Guarding her, p.10
Guarding Her, page 10
“What are you doing?” she asked as he pulled up the website he was going to order some basic security from.
He’d install higher tech later, but this was a quick fix for what she needed. “I’m ordering you some easy-to-install cameras for around the exterior and one for your door. A couple will be out of the way, hidden, but others won’t. It’ll be good to have a few different ones like that in case someone tries to avoid the visible cameras.”
“Lawson!”
“What?” He looked up to find her watching him with big eyes but at least most of the sandwich was gone and she’d started on the soup.
“You can’t just order stuff like that for me.”
“Why not? Now you don’t have to do the research. It’s done. And you can pay me back if you want.” Not like he’d take her money, but he said it anyway to make her feel better.
“Oh my God, you’re totally lying. You won’t take my money.”
He grinned, not feeling repentant at all. “True.”
She suddenly snorted. “Maybe I’m just overtired but I can’t even be mad at you for taking over like this. Just…thank you. I know that nothing happened, not really, that can’t be fixed, but I feel like my whole world has been sort of shifted. Tilted on its side. It’s scary, knowing that she could have had a weapon, could have hurt me much worse than a slap. And…she’s still out there.” She shivered, her cheeks going pale. “It all happened so fast. That’s what’s terrifying.”
He forced his jaw to unclench. He’d been thinking about that too, about how quickly this evening could have changed, how fragile everything was. Especially Gia. “I’m staying the night.”
Gia blinked, looked at him. “Lawson, you don’t have to do that.”
But he could hear in her voice that she wanted him to, and he wasn’t leaving her. “It’s no big deal. I’ll crash on your couch or in your guest room.”
“My guest room is my office, but there’s a daybed in there. Actually, you can take my bed and I’ll take the daybed. I think it’ll be too small for you.”
“I’m not taking your bed. I’ll just crash in your living room, keep an eye on things.”
“You’re sure?” There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice he’d never heard before.
“Of course.” He wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her right now, but wasn’t sure she wanted that. So he started cleaning up the kitchen. “We can watch a movie and you can tell me about today—before what happened.”
“Okay. And you can tell me about the last few days of your job.”
“Sounds like a plan.” So did kissing her senseless, going down on her until she orgasmed against his face and forgot all about her shitty day. But that wasn’t happening so he kept that thought locked down tight. Right now she needed a friend and a protector.
He wasn’t going to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable. He wanted her more than he wanted his next breath, but not that way.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
On a primal level, Gia was glad Lawson had stayed. She had a security system and knew the probability of Fay coming to her home was slim, but today had rattled her right to her bones. And Lawson was capable and strong—and trained in a way she wasn’t.
“Have you told Juan about today?” he asked as he joined her on the couch, stretching his long legs out on one of her round, puffy ottoman-type footrests. The delicate piece of furniture looked so small under his huge feet.
She worked from home so it had been important that her entire home reflected her, and was all about comfort and coziness. Which was why she had candles lit up everywhere and two handmade throw blankets on the couch, one of which she handed to Lawson. “No way. He just got back this morning. I’ve texted him about banal stuff, but I’m not telling him about any of this. He’s just coming off his honeymoon and I want him to be able to relax. For both of them to. So you better not say anything.” She gave him a sharp look.
Which just made him raise an eyebrow. “I feel like there’s an ‘or else’ tacked onto that.”
“There is, so now you’re officially warned. I can be scary when I want.”
“I don’t doubt that.” His gaze strayed to her mouth for a fraction of a moment before he immediately looked away and nodded at the television above her faux fireplace. “So what’s on for tonight?”
“I was thinking something funny.” She couldn’t stomach the thought of anything scary. Light and fluffy sounded perfectly distracting.
“That works. So how was your day before everything went crazy?”
“Long. And fun, but mainly long. Just like the photo shoot the other day,” she said as she scrolled through the list of comedies on her streaming service. “It definitely made it easy to decide that this is not the life for me. I did too much peopling.”
“Peopling?”
“Yeah, dealing with people.”
“I don’t think that’s what that means.”
She snorted. “Fine, too much socializing.”
“I never realized what an introvert you are.”
She lifted a shoulder as she settled on a recent release and pressed play. “I’d say I’m half and half. I don’t mind socializing but I can’t do it all the time. Want to see some of the pictures?” Gia settled back on the couch next to him, scooting an inch closer as he nodded. He smelled amazing, his scent wrapping around her, making her want to bury her face against his chest and just inhale—as she wrapped her body around him.
Since that wasn’t happening, she pulled out her cell phone and held it out. She needed to keep her mind off naked thoughts of Lawson. “The photographer sent me a handful of them with explicit instructions that I can’t share them online. He said he’s looking forward to the next shoot.”
“He?”
“Yeah, his name’s Evan and he’s kind of a bear.” She was pretty sure he’d sent these while drunk, given the tipsy nature of some of his texts.
Lawson’s expression darkened and she could see that protective edge flaring up.
“Not like that. He’s just…a lot. And another reason I like being my own boss. I don’t have to deal with bozos on the regular.”
