response, she caught his hand and pressed it to the side of her face. “It’s the least I can do. You came to my rescue and now you’re putting me up here. Thank you, Alexander.”
“Like I said, I’d do anything to protect you.”
She almost asked him why. Almost quizzed him. She’d never felt this level of protection from a man. Certainly Dominic hadn’t given her that feeling. Her throat tightened, her senses overwhelmed by Alexander’s physical presence.
“You’re an amazing man.” She released his hand and it slipped away.
He edged even closer, and by the look in his eyes she thought she knew what he intended. Maybe he wanted to kiss her.
But then he said, “We’re going to take care of this, understand? Whatever it takes, Dominic won’t get near you again.”
Worry returned, plaguing her with questions and what ifs. “Even if the police arrest him, you know how the legal system is now. Things are still recovering. It’s just as likely they’ll let him go and tell him to return to Bangor. If he’s intent on harming me…” She shrugged. “Wait, what do you mean whatever it takes?”
He planted his hands on his hips. “I mean if you have to move in here permanently, sell your house, whatever it takes.”
She frowned as an old feeling overtook her. “You heard what I said about controlling me, right, Alexander? That’s not an option. I’m so grateful for your help, but I have to make my own decisions.”
He brushed one hand over his short hair and sighed. He closed his eyes a moment. Before she knew it, he’d moved in closer. She shivered under the intensity of his stare.
“I’m not trying to control you, but sometimes the general in me slips out. I spent a lot of years ordering people around, and I’m unlearning that.”
She smiled a little. “You have responsibilities and people working under your command. I understand that.”
He return her grin. “Yeah, but not in personal relationships. If I say anything that sounds like an order, I can promise you it’s not because I think you can’t take care of yourself. You’re an incredible, independent woman and I admire that.”
Gratified, she nodded. “I’m flattered. That means a lot to me.”
“It’s all true. I don’t lie.”
“I appreciate that. Neither do I.”
He cupped her face gently and kissed her on the forehead. Arousal swirled low in her belly at his simple touch.
He pressed his forehead to hers a moment before gazing into her eyes. “If I get a little crazy it’s because it scares the shit out of me that any harm could come to you.”
His words held passion and conviction, and the tenderness in his eyes threw her back. The fact Alexander could be scared for her and admit it blew her away. She sensed it was taking a lot for him to admit caring this deeply.
Before she could speak, his mouth tasted hers gently. She responded, her body thrilled at the sweet heat generated by his touch. She caressed his forearms and held on to all that incredible strength. Too quickly he broke away. She yearned for more, and caught his hand before he could step back.
“Truly, thank you, Alexander. I’m relearning some things myself. I’m not used to having a man care. Not really. Dominic wasn’t interested in protecting me.”
He kissed her hand. “That’s about to change right now. We can talk about what to do next tomorrow.” When he released her hand he glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late and you’re probably exhausted. You’ve got a full fridge if you’re hungry. If you need anything I have my cell phone on me. I’ll be downstairs in the office for a while, but don’t hesitate to call whatever time it is.”
“Okay.”
He left, and she stood in the middle of the foyer for a few moments trying to gather her scattered thoughts. Patty had meant every word when she’d said she wouldn’t be ordered around, yet she’d also been sincere that she was grateful for his protection.
I could become way too
“Like I said, I’d do anything to protect you.”
She almost asked him why. Almost quizzed him. She’d never felt this level of protection from a man. Certainly Dominic hadn’t given her that feeling. Her throat tightened, her senses overwhelmed by Alexander’s physical presence.
“You’re an amazing man.” She released his hand and it slipped away.
He edged even closer, and by the look in his eyes she thought she knew what he intended. Maybe he wanted to kiss her.
But then he said, “We’re going to take care of this, understand? Whatever it takes, Dominic won’t get near you again.”
Worry returned, plaguing her with questions and what ifs. “Even if the police arrest him, you know how the legal system is now. Things are still recovering. It’s just as likely they’ll let him go and tell him to return to Bangor. If he’s intent on harming me…” She shrugged. “Wait, what do you mean whatever it takes?”
He planted his hands on his hips. “I mean if you have to move in here permanently, sell your house, whatever it takes.”
She frowned as an old feeling overtook her. “You heard what I said about controlling me, right, Alexander? That’s not an option. I’m so grateful for your help, but I have to make my own decisions.”
He brushed one hand over his short hair and sighed. He closed his eyes a moment. Before she knew it, he’d moved in closer. She shivered under the intensity of his stare.
“I’m not trying to control you, but sometimes the general in me slips out. I spent a lot of years ordering people around, and I’m unlearning that.”
She smiled a little. “You have responsibilities and people working under your command. I understand that.”
He return her grin. “Yeah, but not in personal relationships. If I say anything that sounds like an order, I can promise you it’s not because I think you can’t take care of yourself. You’re an incredible, independent woman and I admire that.”
Gratified, she nodded. “I’m flattered. That means a lot to me.”
“It’s all true. I don’t lie.”
“I appreciate that. Neither do I.”
He cupped her face gently and kissed her on the forehead. Arousal swirled low in her belly at his simple touch.
He pressed his forehead to hers a moment before gazing into her eyes. “If I get a little crazy it’s because it scares the shit out of me that any harm could come to you.”
His words held passion and conviction, and the tenderness in his eyes threw her back. The fact Alexander could be scared for her and admit it blew her away. She sensed it was taking a lot for him to admit caring this deeply.
Before she could speak, his mouth tasted hers gently. She responded, her body thrilled at the sweet heat generated by his touch. She caressed his forearms and held on to all that incredible strength. Too quickly he broke away. She yearned for more, and caught his hand before he could step back.
“Truly, thank you, Alexander. I’m relearning some things myself. I’m not used to having a man care. Not really. Dominic wasn’t interested in protecting me.”
He kissed her hand. “That’s about to change right now. We can talk about what to do next tomorrow.” When he released her hand he glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late and you’re probably exhausted. You’ve got a full fridge if you’re hungry. If you need anything I have my cell phone on me. I’ll be downstairs in the office for a while, but don’t hesitate to call whatever time it is.”
“Okay.”
He left, and she stood in the middle of the foyer for a few moments trying to gather her scattered thoughts. Patty had meant every word when she’d said she wouldn’t be ordered around, yet she’d also been sincere that she was grateful for his protection.
I could become way too
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