She shivered at his softly spoken words. Distracted by the idea of just how personal she wanted to get with Wade, she nearly missed her apartment complex. “Here! Turn here!”
Wade slammed on the brakes and swung into the parking lot before stopping and sparing her a questioning look.
“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” I was a little busy with thoughts of hot, sweaty sex with you.
“Yeah, I got that. Which building?”
She pointed straight ahead. “That’s mine. It’s a garden apartment.” She rattled off her apartment number as she unbuckled her seat belt.
He nodded and drove forward. After parking and turning off the engine, he slung an arm over the back of her seat, crowding her. “So, how’s the security system?”
His nearness did things to her, wicked things. “Uh, I have a deadbolt if that’s what you mean.”
Wade tsked. “You live here alone and there’s no security system?”
Gracie stiffened. She could see exactly where this conversation was headed. “Those things are expensive, Wade. There’s no way I can afford something like that. Besides, I’m not always here alone. I have friends. Neighbors. I’m not an idiot; I do take precautions.”
His gaze snagged hers. “I never said you were an idiot, sweetheart. But I think we can both agree that it’s time you upgraded to a decent alarm. Especial y considering you have a private entrance.”
“Once I have enough money saved, yes.”
“I’m getting you an alarm system.”
Gracie immediately saw red. Damned arrogant man. She mental y counted to ten. Otherwise she’d end up saying something they’d both regret. “No, you aren’t. I’m not a freaking charity case.” He started to speak, but she wasn’t quite through. “You continue to assume I’m somehow your responsibility. We aren’t together, Wade. You’re helping me with this stalker, and I’m grateful for it. Beyond that you don’t have any right to dictate how I live my life.”
His eyes narrowed, and she watched as a muscle in his jaw twitched. He leaned close, too close. She could smel his masculine scent, see his five o’clock shadow, and her pussy throbbed. “When it comes to your safety, I make the rules. Until we catch your secret admirer, you do as I say. Tel me you understand this, Gracie.”
Not about to give in, Gracie crossed her arms over her chest and said, “You are not buying me a security system.”
He didn’t speak. Not a word. For long moments he simply stared at her. She fidgeted under his intense scrutiny. When he reached up, cupped her chin in his gentle palm, and smiled, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“You’re a very independent woman, Gracie Baron.”
His voice skittered along her nerve endings. No man should have a voice like that. It simply wasn’t fair. “I’ve had to be.”
He stroked her lower lip with the pad of his thumb, and Gracie swore she felt the caress along her clit. “You need to learn a few things. The first of which is that just because you al ow someone to help you, it doesn’t necessarily make you weak.”
“You aren’t just anyone, Wade. You’re a man, and you’ve made it clear you want me.”
His thumb stopped moving. “So because I want to buy you a security system, and I want you safe, that automatical y means I’m going to expect things from you? Like a mistress or something?”
She hadn’t meant it to come out quite like that. Damn, the man made her head spin. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. Look, in my experience men don’t do things unless there’s something in it for them.”
“Then you’ve been hanging out with the wrong guys, sweetheart. When we get naked and I’m buried deep inside your sexy body it’l be because we both want it. And it won’t have a damn thing to do with repaying a debt either.”
Gracie didn’t know what to say. In fact, silence seemed like a good plan.
He shook his head and smiled, then dropped his hand. “You’re quite a puzzle, Gracie.”
Okay, that so didn’t seem complimentary. “What does that mean?”
“You’re cynical yet innocent at the same time. You look at me as if you want to eat me up, then push me away when I get too close.”
Had she been doing that? Giving him mixed signals? “It was never my intention, Wade. I’m sorry if I’ve been a . . . tease.”
The hand on the back of her seat moved to her hair. His fingers sifted and played. “Not a tease. But you are afraid of me.”
She shook her head, desperate to stay on track. “No, I’m not afraid of you. It’s not that.”