Roman’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but he didn’t ask questions, just took over. “Which is why I’m not leaving her alone.”
She shook her head and remained silent. She’d already anticipated Roman’s protective streak kicking in, but she planned to save the argument against his staying until they were alone.
She appreciated his concern, but it was unwarranted. The panty thief had struck homes of customers and no one had been hurt. She’d be careful, but she trusted she was safe. She couldn’t have him staying the night. With gossip as the town’s favorite pastime, she had no intention of her neighbors waking up to find him sneaking out the door—or fire escape—at the first crack of dawn.
“You’re safe enough when you’re home,” Rick said, eyeing Roman and helpfully giving her an out if she wanted one. “With neighbors on either side of you, no one would be foolish enough to break in here—but I suggest you keep that window shut tight and locked. At this point, you don’t want to take chances by giving any sleazeball who wants in an open invitation.”
She met Roman’s gaze out of the corner of her eye and somehow managed to stifle a laugh. They both knew he was the last sleazeball who’d climbed through her window tonight, but she saw no reason to give his brothers any more ammunition.
They were lovingly hassling him enough already—something she’d never experienced in her lifetime. She was an only child who’d matured too quickly after her father left, while despite it all, the Chandler brothers had been able to grow up in due time and still be kids. Sibling rivalry, one-upsmanship, and love were so apparent among the brothers that being with them brought a lump to Charlotte’s throat. She hadn’t had any kind of true family unit and realized now how much she’d missed.
She glanced back at the open window. “I’ll take care of it, I promise.”
“We’re working overtime, but I can’t promise anything until we catch the guy, so watch out.”
She nodded once more.
Chase placed a brotherly hand on her shoulder. “Once the article goes public, you can bet you’ll have a town full of people watching your back too.”
“Just what I needed, the spotlight on me and my life.” She sighed. “I hope this doesn’t kill my business. I can’t afford for people to be afraid to buy my goods.”
Rick shook his head. “The way I figure it, the worst-case scenario will mean a decline in sales in the garment of choice.”
“I hope you’re right.” Because she couldn’t afford a drop in overall sales and still pay her rent. Her savings from her days in New York wouldn’t last much longer and she was just beginning to see a positive cash flow.
“We’ll have someone patrolling the neighborhood, okay?”
She nodded and finally shut the door behind Rick and Chase. Then she steeled herself and turned to face Roman. He leaned one shoulder against the wall, sexy in his stance and confident in his expression.
If she didn’t know better, she’d say something had shifted between them. Again.
“What’s so different about the underwear that’s being stolen?” he asked.
“You tell me. You saw it yourself firsthand.” She swallowed hard. “In the dressing room the other day.”
The memory darkened his eyes to a stormy blue hue. “You handmade those?”
She nodded. He laced his hand through hers, his callused fingertips wreaking havoc with her nerve endings and sending white-hot darts of fire throughout her body. At last he held her hands up for further inspection. “I didn’t realize I was dealing with an artist.”
She let out a shaky laugh, unnerved by his touch and the longing he always inspired. “Let’s not get carried away.”
“Sweetheart, I saw those panties and I saw you in them. I’m definitely not exaggerating. In fact, I can see why a man would go to extreme lengths to get his hands on a pair. Especially if you were wearing them.” His voice lowered to a husky, seductive level.
He turned her wrist out and placed a strategic kiss, followed by a nip of his teeth on one fingertip. Her nipples hardened with the first soft bite and as he moved on to each successive fingertip, her entire body raged with burning need.
She wondered where this was headed, why he’d started seducing her now, instead of saying good-bye. She didn’t understand his sudden change in mood. She had no doubt that kiss earlier had been intended as a final farewell.
“Did you know I couldn’t take my eyes off you tonight?” Roman laved the inside of her wrist and blew cool air onto her dampened skin.
She stifled a delighted moan. “You could have fooled me.”
“I was trying to fool us both. Even tonight when I barged in here with the deluded notion I could walk away from you, I was trying to fool us both.”
Her heart caught in her throat and she listened carefully.
“Over the years I’ve perfected the art of watching without being caught. It’s a necessity in my line of work.” His mouth traveled up her arm, arousing her with the feather-light touch of his lips. “I was watching you.”
“Mmm. Then you definitely managed to fool me.”
“But I don’t think I fooled Terrie Whitehall,” he said when he’d reached her shoulder, then stopped to nuzzle the sensitive skin on Charlotte’s neck.
Her knees buckled and she leaned back against the wall for support. “So Terrie turned on you out of jealousy?”
“Sounds like it,” he said, his breath hot on Charlotte’s flesh.
He braced his hands on the wall behind her and sandwiched her with his lean, hard body. She struggled for even breaths as his erection, full and solid, came to rest between her legs. She tried to remember what they’d been discussing, but words failed her. “I can’t concentrate,” she murmured.
“That’s the point.” He threaded his hands through her hair. “Let me stay tonight, Charlotte. Let me take care of you.”
She’d expected this attempt to play bodyguard. “Your staying is not a good idea.” Much as she would have enjoyed it. She braced both her hands against his shoulders, but instead of pushing him away, she savored the heat and strength of his body against hers.
“Then why does it feel like one?” His hips jerked forward, thrusting his hard length against her sex.
Waves of sensation rose to life. Her lashes fell and she savored the feeling. “It feels good because there’s nothing rational about sex. You can’t stay because you came over here to say good-bye. You said as much earlier.” She recalled his words, the pain lodging in her throat.
“And then I kissed you and I realized there’s no way in hell I can walk away.”
“What?” Excitement and hope unlike any she’d known sizzled to life inside as she contemplated his words. “What are you saying?” she asked, because she had to be sure.
“There’s always been something between us. Something that won’t go away. If you’ve got the guts to take the risk and see where it leads, then so do I.” His blue eyes stared into hers.
Her pulse began an unsteady beat. He’d taken her by surprise. Apparently he’d shocked himself too. She understood the push and pull between them as well as he did.