Page 65 of Tempting the Player
Later, I’m watching TV in the living room by myself when there’s a knock at the door. I press mute and freeze, waiting for another knock. I’m not expecting anyone. Daisy is at Jordan’s hockey game, Vi is at a study group, and Dahlia left today for a golf tournament.
I’m still tensed, mind reeling with scenarios, when Hendrick’s voice calls out. “I know you’re home, Jane. I saw you through the front window.”
Cursing the open curtains, I get up and open the front door to a smiling Hendrick. He glances past me into the house.
“What are you doing here?” I cross my arms over my bra-free chest.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure,” I say slowly and step out of the way. He follows me over to the couch and we both take a seat. He eyes the muted TV with amusement.
“Farmer Wants a Wife,” I tell him. “It sounds bizarre, but I’m totally hooked.”
One side of his mouth lifts. “Where is everyone?”
“Out. What’s up? Everything okay with Flynn?”
“The eye is getting blacker by the hour, but otherwise he’s good, I think.”
“Good.”
He rubs his palms together. “I don’t like you being here by yourself.”
“I’ll set the alarm (I finally agreed to one of those, though I still hate it), and my roommates will be back later, I think.”
“You think?” One dark brow lifts.
“Did you need something or did you just come here to give me a hard time?”
He takes a second before he speaks again. “I was thinking, what if you came and stayed at my place for a few days?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan, right? I’ll be over in the morning.”
“No, I mean, what if you stayed all day and all night?”
“You want me to move in with you?” My voice raises several octaves, and a thousand butterflies take flight in my stomach.
“Logan is looking into the email, but until then I would really feel better if you weren’t sitting home alone.”
I open my mouth to argue that I’m perfectly safe, but his face takes on a vulnerability that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen from Hendrick. He’s usually so closed-off and grumpy. “I’m sure you’re right and that it’s unnecessary, but right now I don’t feel like I can do my job and manage things at home. You’d be helping me out. Otherwise, I will talk to Logan about someone taking over for me.”
Move in with him or get a new bodyguard completely? He’s not playing fair.
“What if I just get therereallyearly in the morning and come homereallylate at night?”
He says nothing, but his face is impassive.
“It feels like overkill.”
“Probably, but I’m not willing to take any chances.”
“Can I think about it tonight?” I’m planning on going to his house tomorrow morning anyway, so that gives me some time to talk him out of this plan. I can’t move in with him. That’s crazier than this farmer finding a wife on reality TV.
“Sure. Yeah. Of course.”
After a beat, he shifts and settles back on the couch, staring straight ahead. He lets his head fall to the side and he smiles. “Are you going to hit play or what?”
“You’re staying?”
