“I don’t want a watchdog.” She couldn’t look away from him. When he had her pinned to the spot with the power of his gaze, she could barely even breathe. “And I don’t need you to take care of me, even though you obviously believe I can’t take care of myself.”
“Don’t go putting words in my mouth, woman. I don’t believe anything of the sort.” He stepped closer. Without warning, the air evaporated in the scant inches separating them. Heat radiated from him to her, and all at once all she could think was that she might melt into a puddle right at his feet. “You’ve gotten yourself to the ripe old age of twenty-five all on your own without my help. I know you can handle yourself.”
She nodded, oddly relieved to hear him say it. “That’s right. I can.”
“But you’re wrong about the boogeymen and the monsters, beautiful. They are lurking around every corner, and because you plant yourself in the spotlight every day of your life, they can’t help but get a good look at you. But as of now, when they turn their eyes your way, all they’re going to see is me standing in their way, waiting to snap them in two. They’ll see me, because wherever you are, that’s where I’m going to be.”
Her mouth was suddenly so dry it was all she could do to not lick her lips. Would he watch that motion if she did? “Because you want to be my watchdog?”
“Because I’m going to be your man. The watchdog service is just a side benefit.”
He said it so casually she thought for a wild second that she’d misheard him. “What?”
“You heard me.” Before she knew what he was planning, he bent and brushed his lips over hers in an almost chaste kiss, stunning her even more. “Now listen up, because this is how it’s going to go. I accompany you to that store down the street, yeah? You do your thing, and then if there’s time before your scheduled interview with that basketball player, we hit Lily’s Pad Thai.”
Without meaning to, she brought a hand up to touch her lips that still tingled, wondering if she’d just imagined that sweet caress. “Are you back to that?”
“Yeah, I’m back to that. I’ve got a craving for Thai food and your company, not necessarily in that order, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”
Hannah stared at him, and in his eyes he showed her the truth. What he really wanted—even more than Thai food—was her, and he was completely comfortable with her knowing about it.
The question was, was she comfortable with it?
If you’re a coward, you won’t be able to keep up with me.
This was what he meant, she realized with a sudden clarity that dazzled her. If she was too scared to go out on this limb with him, then he’d walk away. No harm, no foul.
But he would walk away.
She didn’t want that. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but...
She absolutely did not want this steamroller of a man to walk away.
“I told my editor I was taking the rest of the day to track down a suitable costume, so other than getting that errand checked off my list, I’m free until seven. Think you can find a way to fill all that time?”
“I’ve got a few ideas.” That weapons-grade sexy smile was back, and he took her arm in an undeniably proprietary way. “Let’s hit that costume shop first so you won’t be distracted. I want all your attention for myself.”