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Ray Acosta’s rap sheet was longer than a city block. Pride filled his chest that she was going to face a man such as Acosta. It took balls to face someone like him in court.
“Hey,” she greeted him. She appeared unsure of herself, almost shy.
“Williams brought you a bag of clothes.” He stepped forward and made his way to her. He didn’t like the glint of uncertainty in her eyes. He stopped in front of her and held the bag out to her.
She gripped it and held it against her chest.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
Confusion lined her face, and Declan wasn’t even sure why he was.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and stared up at him. “Believe me, I appreciate you stepping up to try to help protect me, but I can’t help but wonder why? We’ve slept with each other a few times, and I will always cherish our time together. But soon I’ll—”
“Aspen, stop.” He closed the gap between them.
Panic filled her eyes, and it was escalating in her voice. He tipped her chin up so he could look down into her beautiful eyes.
How did he explain what he didn’t understand? “Let me help you, and then we’ll figure us out.”
“There’s an us?” Her voice ended on a squeak.
His lips tipped up in the corner. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. She leaned into him, the duffle bag crushed in between them. He loved the feel of her in his arms and knew he wouldn’t be letting her go.
That he knew for sure.
Now the air was cleared, he had a better understanding of why she’d seemed to be hiding something. He ran a hand along her back and knew he’d do anything for her. There was no question that he’d protect her.
Aspen Hale—Irwin—deserved to be able to live her life without having to be hidden or constantly have to look over her shoulder. No matter what happened between them, he would ensure she would survive, testify, and get some form of her life back.
“We’ll figure it out.” He eased back and laid a small kiss upon her lips. Glancing down at his watch, he saw it was getting close to midnight. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”
“You’re staying here?” she asked, moving to the bed. She sat the bag down and undid the zipper. Pulling it open, she took out some of the items.
“There’s no way I’m leaving, Aspen.” He moved to the bed and kicked off his shoes. He didn’t have any spare clothes with him, and he preferred sleeping naked, but since they were a guest in the home and had two federal agents located in the house, he thought it would be better for him to sleep in his boxer briefs. “That is, unless you don’t want me to.”
“I want you to stay with me. You make me feel safe,” she whispered, holding an oversized shirt.
Her eyes met his, and his stone heart that he had thought would never beat, pulsed.
“Come here.” He beckoned her with his finger.
She walked to him with her eyes wide. He had the sudden urge to take care of her. He helped her strip out of her clothes and put the t-shirt on the agent had packed for her.
There was an animalistic need inside his chest to care for her. Even the sight of the shirt on her body made him want to release a growl. It should behisshirt covering her, not some random man’s. In the back of his mind he was sure it was brand new, but he wanted his to cover her flesh.
He wanted his scent to slide along her body as it brushed against her.
He turned down the covers on the bed and helped her in. Pulling the covers up over her, he tucked her in.
“You aren’t getting in with me?” she whispered, rolling on her side. Her hand slid along the bed beside her. Her dark hair flowed over her brown shoulders, creating a dark cloud on the crisp white pillow.
He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. He lingered, loving the feel of her luscious lips.
“It wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said.
She pouted, and he almost gave in. If he slid beneath the covers and pressed his body against hers, there would be no sleeping.
Damn the feds in the house with them.