He snorted softly and started scrolling through them, only to freeze at one of the ones from the tail end with the male model holding her hips tightly. She was looking up at the guy, her hand on one of his pecs. The guy had been covered in sunscreen, and so had she. The whole shoot itself had been a lesson in sweaty awkwardness, but the end result was amazing. The magic of airbrushing.
“What?” She frowned at him, ignoring the movie.
“I don’t like his hands on you.” His words were blunt, his knuckles turning white as he looked at the screen.
Surprised, she plucked her phone from him because she didn’t want him to squeeze it until it cracked. And given his expression, it was a possibility. She should just ignore this, brush it off, but apparently she liked playing with fire.
Before his trip he’d admitted that he wanted more from her than friendship. And then he’d just…not mentioned it again other than to say that they were a bad idea. Oh, he’d texted and called and made sure to contact her every day. And he was here for her now when she needed him, but it was like he’d thrown walls up to keep her at a certain distance. The man was wonderful and frustrating.
She wanted him to admit why he didn’t like some guy touching her. Wanted him to say it out loud, to put it out there. He needed to own the reason. “Why not?”
Lawson’s jaw tightened slightly, and gone was the former easiness between them as he tensed, all his muscles pulling taut.
He’d been handling her with kid gloves since arriving at the hotel hours ago. And she appreciated that. But now…she didn’t need easy. No, she wanted to push his buttons, to see if she could get him to break whatever barrier he’d decided to put up between them. Because the look on his face when he’d seen that picture? Pure fire. And she liked that way too much.
“I just don’t,” he finally said.
She didn’t like the thought of anyone touching him either. But… “It was a photo shoot, simply a job.”
His jaw worked as if he was trying not to say something.
“The next one, I’m supposed to be sandwiched between three guys.” A total lie, but she wanted to see his reaction.
His head snapped toward her, his deep blue eyes flashing with a whole lot of emotions. “Quit pushing.”
“Or what?” Heat trickled through her as she wondered if he’d actually make a move and do something about the chemistry between them. That heat now pooled between her legs as he watched her, his gaze promising far too many things that probably put her fantasies to shame.
He sat up then, his entire body going even more rigid as he looked away, staring at the TV. “You’ve been through a lot today. A trauma. I’m not taking advantage.”
Wait, what? “So if I hadn’t been through anything today you would take advantage?” Because that sounded amazing. Please take advantage of me, all night long.
“Damn it, Gia.” He ground his back teeth again, something he did when he was frustrated with her.
Yeah, well, she was beyond frustrated with him. “What, Lawson?” She drawled out his name and shifted an inch closer to him. She swore she could feel actual heat arcing between them, sparking electricity.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, and she was going to tell him to just go. She liked having him here but this was too much. He made her feel out of control, as if she could crawl straight out of her skin. So if he wouldn’t do a damn thing about the electricity between them, she was simply done with it all. She didn’t have the mental bandwidth for games. Not ever, but definitely not tonight.
But he moved lightning fast, tugging her into his lap in a surprising move. His fingers flexed possessively on her hips as he held her in place, rolled his hips up.
“You feel what you do to me?” he growled out, his eyes going darker, the flicker of the flames reflecting in them.
She shifted over his lap, shivered at the feel of his erection sliding over her mound. Gia nodded, her throat too tight now for words. Besides, she was afraid if she said anything, it would break the moment, make him change his mind. And she wasn’t going to let that happen. She moved again, sliding over his thick hardness.
His eyes flared and he let out another ridiculously sexy-sounding growl and threaded his fingers through her hair. Cupping the back of her head, he stared into her eyes with pure lust. Just the feel of him holding on to her like that, as if nothing could make him let go, sent another rush of heat through her, this one more potent.
She shifted against him, tightening her thighs around him as she ground down on his erection harder. She could see by the flare of surprise—and lust—that she’d taken him off guard. Good. He needed to be as off-kilter as she was.
She slid over his erection, cursing her stupidly tight jeans in that moment. Still, she could feel his hardness, knew it was all for her. The knowledge made her feel powerful.
He started to lean forward and her heart jumped into her throat. Finally, no more walls between them.
Then he froze, the hand on her head stilling, the one on her hip squeezing. Oh God, he couldn’t be stopping now.
“What?” she whispered, because his expression was…off. Hard.
“Hold on,” he whispered back, reaching for the remote. Then he muted the TV and held a finger to his lips.
She frowned, realizing something was definitely wrong. His entire body had gone stiff as he quickly slid her off him and onto the couch. Then he moved for the bag he’d dropped just inside the entry to her living room and pulled out a gun.
She sucked in a breath at the sight of the weapon, ice slicking down her spine.
That was when she realized she hadn’t set her alarm or anything when they’d gotten home. Normally she did it right before bed but she’d been stressed. Besides, Lawson had done a full sweep of her place when they’d gotten back, checked all the doors and windows.
“Stay here.” His voice was whisper quiet. “And be ready to call the cops.”
Muscles pulled taut, she did as he said, crouching down by the couch as he moved into the foyer, then hallway. She turned off the TV, the flashing on-screen too distracting as she waited.
