He threw his hands up in frustration. “Come on, don’t be stupid.”
She came around the counter. “Don’t call me stupid, you Neanderthal.” She started to poke her finger into his chest. “You forget I’m the one who had to deal with all this crap for the past seven years. I don’t have to be locked up in your house to be kept safe.”
“Fine, then I’ll sleep at your place.” He folded his arms across his chest.
She mimicked his stance. “Not an option. I’m over there, you are over here. I have my independence. I need my independence. I need to do this, so deal with it.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to figure out a way to win. “If you’re going to be so damn stubborn, the least you can do is let me install an alarm at your house.”
“The least I can do?” Both of her eyebrows rose this time.
“Yes, Lexi, the least you can do. This is not open for discussion. You know you’ll sleep better and damn it, so will I.”
“Fine, but it better not interrupt my life, Noah.” She turned around and stalked out of his house and back to her own.
He yelled out the door to her, “And don’t think you’re going to be alone today! I’m sending Sam and Martha over.”
Noah picked up the phone and called the head of his security in Los Angeles. He gave him all the information regarding Anthony Maldono and what had been going on here, knowing that he could trust him to find out everything and anything he could about him. Bruno said that he would get back to Noah in a couple of days with what he could find. Sooner, if something urgent came up. Bruno also called the head of a security firm in Boston that would be out within the next couple of hours to install an alarm at Lexi’s.
*
“You really should lock your doors.”
Lexi screamed and almost dropped her bowl of popcorn. There, leaning up against the door frame leading out to her balcony, was a shirtless Noah. Oh my sweet Lord, please give me strength. “How did you get up here?”
Noah shrugged. “I climbed up.”
What she wouldn’t give to have seen that. His muscles straining as he pulled himself up and then over the railing. Okay, get that image out of your head, girl. Maybe you should worry about how easily he got into your home. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud siren going off.
She ran over to the key pad that was by the door and started trying to punch in numbers. Sighing when the siren stopped and gave Noah a look to let him know how much she hated the inconvenience.
She jumped when a voice came through the speaker. “Miss Hanson, this is the alarm company. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine.” Staring at Noah with narrowed eyes.
“Great, then you wouldn’t mind giving me your verbal code,” the disembodied voice said from the key pad.
Smiling sweetly at Noah. “I would love to. It’s Neanderthal.”
“Thank you and have a good night.”
“You’ve made your point, Noah, and now you can leave. Besides, as you can hear, the alarm is on.”
“Doesn’t help for it to be on if your doors and windows are wide open up here. Anyway, why would I do that? I’ve finally got you in your bedroom.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Because I’ve asked you and you’re trying to be a gentleman.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the ceiling trying to keep her body under control.
“I guess there is that… but hey, popcorn, candy, lights are low, are you watching a movie? Why didn’t you just ask? I’d love to watch a movie with you,” he exclaimed as he jumped on the bed and got comfortable.
Lexi had a hard time thinking of what to say with him stretched out on her bed, hands behind his head and ankles crossed, in nothing but a pair of shorts. “I didn’t ask, so get up and leave.” She just wanted to watch a good movie and hopefully fall into a dreamless sleep to forget about everything that had happened.
“Oh, sorry, is this your side of the bed? I can move. Do you like the driver’s side?” he asked innocently.
“Excuse me?”
“You know, like in a car. The driver sits on the left side. Do you want to have control and be the driver, you naughty girl?”
“No, Noah. I’m a good girl remember?” She sighed with exasperation.
“Good at being bad?” he said hopefully.
“Give it a rest. Go back to being a perfect gentleman. I sleep on the left side, so I would like that side. Besides, if we were in England this would be the passenger side.”
“Well, I do love some tea and crumpets if that’s the way you’d like to go,” he said with a British accent.
She closed her eyes in what she hoped he thought was exasperation rather than the move it really was—hiding what his voice did to her. “I’m not getting you out of my bed, am I?”