just wondering if I’ve actually said thank you?” Her lashes fluttered as if she were pausing to find the right words. “Not many people would do what you’re doing.” Her green-eyed gaze swept over his length, starting at his shoes and working up to his face. “So, thank you.” She extended her palm for a formal handshake.
“Doing the right thing doesn’t deserve a thank you. But, since we’re in Bama, and we do hugs instead of handshakes, I wouldn’t mind one of those.” At this moment, he’d give anything to pull her into his arms. Comfort her, promise everything was going to work out just fine. But he couldn’t make that promise yet, could he?
She took a hesitant step to close the space between them, and honestly, he hadn’t expected a hug, only a rejection wrapped in humor.
But when she moved in and reached around his back, bringing her chest against his, he stilled in surprise. And then he wrapped her tight in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head since she was a good six inches shorter than he was.
“Thanks.” She stepped out of his reach after a moment and smiled.
He’d witnessed a few different kinds of smiles from her, some he saw from afar while watching her, others had happened since their collision course inside Porter’s house. This smile was the kind that broke his heart. It was one of mourning and pain and it had him wanting to scoop her back into his arms and shield her. Make everything right. But she wasn’t a fan of being protected, so he didn’t want to push her into being someone she wasn’t.
“I, um, could use a shower,” she said, appearing a bit awkward after their hug.
“Sure.” He grabbed the luggage, and she lifted the last of the grocery bags. Once inside, with his hands full, he kicked the door closed behind him and followed her into the kitchen. “Thought you took one at the hotel this morning?”
“Were you spying on me?” She looked back at him. “Again?”
And did they need to talk about her wet, glistening body in the shower? How he imagined her mass of red hair flowing over her skin. Chin tipped up, eyes closed, her mouth parted as a drop of water fell on her lip that he’d suck off.
“I heard the water running,” he said with a smile, one he sure as hell hoped she wouldn’t be able to read. “I can give you a tour of our new hideout, then drop your things off in one of the guest rooms.”
Ana reached for the gray duffel she’d packed last night. Had she brought that black silk robe? Maybe she’d put it on after her shower without anything underneath?
“You okay?” she asked as they walked down the hall and toward the stairs near the front door.
“Maybe it’s the fresh paint getting to my head.”
She stopped, one foot positioned on the bottom step, and turned. “Are you dizzy? Is your head bothering you again?”
Which head? He closed his eyes at his vulgar thought.
I’m here to stop a traitor. Take down a threat to the nation. Possibly more than one threat. Or find some unicorn ledger. I do not need to get excited about spending alone time with this redheaded goddess. “I’m good.” He wasn’t seeing ghosts at the moment. Hadn’t had any nightmares last night. So yeah, he’d (hopefully) survive living under the same roof with her while they worked to discover the truth that appeared to center around Ana.
“Okay.” He knew she didn’t believe him, but she let it go and went upstairs, her ass looking way too good in those white pants. She had to be wearing a thong given the lack of panty line showing beneath the material. “This is a man cave if I’ve ever seen one,” she called out before he joined her in the media room.
“This room was all Grant. My mom didn’t decorate it.” He set the bags down once inside the large room and smirked.
Ana’s back was to him, her eyes set to the wall of framed photos that covered decades and decades of memories for Grant, many including A.J.’s family.
“Now why didn’t you tell me you were friends with Michael Jordan?”
“Because I’m not.” He smiled.
“Not the basketball player, the actor. The sexy guy from the movie Creed. You know, he played Apollo’s son from Rocky.”
“Please don’t tell my boy Grant he looks like that guy. He’s got a big enough head as it is.”