Resting her hands on her hips, she shifted her weight to one side. “You act like you’ve never had a naked woman in your house before.”
He forced the words over the lump in his throat. “You’re the first.”
“Yeah, right.” She stepped into the bathroom and came out with a wad of clothes. “Do you have a washing machine?”
“Yes.” His mouth worked, but the rest of his body hadn’t processed the shock.
She arched an eyebrow. “Can I borrow it?”
“Oh. Yeah. Here, let me take that.” He took the laundry from her hands and padded to the washing closet. “Mind if I throw some of mine in with it? I had a rough day at the office.”
“Fine with me.” Her voice came from right over his shoulder.
He tensed. Her close proximity had his arms aching to hold her, and the scent of his soap on her body turned him on way more than it should have. He’d given her his key so she’d have a safe place to sleep, but he hadn’t thought about what having her here would do to him.
He groaned inwardly. He had to get her out of that towel and into something more modest before he exploded. “Do you want to borrow some clothes while you’re waiting on these?” Flipping on the washing machine, he turned to face her.
“Would it make you more comfortable if I did?” Amusement lilted her voice.
“It would, unless you…” He clamped his mouth shut before the automatic smartass comment could slip out. After what she’d been through, asking her if she wanted him to get naked too would be a dick move.
“Unless I, what?”
“Nothing.” He sidestepped around her.
“Okay then.” A muffled chuckle slipped from her lips as she followed him to his bedroom.
Pausing at the door, he considered saying it anyway. She seemed amused by the effect she had on him, but he wasn’t lying when he’d said Alexis was the first naked woman he’d had in his house. Now she’d be the first one in his bedroom too. His home was his sanctuary. His quiet place to relax and recharge his batteries. He’d never been big on guests, especially overnight ones. He’d make an exception for Alexis, though. She needed him, and something about being able to provide for her had him aching with his own need.
He dropped the leash on the dresser and moved his service weapon to the drawer next to his personal firearm before pulling out a pair of sweatpants. “Here.” He handed them to her. “They have a drawstring, so you should be able to keep them up.”
In his closet, he reached for a white T-shirt, but the thin fabric would’ve been more revealing than the towel. He handed her a dark green one instead. She took the clothes and looked around at his bedroom.
“What?” he said.
“Nothing.” She shrugged. “It’s not what I expected.”
“My room?” He turned off the closet light and crossed his arms. How many times had he imagined having Alexis in his bed? And now here she was, nearly naked and standing three feet away from him.
“Your whole house.”
“What did you expect?” And why did her answer matter so much to him?
“A pigsty. Tough guy. Lives alone. No time for cleaning since he’s always out fighting bad guys and seducing women.”
He flinched. “You don’t know me.”
“I know your type.” She turned and headed for the bathroom.
Her statement stung, though it didn’t surprise him. He’d worked hard to build up his no-bullshit reputation. To make sure no one saw the scrawny little nerd who’d had to do other people’s homework to avoid getting his head shoved in the toilet. He’d created his confident, tough guy persona with a purpose. But for some odd reason, he didn’t want Alexis to view him that way.
He shuffled into the living room and dropped his keys into a bowl near the door. Turning around, he found Alexis there in his baggy sweatpants and T-shirt. Thankfully, the garments hung shapeless on her body, hiding her curves. Then again, seeing her wearing his clothes was another kind of sexy entirely.
“Why are you wearing scrubs?” She gestured to his shirt.
He glanced at his clothes. “That rough day at the office I told you about? I got puked on.”
“Ew.” She wrinkled her nose. “That’s what I smelled.”
“Yeah. I’m going to shower real quick.” He started down the hall, but he paused. “Are you going to be here when I get out?”
She winced as she lowered herself onto the couch. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Sam jumped onto the sofa and licked her face. Bryce was about to scold his dog, but she laughed and scratched the fleabag behind the ears.
Warmth spread through his core. “If he’s bothering you, I can put him in the back yard.”
“He’s fine. Mind if I turn on the TV?”
“Go for it.” He hurried down the hall and showered and changed as fast as he could, tossing the scrubs into the wash with the other clothes. He even brushed his teeth just in case. Not that he was planning on kissing her—or even getting that close to her—but better safe than sorry, right? Holding his breath, he padded back to the living room. Fear that she’d be gone when he entered the room had his stomach in knots.
But there she sat, in the same place on the couch, Sam curled up next to her with his head in her lap. Lucky dog. “Can I get you anything? Water? Tea?”
She grimaced as she shifted her position. “Got any whiskey?”
“I’ve got a bottle of Jameson, but should you really be drinking in your condition?”
She stiffened. “In my condition, I could use a little pain relief.”
“Do you want some ibuprofen?”
“Just the whiskey.”
What a woman. “Yes, ma’am.” He opened the bottle and poured two glasses. Offering her the drink, he settled onto a chair next to the sofa.
She sipped the whiskey and closed her eyes. “Mmm. That’s better.” As her lids fluttered open, her gaze locked with his. “What?”
