand at her hip. His fingers pressed firmly before she was yanked into his frame.
“The same people you’re offering to protect me from, you brought into my life, Carter.”
“Not intentionally. Shit like this is why I walked away in the first place.” McKenna inhaled a shaky breath and her eyes closed when his mouth grazed the side of her neck. “I was coming back, Kenni. I just needed time to make sure my life didn’t touch yours. Not like this.”
He lifted his head and stepped away. Her eyes opened just in time to catch his hand lower and adjust his very visible dick pressed against the fabric of his pants.
“I have to go out for a while. When I get back?—”
