She poured a generous splash into a juice glass and swallowed it down in one gulp. The burn of the alcohol steadied her.
The next time she saw Chad, she was going to knee him in the balls for making her feel like that scared young girl again.
She recapped the bottle and put it back in the cabinet. Because she wasn’t that girl any more. Being afraid around Chad was logical, not weak. He was some kind of criminal who sold guns to even worse criminals. She should be wary around him.
When a text pinged into her secure phone, she didn’t even start.
Chapter 16
I’m outside your door.
Dawn practically danced to her entryway. However, she still checked the video camera to make sure no one was holding Leland at gunpoint. Instead she saw him laden down with a couple of silver metal briefcases.
Disengaging all her security measures, she opened the door and let him take two steps in before closing the door behind him. “God, am I glad to see you!” Ignoring his burdens, she wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and poured all her fear and relief into a kiss.
He gave as good as he got, even though he couldn’t put his arms around her. By the time they came up for air, her insides had gone liquid with wanting and she could feel his erection pressing against her belly.
He put the briefcases on the floor and drew her into his arms, his blue eyes blazing down at her. “That was one hell of a greeting, darlin’. I’m tempted to go out and come back in the door again.” His voice had gone all southern so it warmed her even more.
She leaned back in the circle of his arms, all her fear vanishing like smoke in his presence. “I’m glad you decided Tully was wrong. I feel so much better having you here. It’s been a little nerve-racking today.”
His arms tightened around her and a shadow darkened the heat in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.” His mouth went grim. “You shouldn’t have to go through it at all.”
“Don’t start blaming yourself.” She laid her palm against his cheek. “You keep forgetting that I started this whole thing about the Wi-Fi. I’ve been fully involved since the beginning.”
“Too involved, but you’re a hard woman to say no to.” His lips curved into a sly smile. “Good thing that most of the time I don’t want to.”
She relaxed into his chest again, seeking the sense of security he gave her. “Just stand here with me for a minute.”
“I’d stand here all night with you if I could.” He stroked a hand over her hair with a ghost of a laugh. “Well, maybe I’d talk you into taking it horizontal.”
“Talk away. You know I love your accent.” She snuggled in closer to him while he began to glide his hands up and down her back.
After a little while, she hummed a sound of contentment and tilted her head back to ask him what was in the metal cases. But there was such sorrow etched on his face that she couldn’t get the words out. She started to ask him what was wrong but he smiled with an obvious effort. It had been a private moment he didn’t mean to share with her. She wondered if it had to do with his mother’s death. So she kept her question generic. “Are you okay?”
“Now that I know you’re safe, I am.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I need to set up my equipment. Then we’ll talk about what Chad said to you.”
It hurt that she had shared a devastating event her life, but he didn’t trust her with his sadness. Though now was not the time to push for revelations. She stepped out of his embrace. “I figured you didn’t have pajamas in those briefcases.”
He laughed, picked up the cases, and carried them to her kitchen counter. She realized he was dressed entirely in black from head to toe: jacket, T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. And he looked really good in it, the width of his shoulders and length of his legs accentuated by the dark hue. “Were you lurking in the shadows while you waited for me?”
“What?” He had shucked off his jacket and was focused on unlocking the cases. He glanced down at his clothes. “Oh, right. Actually, Tully’s guy got me into your building through a basement window.” He met her gaze. “But don’t worry.