Page 51 of Blue-Eyed Hero

“Just say this asshole is watching your house. If you go home and get a bag, he might follow you, defeating the purpose of staying at my place. By going straight to my place, we don’t give the jerk a chance.”

“I guess that makes sense. Wish you would have clued me in earlier. I have tons of clothes stored in my parents’ basement. I could have grabbed a few things.”

“Then your parents would have asked about the clothes. My way is less complicated.”

“Except I need to get home tomorrow with enough time to get dressed and to the festival.”

“I will get you to the festival on time.”

Her eyes raked over him, lingering for far too long. “I know you will.”

He nodded and kept his focus on the road, occasionally glancing around at the houses they passed to make sure everything was in order. Every couple of minutes, he checked the rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed. There was nothing suspicious, but he didn’t let his guard down. There was someone out there, trying to instill fear in Allison, and he had no idea how far they would go.

He’d learned a long time ago there were people in the world who didn’t have a heart. Who were controlled by darkness and acted on impulse. At least Allison would be under his roof tonight, where he could assure her safety. He only hoped Louie wasn’t lurking in the shadows. An icy chill ran down his spine at the thought.

Reid turned into his driveway, following the path to his house that was set back from the road and surrounded by trees. The location was why he’d chosen the house in the first place. It was secluded, but also not very close to any neighbors just in case danger showed up at his doorstep. He’d hopefully be able to keep it contained.

But in the fourteen years he’d lived in Willow Cove, the danger he’d left behind never found him. At least not until now. Now there was a chance that he’d gotten comfortable, taken his mind off of the endless possibilities of torture by those that wanted him dead for what he did.

“Nice place,” Allison said as he put the cruiser in park. “Can never see it from the street. Only adds to that whole mystery persona you have going on.”

“If you say so.” He got out of the car and waited for her before he walked up the front steps to the door. He unlocked the knob and then the deadbolt. Holding the door open for Allison to step in, he turned behind him to disable the alarm.

“It’s like Fort Knox getting in here,” she said with a laugh.

“Nothing more than precautions,” he said. “With threats on your life, I’d think you’d understand.”

“Well, yes, but you aren’t the one being threatened, and Willow Cove is pretty safe.” He couldn’t help but to detect the sad waver in her tone.

“Does it bother you that you live in a safe place?”

“Not at all.” She tucked a dark strand behind her ear, her eyes scanning across the foyer toward the living room and kitchen. “It just gets a little boring when it comes to being a reporter.”

“You’d prefer warzones and disasters?”

She tilted her head, hair falling over her left shoulder. She swished her lips, and he failed at keeping any erotic thoughts at bay. “I told you, I once thought I’d be one of those reporters, but I can’t say I’d prefer it. Our town, for the most part, is boring, but boring isn’t so bad. To be honest, I’d take boring over hiding out from some possible threat.”

“I thought you, of all people, would love the excitement of it all.”

“Normally I would, but it’s more than me now. My fear for my family is high. Having you at the barbeque today?” She shrugged. “I just knew you wouldn’t let anything happen to them.”

“If I remember correctly, you didn’t even want me to go.”

She laughed, the sound echoing in the small space, bringing joy to the home for maybe the first time since he’d moved in. “When have I ever made things easy for you?”

His gaze lingered on her too perfect mouth slightly quirked at the edge, taunting him, and eliciting an X-rated movie reel of possibilities in his mind. He glanced up, meeting her whisky-colored eyes that challenged him more times than anyone else in his life. “Never.”

The slight quirk lifted, a full smile blossoming and lighting up her entire face. She stepped toward him, wrapping him in an instant heat along with her mouth-watering scent of coconut. Her hand rested against his chest. “At least you can count on me to liven up the boring.”

Electricity snapped in the space between them. His hand covered hers, holding it against his chest. A slight gasp slipped from her lips, and it took every ounce of restraint to keep from pinning her to the wall and claiming her mouth as his.

Her stubborn gaze met his, boring into him. His jaw tightened as his resolve dwindled. If anyone was capable of pushing him to his breaking point, it was her. He swallowed, searching for control, even though his body begged him to let loose.

She blinked, her lips parting slightly, a silent invitation that he wasn’t strong enough to resist. He stepped closer to her, and she moved with him until her back was against the wall. His fingers slid between hers, the rapid beat of his heart impossible to miss. She closed her hand over his, linking them together.

This was a slippery slope, and he needed to retreat, but those damn lips had been torturing him for years. He just needed to taste them, just once, feel her surrender beneath him, feel what it would be like to fuel the fire that had simmered between them since the moment he laid eyes on her.

He dipped his head, promising himself just one taste. The swift intake of her breath was a direct line to his dick. It hardened beneath his pants, pressing against the zipper.

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