Damn it, he was staring at her again. “Nothing. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
Setting his glass on the coffee table, he shuffled to the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets and the fridge. He’d eaten his last frozen dinner that evening. He had nothing with sustenance to offer her. “All I’ve got is a tube of Pringles and some Snickers bars. I can run out and pick something up for you.”
“Chips and candy are my favorite.” She grabbed the book from the end table. “The War of the Worlds? I didn’t take you for a sci-fi nerd.”
“I’m not.” And he planned to make damn sure she never found out he was. Yanking the book from her hand, he set the food on the coffee table. Sam raised his head. “None for you, boy. You know what it does to your stomach.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Junk food doesn’t agree with him?”
“You thought I smelled bad. We’d need gas masks if he ate any.”
She smiled and shoved a chip into her mouth. “This beats hospital food any day.”
He slipped the book between the cushion and the arm of the chair, thankful he’d been able to change the subject. He’d prefer to talk about his farting dog any day over his love of science fiction. Alexis didn’t seem like the type of woman who went for geeks.
She polished off half the tube of Pringles before moving on to the Snickers. Any woman who was happy with chips and candy for dinner was a keeper in his book. He sipped his whiskey and smiled. He could get used to this kind of company.
Aside from Macey’s occasional visits, the only other woman who’d been in his house was Karen, and he usually tensed up when his neighbor overstayed her welcome. But something about Alexis being here added to the calm of his sanctuary rather than detracting from it.
She brought the chocolate to her lips and paused. “You’re staring at me.”
“Sorry.” He set his glass on the table and yanked his head down from the clouds. “When are you going to tell me what really happened to you?” Nobody climbed a hundred-foot electrical tower unless t
hey had a death wish or they were being chased.
Alexis sipped her whiskey and eyed him warily. “I’m not.”
It figured. He’d have to be delicate with his interrogation if he wanted to get anywhere with her. “Whatever it is, I can help you.”
She let out a cynical laugh and took a bite of the Snickers bar. “No, you can’t. Believe me. You don’t want to get involved.”
“I already am, and I think I already told you that.” He held her gaze, and for a moment, her eyes softened. Her lips parted slightly, and she inhaled as if she were going to speak.
She shook her head.
“Look, I’m going out on a limb here by keeping this a secret. Macey may not be my partner anymore, but she trusts me. And she’s my friend.” He sighed. “She’d expect me to tell her if I knew you were in trouble. You’ve gotta give me something. Let me help.”
She stroked Sam’s fur, and he nuzzled into her lap. What Bryce would have given to be in that dog’s place. “You are helping. Letting me stay here tonight is all I need. Tomorrow, I can go get my car back, and everything will be fine.”
“Where’s your car?”
“Pearl River.”
He furrowed his brow. “That’s forty miles away. How’d you end up in a New Orleans hospital?”
Drawing her shoulders toward her ears, she looked into his eyes. “Fate?”
He chuckled. “There’s no such thing. Try again.”
She paused and pressed her lips together, as if considering her words, and cut her gaze to the left. “Then, I have no idea.”
“Okay.” He’d let her hold on to this lie. It didn’t matter how she ended up there; he was involved now, whether she wanted him to be or not. “Let me drive you to your car.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” She bit her bottom lip and focused on the dog.
“What are you going to do? Walk there?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
Stubborn. Independent. Like her sister, she didn’t know how to accept help. “Let me take you. I’ve got nothing better to do.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I highly doubt that, but, okay. I’ll let you take me to Pearl River and drop me off at my car. That’s it, though. No more questions and you stay out of my business.”
“Deal.” He crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. There was no way in hell he was staying out of it. But at least if he drove her there, he might be able to pick up a few clues as to what was going on. Then he’d decide if he needed to get Macey or the police involved.
She stretched her arms over her head and cringed. “Ow. I should probably get some sleep. Can I borrow a blanket?”
“You can sleep in my bed.”
She raised her eyebrows, and he could practically see the thought forming in her mind.
“Not with me in it. I’ll take the couch. You’re too sore to sleep out here.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Man, she was beyond stubborn. “No, you won’t. You need a good night’s rest. You’re sleeping in my bed.”
She paused and regarded him, a tiny, heart-melting smile curving the corners of her lips. “Well, if you insist.”
“I do. And if you need anything at all…ibuprofen, water, more whiskey…whatever…let me know. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Her brow furrowed, a look of confusion clouding her eyes. “Thanks, Bryce. I appreciate that.”
Chapter Five
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a golden glow in the bedroom. The softness and warmth of Bryce’s bed enveloped Alexis as if she were sleeping in a cloud. The last time she’d been this comfortable, she’d spent the night in a hotel room before Macey’s wedding. After scrounging together enough money to buy her bridesmaid dress and pay for one night in the lush hotel, she’d been broke ever since. She needed to find a job fast.
Rising onto her elbows, she spotted her clean clothes sitting on the nightstand, folded into a neat stack. The house key she’d left in the living room last night lay on top.
She rolled onto her side and pressed her face into the pillow. As she inhaled deeply, a masculine, woodsy scent with a hint of citrus danced in her senses. She pulled the pillow on top of her head, allowing herself to get lost in the magnificent scent of Bryce. He’d been nothing but kind to her all evening. She’d fully expected him to try to climb into bed with her. No man was that nice without expecting something in return.
