Page 61 of Nothing to Fear

“Baby—”

“You should go. Take Ferguson too. Your parents shouldn’t pay for—”

“Your safety? That’s what they’re worried about if you have Ferguson. We’re standing here alone in your bedroom with you in nothing but a towel and I am asking questions instead of working my magic.” He tossed his phone to the bed. “Talk to me, baby, my chivalry only runs so deep.”

“I told you, it’s not a big deal.” Her fingers sought his wrists, though their eyes stayed locked. Snared in his gaze, she couldn’t liberate herself. “Someone broke in here last night.” His muscles bunched like he clenched his fists. “They trashed the place but didn’t take anything.”

“Were you here? Alone when—”

“No. No, baby, I wasn’t here. The place was fine when I came up after we…”

“After I kissed you in the street.”

And that memory might’ve colored her cheeks a little. “I went out for my prior engagement and came back. Alone.” For some reason, that was important to state. “I couldn’t believe it, I came in and the apartment was trashed. Everywhere was a mess.” Not that anyone would be able to tell given its current state. Good chance she’d get her security deposit back. “Your mom is an incredible woman.”

It could only be the Breckenridges. She hadn’t even considered cleaning up while they’d taken care of the whole hurricane zone.

“Doesn’t give the rest of us a fighting chance, does she?” It calmed her that he was being so good natured about it. “Were you looking for me? When you called?”

“I didn’t call, the cops did. Your mom’s card was in my purse, a detective fished it out and called her.”

“Let me guess,” he said, his smile lighting his eyes. “After that, you were just a passenger?”

Inhaling, she got a whisper of his cologne and her stomach flipped. How crazy was it that just a quick hit set her senses soaring on high?

“I left my wand on in the bathroom.”

The distance in her words wasn’t matched by their magnetism, there was nothing subtle about the gravity drawing them together.

“Cool.” His fingers curled around her waist, strengthening, tightening, pulling her closer. “Your wand for casting spells? You don’t need it, I’m bewitched.”

Her breathing shallowed. Shit, she was panting, fighting to hide it made it worse. She couldn’t catch her breath or tear herself away.

“I mean if you don’t excuse yourself like a gentleman, this whole place will go up in flames.”

“I feel the heat too, baby. I know how to ride it, don’t be afraid.”

Except it wasn’t fear. Pure hot, wet anticipation mottled her skin.

“We’re not doing this like that,” she whispered.

“Fuck me for ever saying that.”

But he had and it was the wake up call she needed.

Easing his hands away, she backed toward the bathroom. “Chivalry’s my hero.”

It didn’t take long to finish up and settle on a boatneck in midnight blue. Nothing fancy. Nothing compared to what he’d be used to, but she couldn’t do anything to change herself. Not in such a short window anyway.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, walking into her living room.

He stood from the couch and turned, mouth open, but he stalled, and his mouth closed again.

She smoothed her dress. “What’s wrong?”

“Guys are going to be staring at you all night.” History had a way of repeating itself. Would she ever learn? “Tell me if the competition moves in while my back’s turned.”

It got cold. “Are you mocking me?” Her dress stopped just above the knee, that wasn’t too much flesh, was it? “Angry?”

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