“Hey!” Lawson shouted, then let out a low curse.
Phone in hand, she started to call emergency services but paused when he strode back in. “Someone was attempting to break in through your guest bathroom. The window is broken—that’s what I heard before. And I saw someone running across your backyard.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Fay?”
“Too hard to tell. The person had on a hooded sweater and loose pants—and they moved fast.”
“You’re not going to chase them?” God, she hoped not.
He paused, shook his head. “No, too many unknowns and I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Should I…” She held out her phone, but he shook his head.
Lawson sheathed his weapon and pulled out his own phone. “I’ll call the cops. While I do, set the alarm and pack a small bag. You’re staying at my place tonight. And probably the next couple nights. We’ll turn off the alarm when they get here then reset when we leave.”
Fear riding her hard, she nodded and was grateful that he stayed with her while she set the alarm then headed to her room. Not that she’d expected less.
He continued talking to the operator as she started packing up her clothing, toiletries and laptop. By the time he’d gotten off the phone, her anxiety had skyrocketed, but her things were packed at least. She’d probably brought far too much but didn’t care. The thought of even coming back here was too much at the moment. Her space had just been violated and it shook her.
“Do you want me to call Juan?”
No. But she also didn’t want to take advantage of Lawson. Because he’d already said that she was coming to his place. But she didn’t want to put him in a position where he had no choice. Because in all the scenarios where he’d invited her over to his place, this had definitely not been part of it. “Ah, yeah, after we make a report with the police I’ll call him.” Or just go stay at a hotel. Ugh.
Lawson’s gaze narrowed slightly. “You’re a terrible liar. I just thought you might want him to be here. But I don’t need to call him.”
“Really?”
He shook his head. “I won’t lie to him about anything but I can handle this. It’s late so I’m going to board up your window after the cops leave, but I’ll be able to replace the pane tomorrow.”
She blinked even as relief slid through her that she didn’t have to handle even the broken window. “I didn’t even hear the glass breaking.” She sat on the edge of her bed, wrapped her arms around herself. It was scary that she hadn’t heard it.
“I almost didn’t. It…” He cleared his throat. “It looks as if someone used some type of glass cutter. I think the glass breaking was a mistake.”
She frowned even as she pushed up and headed down the hall to the guest bathroom. She hated the thought of going in there, was irrationally afraid that the person who’d done it would be waiting in the window to jump out and terrify her. Hurt her. But as she stepped into the doorway, she could see what Lawson meant.
A neat, hand-sized hole had been cut right in the middle of the pane below the ledge where the latch was. It would be easy for someone to slip their hand in and flip the lock on the window, then shove it up. Getting through would be a tight fit and would take a ladder or something but…
“It’s one of the only windows I don’t have a sensor on.” There were only two she’d opted not to have installed. The house had been prewired but the previous owner had skipped this window and the one in her bathroom, which was smaller and even higher up. Gia hadn’t bothered getting wireless sensors on them because it had seemed like overkill. Now all she felt was sweeping regret.
“Whoever did this knew that—they’ve studied your house. Because I don’t believe in lucky coincidences.” Lawson flipped off the light but moved past her into the bathroom.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure why she was afraid to speak in a normal voice.
“Just looking out into your backyard and I don’t want to make myself a target in case the person is still out there.” He moved to the window, looked out into her yard. “Let’s go turn on all the lights outside before the police arrive,” he said as sirens sounded in the distance.
Fear skittered through Gia as she thought about what could have happened if Lawson hadn’t been with her. She’d have had her TV turned up louder while watching a movie and she might not have heard the glass breaking. She might have dozed while some lunatic broke into her place—
“Don’t play what-ifs in your mind,” Lawson said as he moved out of the bathroom with her. He gently pulled her into his arms, held her close for one long moment. The way he embraced her with his solid arms was enough to ease some of her tension. His smell was woodsy, masculine and all him. “It’ll make you crazy and no good will come of it. Trust me on that.”
She nodded because she did trust him. He kept showing up and being there for her when they didn’t have a defined relationship. Other than friendship.
Yet here he was, taking care of things and keeping her safe.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lawson tried not to stare at Gia’s perfect ass as she opened his bedroom door.
“I feel like I’m imposing.” Gia’s tone was unsure as she hovered in the doorway, not fully stepping inside.
So he nudged her forward, wondering what she thought when she looked at his room, his house. He’d never brought a woman back here, hadn’t been in Miami that long. And with Gia in his life, no other woman stood a chance anyway. He was simply too far gone for her. “Not possible.” He’d told her she could take his bed, that he’d be staying up for a while anyway. He wanted her in his room, wanted her scent all over his sheets.
“I can just—”
“Call Juan at midnight?” Lawson knew without a doubt that Juan would come pick her up and not mind at all. But Lawson wasn’t letting her out of his sight. And he didn’t have a bed in either extra guest room. One he’d turned into an office and the other was mostly bare. “Sleep on the couch? No. Not happening.” He’d be the one sleeping on the couch, if he even got any sleep at this point.
