So why was she so afraid of him?
Because she’d been hurt in the past. The knowledge came with a fury unlike anything he’d ever known before. Yes, someone had hurt her, humiliated her and he wanted to find the man and pulverize him. Only a coward, a man afraid of himself would hurt a woman. And this wound wasn’t the kind that showed on the outside.
Cat walked through the open door, rubbing up against his leg. Automatically, he reached down to pet the little guy, but he never took his eyes off Selena as she nervously stuffed clothes and towels away into drawers in such a haphazard manner, he knew she’d have to re-do it later.
He also suspected that the wounds hadn’t healed on the inside. She’d just covered them up and pretended they weren’t there.
“Yes. I came over to ask if you wanted to get something to eat. I noticed that you went for a run this morning, but you haven’t gotten any groceries yet.”
She stopped, painfully aware of the tug of happiness that hit her with his invitation. “Um…I don’t…”
He gave Cat another rub, then stood up. “Come on. I think there are a few things we need to discuss.”
He didn’t wait for her to say no, simply took her hand and pulled her out of the bedroom. “Don’t worry about unpacking. I’ll help you when we get back.”
He stopped by the kitchen, still holding her hand as he peered in her fridge, confirming that it was empty. “As I suspected.” Armed with that knowledge, he led her gently out of the house.
She trotted after him, thrilled to be with him again, but also telling herself that she was getting in too deep with Reid. She liked his company and this sexual attraction wasn’t going away. In fact, the more she got to know him, the stronger her feelings for him became.
But why did he peek in her fridge like that? “What did you suspect?”
“That you didn’t have any real food in there.” Turning to face her, he squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m guessing that your eating, exercise, and underwear issues are all tied up together, aren’t they?” At her startled expression, he squeezed her fingers again. “It’s okay,” he told her softly. “I won’t pry.” His eyes moved over her features and Selena tried to hide her emotions. She was getting choked up about his gentleness and that wasn’t a good thing.
“Please don’t,” she begged him, knowing that he wasn’t just tenacious, but also perceptive. Too perceptive! She didn’t want him to know about her past. She needed those things to stay there, hidden and unacknowledged. She’d dealt with the pain and moved on, grew stronger. She’d survived and thrived. And she didn’t want him to ever know about that humiliating time in her life!
He sighed, that rough thumb rubbing over the back of her hand and sending shivers down her spine. “I can’t seem to stop. There’s just something about you, Selena.”
Oh, she’d heard those words before!
Angrily pulling away from him, she moved to the other side of the driveway. “Yes, well, you’re a nice man, Reid, but…”
She stopped, surprised by the peal of deep laughter.
“What?” she demanded.
“You know that being called ‘nice’ is the kiss of death for a man. Is that a trick you’ve learned over the years?” He shook his head as he grabbed her purse, handing it to her as he led her down the driveway. “It’s effective, but it isn’t going to work on me.” He leaned down, closer to her and she held her breath, wondering if he was going to kiss her. Instead, he simply smiled and said, “I’m more stubborn than the other men you’ve met in the past. So you’ve been warned!”
Selena couldn’t stifle the surprised laughter. Of all the things he might have said; more handsome, more charming, smarter, or anything else. Yeah, all of those applied to Reid Jones. But he’d gone with stubborn.
Why did that comfort her so much?
She was an idiot, that’s why, she told herself as she followed along behind him. She felt a bit like a duckling being led by her mother, but in no way could Reid Jones be mistaken for a mother duck. Or anything feminine! He was about as rawly masculine as they came.