My hand? I glanced at it. Hell, I was rubbing his neck. “I didn’t expect this,” I admitted. “I thought you’d tell me that we’d be friends . . . or something like that.”
“Roxy, I already told you I was looking for more than that.”
“But—”
He tipped his chin forward, resting his forehead against mine. “I was pissed, but that hasn’t changed.” A heartbeat passed. “But has it changed for you?”
Part of me wished it had, because this with Reece was dangerous to my heart and common sense. I could really fall for him, but I . . . I wanted him and—and I wasn’t going to finish that train of thought. “I would like that.”
“Figured.”
My heart flipped. “So damn cocky.”
“Just truthful,” he teased, plucking up the purple streak in my hair and twisting it around his finger.
I drew in a deep breath as his warm breath danced over my lips. My mind was literally blown. So was my heart, but in a way that was both good and concerning. This really was the last thing I’d expected. I suddenly had my present and future with him altered.
“Wait,” I said, drawing back. “If we’re starting over, does that mean, like, no sex until the third date or something?”
“Seriously?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s a valid question.”
“Come on, babe.” His hand slid up my leg and curved around my rear, and everything in me turned to liquid heat. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“I think I’m getting the picture, but maybe I need—”
His mouth silenced me. Kissing me softly, he sent my senses spinning. Just a kiss, and my breasts already felt heavy and an ache spasmed between my thighs. Well, the hand on my rear probably also had something to do with it, especially when a finger unerringly found the center seam in my shorts. He traced that seam, sending an illicit shiver through me.
“I bet you got the picture now, right?” he said, voice rough.
Running the tip of my tongue along my tingling lower lip, I wanted to wrap my legs around his hips, press against where I really wanted him when he groaned. “Are you sure this is smart?” I asked.
The hand left the seam of my shorts and slipped under the sweater and tank top, gliding over the bare skin of my back. “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?”
I drew back, cupping his cheeks. I liked the way the bristle along his jaw tickled my palms. There was really only one good reason I could come up with. “I’m not going to fall in love with you.”
Reece’s grin spread into a full-fledged smile that wrapped around my heart. “Sure you’re not.”
Chapter 19
Colton showed up shortly after I showered and dried my hair. Dressed in jeans and a shirt that said THIS GIRL NEEDS A NAP, I dragged myself out to the living room. Seemed fitting as I plopped down on the comfy couch and watched Colton who watched his brother sit next to me.
Like sit waaay close to me.
Reece’s leg was touching mine and his arm was draped along the back of my couch. If we were any closer, we’d be joined at the hip.
Colton’s shrewd stare missed nothing as he sat in the chair opposite the couch, near the French doors. “What’s going on, little brother?”
“What’s it look like?” Reece replied.
Truth be told, I had no idea how to answer what was going on between us. Even though we’d cleared the air and we were “starting over” or something like that, I wasn’t sure if we were at the stage where we were willing to announce whatever it was we were doing.
“Looks like my hand is about to do a meet and greet with the back of your head,” Colton retorted.
Reece chuckled deeply, and I couldn’t repress the shiver in response to the deep, rolling sound.
“Is he doing good by you?” Colton directed that question at me.
I glanced around, like someone would pop out from behind the couch and answer the question for me. “Yeah?”
“He better.” His voice dropped low as he shot a warning look at Reece, who in return simply smirked. “Or I’m sure your father and either one of your brothers will kick his ass.”
My lips twitched as I tried to picture my younger brother fighting anything that didn’t involve a hand controller and an Xbox.
Colton reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out a small notebook and pen. He flipped the notebook open, and just like his brother, Cop Face appeared. Time to get serious. “I need you to tell me everything that has happened, skipping no details. Okay? Even if it’s small, it could be something huge.”
I clasped my hands together, drew in a deep breath, and I told him everything, starting with the remote in the fridge and ending with the picture of me on my phone. Through it all, Colton scribbled it all down and Reece remained silent by my side and when I got to the undies in the dishwasher part, he moved his hand from the back of the couch to my shoulder, where his fingers sought out the tense muscles there and worked them over.
“Anything else?” Colton asked, pen hovering over the notebook.
I couldn’t help but feel like I’d forgotten something. I racked my brain, but couldn’t quite put a finger on what was prompting that feeling. “No,” I said finally.
“Has anyone been causing you problems?” he asked.
I almost said no. “I went on a date with this guy. His name is Dean Zook. I mean, I don’t think he’s a psycho, but he’s kind of persistent.” I dared a quick peek at Reece when he stiffened. “And there’s Henry Williams. He came to the bar Friday night, but Nick ran him off.”
