myself, he’ll get me, too.”
“If you stay here, I’ll be able to watch out for you. To protect you.”
To be close to you, he wanted to add, but didn’t.
He could see how the wheels in Michelle’s brain turned feverishly. Hesitantly, he said, “You’ll get a new identity, but you’d be staying close… close to me.”
Her eyelashes lifted, almost hitting her brows. Blue eyes stared at him with an intensity that almost knocked him off his feet.
Slowly, her lips parted, curving into a tentative smile. “So that’s what this is about.”
“What what’s about?”
“You actually want to go out with me. You want to be my boyfriend.”
“It’s just so I can keep an eye on you,” Nick said quickly.
Shit, he wasn’t good at talking about stuff like this. He’d much rather discuss some software code with Michelle than confess what he was feeling. Besides, what if she didn’t feel the same? After all, she barely knew him, he’d lied to her for half of the time they’d known each other, and he’d put her in mortal danger. Not exactly a good place to start from when applying for the position as lover and boyfriend. How was he ever going to overcome that kind of handicap?
She rose from the couch. “What exactly do you want to keep an eye on?” She unexpectedly pulled her black T-shirt over her head and tossed it on the sofa, casting him a saucy look. “My boobs?”
Nick’s breath caught as he stared at her black bra. Was she going to strip in front of him?
She kicked off her shoes, then opened the button of her jeans and pulled the zipper down. “Or are you more interested in my ass and legs?”
Before she could push her jeans down, he imprisoned her hands, stopping her.
“This isn’t about sex, Michelle.”
She lifted her chin. “Then what is it about, Nick? What is it that you want? Because unless you tell me, I’m not gonna know what you really want.”
“You’re gonna make me say it, aren’t you?”
She nodded slowly. “Don’t I deserve that?”
He swallowed. “Oh, you deserve so much. It’s just, I’m not the kind of guy who’s used to talking about… well, about what he feels.”
“And here, I thought you were such a smooth talker, flirting with me so I’d sleep with you.”
“It’s different now.”
She took a step closer. “Yeah? What’s different?”
“After what happened today, after almost losing you…” He shoved a hand through his hair. “…I don’t think I could handle if something happened to you…” He sighed. “Damn it, Michelle, maybe you could help me a little here.”
“How?”
“By telling me that I mean something to you?”
A soft smile that extended to her eyes formed on her lips. Her hand came up and she stroked his cheek. “Oh, Nick, the shy boy from Indiana. He’s still in there, isn’t he? And he’s afraid to say what he feels because he’s worried that he’ll be rejected, just like his parents rejected him.” She shook her head.
How could she know what was holding him back? “How do you—?”
“You told me so yourself, Nick. You told me that your parents didn’t really want to see you after the divorce. I don’t need to be a psychologist to guess what that would have done to that boy.” She ran her finger along his lower lip. “Now try again. Give me a reason to stay.”
Nick took a deep breath. “I’m in love with you. I know it’s happening too fast, but if you believe in love at first sight, then believe in this. Believe that I’ve fallen for you and that I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
Her fingers stroked gently over his cheek. “Now, was that so hard?” She brushed her lips on his. “So does that mean I get to move in with you?”
He pulled his head back, grinning, his confidence at an all time high now. “I think you’re forgetting something.”
She looked at him quizzically. “What?”
“That you have to give me a reason to let you move in.”
She chuckled, and her breath tickled his lips. “What if I told you that despite you lying to me at every turn, you’ve managed to work yourself into my heart?” She paused for a moment. “And then there’s the fact that you saved my life, not once but twice. I think that needs to be rewarded.”
“Rewarded, how?” He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.
“You get to choose your reward.”
Nick grinned from one ear to the other. “Well, in that