But Bryce had told her goodnight and left her alone all night. Maybe he really was different. Maybe not. She hugged the pillow tighter.
A knock on the door roused her from her thoughts, and she flung the pillow away from her face. Bryce stood in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants. His light brown hair was mussed on one side, making a sort of wave on top of his head. Just enough scruff peppered his jaw to give him a rugged look, and glorious muscles rippled down his stomach to disappear into the waistband of his sweats. Her own stomach fluttered, and she had to tear her gaze away.
He grinned and stepped into the room. “Were you smelling my pillow?”
Her ears burned. “No. Why would I do that?”
Grabbing a shirt from the closet, he slipped it over his head. “Yes, you were. You were sniffing it. What’s it smell like?”
She ground her teeth as the heat from her ears spread across her cheeks. “It smells like you, dumbass.” She chunked the pillow at his head, but he caught it in his hands.
His smile faded. “Dumbass? Is that what you think of me?”
She opened her mouth for another sarcastic answer, but the hurt in his eyes made the words stick in her throat. “I don’t know what to think.”
He set the pillow down and looked at her quizzically. Sinking onto the edge of the bed, he took her hand in his and ran a finger up her forearm. His gentle touch lit a fire in her core and sent shivers running down her spine. She wasn’t used to gentle.
“The bruises are gone.” His fingers grazed her forehead as he brushed the hair away from her face, and her breath hitched. “Even your eye. How is that possible?”
She pulled from his grasp and slipped her arm under the blanket. “I’m a fast healer. Always have been.”
He held her gaze. “You fell a hundred feet.”
“No, I wasn’t up that high. I told you, the report was wrong.”
“Why were you up there?” So much concern emanated from his voice that she almost believed he cared about her.
She inhaled deeply. Something about Bryce made her want to open up and tell him everything. Maybe it was his kind eyes or his open posture. Possibly the smolder in his gaze. Her wolf insisted on another, much stickier reason, but she intended to ignore that instinct like she’d been doing since she met him.
It was probably a trick he learned in police school to get people to confess their crimes. If she told him about Eric, she’d have to leave out the supernatural part. Then the testosterone would kick in, and Bryce would insist on going after him. Cop or not, he was no match for a werewolf.
She faked a smile. “I’m starving. Got any more Snickers?”
He sighed and pressed his lips into a line. “There’s a café a few blocks away. I’ll go grab some breakfast while you get dressed. Then we can get your car.” Rising to his feet, he pulled a pair of pants from a drawer. “Will you be here when I get back?”
“I will.”
Nodding, he hesitated in the doorway before turning on his heel and striding out of the room.
Alexis lay in bed until the front door opened and closed and the key turned in the lock. Taking one more deep inhale of Bryce’s masculine scent on the sheets, she sat up and stretched her arms over her head. A mild ache replaced the excruciating pain from yesterday.
Would it be wrong to stay in bed and invite Bryce to join her when he returned? The stirring she’d felt in her soul when she first met him was back in full force, and if she wasn’t careful, her wolf would try to claim him. A low growl rumbled in her chest. Who was she kidding? Her
wolf was already trying.
Would that be such a bad thing?
Yes, it would. She was a rogue, and he was a human. Her wolf was wrong about this. She wouldn’t be bound to any man.
Slipping out of bed, she got dressed and padded into the kitchen to open the fridge. A six-pack of beer, a half-empty carton of two-percent milk, and what was left of a loaf of bread. His fridge screamed typical bachelor, but nothing else about him fit the stereotype. A whine from the living room pulled her attention to the goofy dog on the couch. He rested his chin on a cushion, and his bright blue eyes stared at her with intensity.
“I’m sorry, Sam. I forgot to tell you good morning.”
The dog jumped off the sofa and bounded toward her. She scratched him behind the ears, and he licked her face before wagging his entire body and prancing around her feet.
“Maybe we can play later, okay?” She scanned the kitchen countertops for a coffee maker. Her head hurt from the fall, and a little caffeine might fix it. She found a bag of coffee and some filters in the cabinet—at least he had all the essentials—but when she filled the machine and flipped the switch to run it, nothing happened.
“Damn it. I need my caffeine.” She unplugged the machine and rummaged through the drawers to find a screwdriver. The back of the contraption popped off, and she turned it around to examine it. A wire had come loose from a terminal. A simple fix. With a few turns of a screw, she reattached the wire and tightened the connections of the others. She replaced the cover, plugged the machine in, and flipped the switch again. The little red light blinked on as the coffee started brewing. “Thank God.”
“We’ve got a problem,” Bryce said as he stepped through the door. “Their coffee machine is down, and mine broke—” He inhaled deeply. “Wait. Do I smell coffee?”
She took two mugs from a cabinet and set them on the counter. “It had a loose wire. I fixed it.”
“Fantastic.” He grinned and dropped a white paper bag on the table. “I got sausage kolaches. I thought you could use some protein to build up your strength.”
Bound by Blood (Crescent City Wolf Pack Book 3) Page 6