Colton scribbled down those names. “I’ve got Henry’s info. Is Dean’s on your phone?”
I nodded. “If it’s not them, do you think this is related to what’s been happening?”
He glanced at Reece before he answered. “Right now, there’s no way to be sure. I’ve got to do some interviews with the vics, but as far as I know, they haven’t reported anything like this.”
“I’m not sure if I should be relieved by that or not,” I admitted.
“No matter what, you’re safe.” Reece slid his hand through my hair, curving his fingers along the nape of my neck. My gaze met his. “I’ll make sure of that.”
“Even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the serial rapist, what’s happening can’t be taken lightly.” Colton slipped the notebook into his jacket as I sucked in a harsh breath. He’d said it. A serial rapist was here, targeting women. My stomach twisted. “Someone is obviously stalking you, Roxy. They’ve been doing it for a while, and taking that picture . . .”
“Means the fucker behind this is escalating.” Reece withdrew his hand and rocked forward. His eyes were like chips of ice. “Before, he was doing things that didn’t really alert you to his presence. Now he is.”
“Agreed,” said Colton. His eyes, which were so much like his brother’s, met mine. “This is serious, Roxy.”
“I know. Not like I don’t think it is. Trust me.”
Reece arched a brow. “Then you will have no problem with the fact you can’t stay at your apartment. Not until we find out who is behind this.”
I opened my mouth.
“The only way that apartment is safe for you is if we nail those windows shut, which would be a stupid as fuck idea,” Reece explained. “And if there’s a fire, you’re screwed if you’re in one of the bedrooms and trapped.”
“What about a security system?” I asked, glancing between the brothers. “They aren’t as expensive as before.”
“You’re right on the monthly charges, but the install and all the window and door sensors is where they get you,” Colton advised.
Frustrated, I twisted toward Reece, my eyes wide. “I cannot be run out of my home, Reece. I can’t deal with that.”
His jaw clenched. “You’re going to have to deal with it, babe. I want you safe. I’m not going to argue about it. It’ll be temporary. We know a guy who can probably cut us a deal on the install.”
Colton nodded. “He’s a city cop down in Philadelphia. I know he’ll do it. He owes us, but it may take a week or two. We’ll be on his schedule and I know for sure he’s got his kid next weekend.”
Beggars can’t be choosers. “Okay. I guess I can stay with Katie or my parents until then.”
Reece tilted his head to the side. “Babe, you can stay with me. Nope, I can see your head working and your mouth is about to start working—”
My eyes narrowed.
“—You’ll be safe here. No doubt about that, and I’m sure you’d rather be here than with your parents or Katie, because both of them live a hell of a lot further away from Mona’s.” He grinned at me. “Plus, I’m just better company.”
“Debatable,” muttered Colton.
That went ignored. “And I’ll be more fun,” Reece added.
Pink crept across my cheeks as I bit down on my lip, looking away. I totally got what he meant. Yeah, he’d be a hell of a lot more fun, but . . .
“Can you give us a moment?” Reece said to his brother.
“Sure.” Colton sighed as he stood. “I’ve got to be going anyway. As soon as we hear anything back on your phone or learn anything else, you two will be the first to know.” He started for the door, then stopped and looked at me. “You should stay with my brother. I’m not saying that because he’s good company. He leaves wet towels on the floor, but I’ll sleep better knowing you are with him.”
As Colton left, I glanced at Reece. “You leave wet towels on the floor?”
He actually looked sheepish. “Maybe. Sometimes.”
I cocked a brow.
“Okay. After every shower, but for you, I’ll pick up the towels,” he offered.
“I don’t know. Wet towels are gross.”
He chuckled, but the humor fled when his eyes met mine. “I know it seems like a huge step with you staying with me, but it’s temporary, babe.”
I got that, but staying with him felt like a slippery slope into . . . well, a lot of things. I was all about starting over with him. I was all about the friendship and the sex. I was even cool with dating him, but I wanted to keep all the chambers of my heart out of it, because I knew . . .
I knew I could lose him and that terrified me.
But he was right. Staying with my parents would be a major pain and staying with Katie would probably be a train wreck of crazy. The fun kind, but also the kind where you ended the night with a trip to jail.
God, I was stupid, but I found myself nodding nonetheless.
I managed to hold off on telling my parents what was going on, which was great news. I knew they’d freak, rightfully so, but I also had a long shift ahead of me and way too much going on in my head. Since I had to get to the bar and Reece needed to work, we really didn’t have time for that conversation, so that meant that was how I’d be spending my Sunday. With my car still over at my apartment, Reece drove me to work in his car.
And that was different.