“You’ve got it.” He carried the overstuffed bag into the guest room and set it on top of the bed. “Should be a few towels under the sink. You need anything else? Soap, toothbrush?”
“Thank you, but I have it all with me.”
He rubbed his hands together, hesitant to leave her. She looked small and worn-out, and she had to be running on last reserves. “All right, then. I’ll have sandwiches ready in ten minutes, but take your time.”
For a few seconds more, she continued to stare up at him. “What would I have done tonight without you?”
Smoothing down her mussed honey-blond hair, he admitted, “I have a feeling you’d have figured it out.”
“I’m glad I didn’t have to.”
Damn, much more of that and she wouldn’t get her shower because he’d be kissing her. “Me, too.” With one last brush of his thumb over her warm cheek, he walked out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
CHAPTER THREE
DRESSED IN LOOSE pajama pants and a baggy T-shirt, her hair caught up in a ponytail, Kennedy walked across the heated floors, listening for Reyes. When she didn’t hear him right away, fear wormed in.
Incidents like what had happened tonight never failed to transport her back to that time and place when she’d been at the mercy of people who’d had none. Standing in the quiet house, out in the middle of nowhere, feeling very much alone, she became that frightened woman again.
Reflexively, she put her hand to her heart, counting the beats. One, two, three... Alive. She was still alive.
“Hey.”
Her gaze shot up, and she found Reyes standing there between the kitchen and the living room. He was now barefoot, shirtless, and his jeans hung low. He also watched her closely, as if waiting for any unsettling reactions.
She had a reaction, all right. Fear immediately diverted to sizzling awareness.
Forcing a smile, she said, “I didn’t hear you.”
“I was texting with my brother. He has your car.”
“Already?”
Reyes shrugged and turned back into the kitchen, leaving her to follow. “By the way, my sister-in-law, who until recently drove a semi, thinks your little red compact is cute.”
Stomach rumbling, she went in to sit at the table. “It is very cute.” Two place settings were arranged, each plate holding a sandwich cut in half, chips and a few pickles. “God, I’m starved,” she said as she sat.
“Dig in.” He opened the fridge. “What do you want to drink?”
“A cola would be great, but then I’d never sleep, so...water?”
“Sure.” He withdrew two frosty bottles and brought them to the table, cracking open the caps on each before setting them down. “I did a sort of cold cut combination. Hope that works for you. Turkey, ham and salami.”
She lifted a slice of wheat bread and saw lettuce, tomato and onion. “Mmm. Lots of veggies, too.”
“With cheese and mayo.” He smiled at her.
She took a big bite and hummed in bliss. Once she’d swallowed, she said, “It feels like I haven’t eaten for days, but I always overeat when I’m anxious.”
“Anxious?”
“Nervous.” She flapped a hand. “Uncertain.”
He paused. “With me?” Before she could answer, he asked, “Should I grab a shirt? I should grab a shirt, shouldn’t I?” He started to leave the room.
“No, goofus. This is your house and you should be comfortable.” Yes, he kept her hyperaware, but she wouldn’t tell him so. He was cocky enough already.
“It doesn’t bother you?”
He bothered her plenty, in interesting ways. “Burned-down apartment building? Armed men? It’s that stuff that put me on edge.” Seeing his expression, she grinned. Had he thought she was anxious about crawling into bed with him?
She was, just a little, but it wasn’t in her nature to admit to weaknesses. Not when she could help it.
“Glad to hear it.” He went back to devouring his sandwich.
She didn’t. “You make me grateful, Reyes. Seriously. If not for you, I’d probably be in some expensive hotel right now, scared to sleep and fretting about what to do next.”
It took him a second, and finally he accepted her explanation. “You told my sister other stuff had happened. You want to tell me about that while we eat?”
She’d rather not. Not tonight. Then again, the sooner things were resolved, the sooner she’d feel safe again. She picked up her sandwich. “Could it wait until tomorrow?”
“Depends on how critical it is, and if it has anything to do with what just happened.”
Always so pragmatic. “The thing is, if I start talking about all that again, the hot shower I just took will be useless. I’ll be all tensed up and then I won’t be able to sleep. If we wait until the morning, when I’m fresh and the sun is out, it won’t feel so overwhelming.”
He studied her as if looking for the lie. “You promise there’s nothing I need to know tonight?”
“I honestly don’t think so. It will wait.” As he’d said, she was safe here.
“All right then,” he decided, as if he was the one in charge.
Whereas his autocratic attitude used to rub her the wrong way, now it seemed somewhat reassuring. Still, she pretended affront. “Gee, thanks.”
“Am I coming on too strong? At this point in my life, it’s habit. Nothing I can do about it.” He held out his arms. “You get what you get.”
“You being an alpha and all that.”
“Well, I am, yeah. But also, I know about this stuff, right?”
Stuff being heinous people lacking a heart and conscience?
Apparently, he didn’t need confirmation. “One thing I’ve learned is that the more info you have, the better you can deal with threats. If that makes me alpha, hey, I’ve been called worse.”
She laughed. “You’re nuts, Reyes, but you really do make me feel better.”
Smiling with her, he let his gaze travel over her face in what felt like minute detail.
Flustered, she grabbed up a pickle and popped it into her mouth.
Finally he murmured, “I like you like this.”
In so many ways she was out of her comfort zone, a common occurrence with Reyes McKenzie. “How’s that?”
“Less...antagonistic? Smiling and laughing a little.”