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“We need to bag this,” I told Phoebe as I walked her back into the apartment. She grabbed a small plastic bag, and I carefully put the note inside and sealed it shut. Tomorrow, I would take it to a friend at a local lab and have it run for prints. Tonight, I would call Deacon and see if he could get his hands on the camera footage of the parking lot. Since his specialties were surreptitious entry and technical surveillance operations—and he was a wicked hacker—he was my best bet.
I turned to Phoebe, who still looked anxious, and tried to smooth out the scowl on my face so I wouldn’t further upset her. “Don’t worry, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you,” I murmured. “Why don’t you relax while I make some calls—”
“I have to go to this work event,” she sighed as she shook her head. “I’m still new, and if I don’t show up, it could jeopardize my job.”
I wanted to put my foot down and tell her she wasn’t going anywhere, but this was literally only the second time we’d ever met or even spoken to each other. I didn’t want to send her running before I had a chance to make her mine. If she knew just how deeply possessive I was of her already, she'd probably freak out and slam the door in my face. I didn’t understand how my feelings had grown so out of control in such a short time, but there was no turning back now.
However, not being able to stop her from going didn’t mean I had to let her go alone. “Fine,” I agreed. “Only if I go with you.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened, and she shook her head again as she opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. “This is nonnegotiable, baby. Your safety comes first, and I’m not leaving your side until I know you’re not in any danger.”
My eyes swept over her from head to toe, once again admiring how fucking sexy she looked in her one-piece outfit that subtly showed off her delicious curves.Focus, Atwood.It wasn’t super dressy, and her thick red curls were pulled up into a casual ponytail, but I didn’t think showing up with a scruffy guy in jeans would help her image.
Jerking my head toward her front door, I said, “We can stop by my place on the way. It will only take me a few minutes to change.”
Phoebe’s mouth opened and closed a few times as she processed what I said. I simply stared at her with an expression that made it clear I wasn’t going to budge. I almost smiled in triumph when I saw a spark of excitement in her pretty blue eyes, and she nodded in acquiescence. Instead, my most charming smile spread slowly across my face, and I enjoyed the pretty shade of pink that bloomed on her cheeks.
“Get your cute ass moving, baby.” I put my hand on the small of her back as we walked outside, then waited for her to lock up before guiding her to the passenger side of my SUV.
“I can drive,” she protested. “I don't want you to have to bring me back—”
“Forget it, baby,” I rumbled as I opened the door. “Remember what I said about not leaving your side?”
Phoebe swallowed hard and looked as though she might say something but lost her nerve because she pressed her lips together and allowed me to help her up into the seat without comment. I buckled her in before she had the chance and almost groaned when my arm brushed over a hard nipple poking through her clothing. I took a deep breath, but it didn’t help since the air was filled with her mouthwatering scent. I quickly slammed the door shut and jogged to the driver’s side. Once I buckled my seat belt, I started the ignition and backed out. As I pulled out onto the street, I reached across the console and laced my fingers with hers before setting our hands on my thigh. I asked her about her work and kept our conversation going as I drove so she wouldn't have time to dwell on what happened or overthink what was developing between us. It also didn’t hurt that I wanted to know everything about her anyway.
When we arrived at my condo, I pulled into the garage and parked. “I’ll be quick,” I said before jumping out of the car and swiftly making my way to her door. I opened it and held out my hand.
“I can just wait here,” Phoebe stated with an understanding smile.
I rolled my eyes and bent over to unbuckle her seat belt, steeling myself against the electricity that arced between us whenever we touched.
Taking her hand, I tugged her out of the vehicle and tucked her into my side with my arm around her shoulders. “How many times am I going to have to repeat myself?” I growled, letting the corners of my mouth turn up so she knew I was teasing. Mostly. “You’re going to have to learn to do what you’re told, baby.” I paused, and my smile turned wicked. “I promise you’ll like the rewards that come from being a good girl.”
Phoebe’s mouth formed a little O as she blinked up at me. While she didn’t seem to fully understand what I was implying, I knew she had some idea because her clear blue eyes heated, darkening a shade.
We’d reached the elevator, so I swiped my card. When the door slid open, I ushered her inside. I was incredibly tempted to push her up against the wall and kiss her until she couldn’t think about anything but me. My hands itched to feel her curves, and my lips tingled with the anticipation of feeling her mouth under mine.
However, I suspected that once I started, I wouldn't be able to stop. And I wanted Phoebe to know that everything about her was important to me, including her career. So it was best that I didn’t get sidetracked by my hunger for her. It could wait.Icould wait, I told myself—mostly believing it.
When the lift reached my floor, I kept her hand in mine as I walked off and down the hall to my door. Once I unlocked it, we entered, and I guided her over to the sofa. “Have a seat, baby. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
Her eyes bounced around the room with interest, and I chuckled. “Feel free to snoop. I have nothing to hide from you.”
Phoebe’s face registered surprise, but she also looked pleased. “I would never snoop,” she insisted halfheartedly.
“I would,” I admitted with a laugh. When she giggled, I couldn’t resist bending over to place a swift kiss on her nose. That was all I allowed myself before straightening and hastily retreating to my bedroom.
After trading out my jeans for a pair of slacks and my Henley for a polo, I changed my shoes and headed back into the living room. When Phoebe’s eyes landed on me, they darkened again, and a pretty blush stained her cheeks. “You clean up good, Silas,” she teased.
I laughed and winked at her. “Ditto, baby. Although you would look sexy as fuck in a potato sack.”
She giggled again and beamed at me. For a moment, I was lost in the beauty of her smile. Then I shook my head to clear away the fog, once again reminding myself that we would have plenty of time to indulge later. Forever, if I had my way.
“Let’s get going, baby,” I said as I extended my hand toward her. “Before I can’t talk myself out of locking you up here until I know you’re safe.”
She allowed me to help her to her feet, and I kept us tethered by our entwined fingers. We headed out to my vehicle, and as we were driving out of the garage, Phoebe plugged the address for the hotel into my GPS. The destination was only ten minutes away, so we took the ride in comfortable silence.
As a SEAL, I’d been trained to handle situations that involved a lot of waiting, usually in complete silence, and often in less than desirable conditions. But I’d never been able to completely relax with anyone except my family. So I was astonished that being with Phoebe felt so easy.
