Settling on her back against the downy soft pillows, she pulled the quilt up to her chin.
He gave her one long look, then switched off the light. She heard rustling and knew he was stripping down to his shorts. Inhaling deeply through her nose, Kennedy tried to relax.
When the bed dipped, she tensed all over.
“You’re like a cobra, ready to strike. Is it safe for me to get comfortable?”
Nodding, she choked out, “Yes.”
With great care and a deliberate lack of haste, he scooted closer, put an arm around her waist and drew her into full contact with his body.
Hot. Hard. And, great, he smelled enticing, too.
“Turn to your side.” As he said it, he guided her, so that she faced away from him. One thick arm slipped under her head, the other pulled her closer still. “Now sleep.”
That had to be a joke! Seconds ticked by, then minutes. His heat sank into her. Her breathing aligned with his, slow and deep. He didn’t move, didn’t let his hands wander, and gradually she started to relax.
Lethargy crept in.
Sleep beckoned.
Yet she knew he was still awake. She knew he’d stay awake until she dozed off. When more time passed and he hadn’t done more than hold her safe and secure, she realized what he’d done. And why.
“Reyes?”
His voice sounded deep and dark behind her. “Yeah?”
“You knew I needed this, didn’t you?” Even though she hadn’t known it. “That’s why you suggested it.”
“I don’t need a reason to want to cuddle with a hot babe, but yeah, I figured we both could use it.”
Kennedy seriously doubted he had any such need, which made the gesture even nicer. And hot babe? As if. She knew she made a decent appearance, but hot was not a word applied to her.
“I’ve probably said it a dozen times today, but thank you.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Sleep.”
Relaxing into him, she did just that.
* * *
REYES WOKE BEFORE she did, but then, he always woke early. Didn’t matter what time he went to bed, or how much sleep he got. The sunrise triggered an inner alarm clock. Sometime during the night, Kennedy had turned to face him, and now one flannel-covered thigh was draped over his junk.
Course he had morning wood.
Luckily she slept through him gently rearranging her. Slipping from the bed, he yawned, stretched and scratched his chest. All the while his gaze remained on her.
It was a unique but not altogether unpleasant feeling to have a woman in his house. In his bed.
In this light, her golden hair looked darker, all the different shades hidden beneath murky shadow. Overall, her honey-blond hair had streaks of lighter blond, brown and even a few hints of red. All natural, he assumed, because she didn’t strike him as a woman who spent much time in a salon. He’d yet to see her hair styled in any way. Sleek ponytails, the occasional braid and sloppy topknots were more her speed.
His gaze tracked down her small, sweet body.
The gentle slopes of her breasts barely showed beneath the big shirt. Her arms, one resting limply over her middle, the other turned up by her head, looked delicate and softly rounded in the most feminine way.
Despite all the work she did at the gym, it didn’t show. There were no obvious muscles, definitely no bulk. He could say she was toned, without excess weight. Except when it came to her ass.
Plenty of plump curves there.
Not only was Kennedy short, she was very fine boned. Delicate hands, fingers slightly curled, were half the size of his.
Drawing a breath, his attention moved to her parted lips. That mouth was at the top of the list of things he’d noticed about her, with her attitude being first, and her stellar ass being second. Her mouth was usually set in a stern line, at least when talking to him. While trying to improve her speed at striking and kicking, she sometimes pursed her lips. When worried, she chewed her bottom lip.
She displayed a lot of emotions with her mouth, and it never failed to intrigue him.
Hell, she intrigued him, in ways no one else ever had.
Why she affected him so strongly, he couldn’t say. It had happened the day he met her, when she’d bombarded him with her suspicious nature.
His thoughts traveled back as he recalled it, an occasion he’d locked into his memory bank because it had been so unique.
Prompted by his sister-in-law, who had insisted that Kennedy looked like a woman needing help, Reyes had approached her with the thought of offering his services.
For far too long, she’d simply ignored his presence. When he hadn’t budged, she’d had no choice but to acknowledge him.
She hadn’t been polite about it.
The way she’d snapped, What? amused him now.
At the time, it hadn’t been quite so entertaining. I’m Reyes McKenzie, owner of the gym—
I know who you are.
She hadn’t given her own name, so he’d stood there, waiting.
Until she rolled her eyes. Kennedy Brooks. I’ve signed up for a year, but if there’s a problem with my membership—
There’s no problem. The only problem he’d noticed was that she didn’t know what she was doing. You need any help?
No, thank you.
Some invisible force kept him from walking away. If you want to defend yourself—
Just getting in shape.
That obvious lie had brought out his most forthright manner. I don’t think so.
Instead of being impressed with his insight, she’d seemed merely curious. Why do you say that?
I’ve been watching you, he’d admitted, just to see what she’d say.
I noticed you watching, she’d countered, showing her own plainspoken ways.
Reyes had forged on. I was watching because I see the difference between getting in shape and learning how to fend off attackers.
Well, that confirms something for me.
For whatever reason, he’d found himself drawn to her. Yeah? What’s that?
You’re not a mere instructor.
Obviously she had her own store of acute insight. I already told you, I own the gym.
You’re more than a mere gym owner, too.
That straight shot had leveled him, leaving him at a loss.
You think you’re the only observant one here? No, Mr. McKenzie, I also notice things.
If on that day someone had told him that Kennedy Brooks would end up in his bed, and that she’d be there not for sex but for protection... Yeah, he might’ve believed it. He’d known right off that she was into something, that she had deep secrets.