“Yet you didn’t use the same caution when telling me your own feelings?”
“That’s different.”
“How’s it different?”
“Because we’re meant to be together.”
“We need to get something straight—”
“Let’s not, if you want me to go along with your idea.”
“You know we’re not going to be a real couple, right?”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Of course. I’m not crazy.”
“I just want to get it straight—”
“Okay, it’s straight. Can we move on?”
“We’ll start off with me moving in here.”
“That works for me.”
Gavin ran his hand through his hair. “Cut it out.”
“Cut what out?” she asked innocently.
“Staring at me like you are.”
Poor guy was clenching his jaw so tightly that she could see the muscles bulge out. Ginny couldn’t help but grin.
“Gavin, relax. I’m just teasing you.” Sighing, she managed a more solemn expression. “Is this better?”
“Yes. This is serious. Whoever is stalking you is going to a lot trouble to make you notice him. He’s not going to be happy that your attention is focused on someone else.”
“I take your safety very seriously.”
“I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about you. Did you know Mason is an ex-Green Berets?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, he is.”
“I see.” Rising from the couch, Ginny went into the kitchen, coming back with a watering can to water the plants around the room.
“What do you see?”
“You want me to take this more seriously. I am. Go ahead. What comes after everyone thinks we’re a couple?”
“We give him an opportunity to get to me.”
“How?”
“I’ll start a schedule I follow when you’re around and give him an opportunity when no one else in around.”
“Who will be with me?”
“Nickel. And I’ll make sure you’re either in rehearsals with Kaden or on stage. I won’t leave you alone.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
As she carried the watering can back into the kitchen, she heard Gavin’s phone ringing. She unashamedly eavesdropped on his conversation.
“How’s Mason?” Gavin asked. When she’d asked earlier to go to the hospital instead of coming home, he’d told her that Alec would call with an update.
Wrapping her arms around her waist, Ginny waited nervously for the call to end. Thankfully, it wasn’t long.
“Mason if fine. Alec is driving him home. He has a bump at the back of his head and he needs someone to stay with him for the next few days, but the doctor said it’s not a concussion.”
“I’m glad. I’ve been worried sick about him.”
Going to the coffee table, Ginny picked up her cell phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“I’m calling Alec. I’m going to go stay with Mason.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“Yes, I am.” Disregarding Gavin’s decree, Ginny started to call Alec. She was left blinking when he swept her phone out of her hand.
“Do you want whoever knocked him out to come back and finish the job?”
“No.”
“He could think something is going on with Mason instead of me.”
“Whoever did it has been watching me enough to know when and how to get in my dressing room. I’m sure they would know that I was there because I feel responsible.”
“You want to bet his life on that reasoning?”
Ginny bit her bottom lip. “No.”
“Alec is going to stay with him tonight and make sure he’s not left alone until he recovers.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It’ll have to do, because you’re not going.”
“You enjoy bossing people around, don’t you?”
“What?”
Ginny sat down on the couch to take her tennis shoes off. Then, curling up against the armrest, she pulled a throw pillow onto her lap, making herself comfortable. “You do it to me a lot. I would be upset, but you’re just as bad with men. You expect everyone to follow your orders—Nickel, Alec, his men. I bet you and Viper fight constantly.”
“We used to, not so much anymore.” His pained expression showed it was an unwilling admission. She couldn’t help but try to heal his pain.
“Your both alpha. He’s giving in because he loves you.”
“You don’t know shit about Viper and me.”
Ginny saw his back go ramrod straight as he tried to deny her assertion.
“I don’t have to. I can see it with my own two eyes. With both of you being alpha, the only one that Viper would be able to cave into would be you.”
“Quit saying that as if we’re two dogs trying to piss on the same tree.”
Ginny made a face. “I certainly didn’t mean it like that. Both of you are leaders, not followers. It only stands to reason you would have fights.”
“I’m no leader.” Reacting as if she had hit a raw nerve, Gavin went to the door. “I’m going to get my things and talk with Nickel.”
“I’ll make us lunch,” she offered, beginning to get up.
“Don’t bother. I’ll find something while I’m next door.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Gavin.”
“I’m not upset. I don’t care enough about your opinions to give a fuck.”
It took all of her willpower not to burst into tears at his callous remark. However, Ginny would rather shoot herself in the foot before she let him know he hurt her. She would lick her wounds after he left.
Ginny proudly tossed the pillow aside to stand as if he had missed his mark. “That’s fair. You didn’t ask for my opinions. I should have kept them to myself.” Giving him a dismissive nod of her chin, she went to the door to unlock it. “If you’re ready, I’ll lock the door behind you.”
Gavin paused before going through the door. “Are you going to let me back in when I come back?”
“Of course.” She raised her clear eyes to his. “I’ve been making the effort to discover what type of man you are, while you couldn’t care less what type of woman I am. It shows by you having to ask me that question. You might not know me well enough yet to know this about me, but I’m going to be fair and give you a heads-up. You’re not the only one who’s not afraid to ride in storms.”
Chapter Thirteen
Reaper stared up at the dark ceiling with eyes so tired they felt like they were filled with sawdust. Rolling to his side, he used his legs to kick the covers off him. Ginny’s spare bedroom was a fourth the size of his at the club.
His racing mind wouldn’t let him sleep. He kept going back to the way he had spoken to her when she got too close to the truth. He remembered his arguments with Viper when they got out of the service and him trying to get his brother to see him as an equal. What hit him hard was that Ginny’s insight was probably closer to what really had gone down. Even as a child, Viper had been responsible; their mother leaning on him with Ton being deployed. When she left, Viper had easily stepped in as the provider. Entering the Navy, each step up the ladder of command had crafted and honed Viper to become a man to be respected and feared. It was only when Viper left that Reaper started relying on his own strength without having Viper ready to pick up the pieces if things went to shit.