“You should get one.”
“Get one?” Flabbergasted, she trotted behind him as he strode around to the front of the house. “Get an alarm system?”
“Yeah.” He didn’t bother taking the two steps onto the veranda, just took one easy, big stride up, two paces across the old wood which creaked alarmingly under his weight, and reached for the security screen.
Dropping the silicone gun and water bottle on the little table, she watched him open the security screen. Then she watched him look from the handle to her, the frown growing on his face. Bewildered, she raised her eyebrows at him and held her hands out. “What?”
“You didn’t lock it.”
“Why would I lock it? I’m right here.”
“You were on the roof. You wouldn’t have a clue who might have walked into the house.”
“Why would anyone - hey! Where are you going?” Good grief, he’d just walked right into her house. Following hot on his heels, she could only watch in growing irritation as he checked the lounge room windows. “What the hell, Moz?”
Dropping the curtain into place, he glanced around the room, big hands on lean hips.
Man, he was so big he seemed to make the room shrink. Suddenly it didn’t seem so roomy anymore. And what the hell was he doing?
Taking off his sun glasses, Moz folded the arms briskly, slipped the glasses into his top pocket while striding across the room right past her, through the hall and into the kitchen.
“Look, are you going to tell me what you’re doing?” Del watched him open the back door security screen.
“Just checking.” Turning, his gaze flicked over her, running from the tip of her head to the toes of her sneakers and back up, his frown deepening. “Damn it.”
Del’s eyebrows shot upwards. Okay, something was pissing him off, she could see the storm clouds gathering in those expressive brown eyes. “Care to share?”
“Oh, I’m going to share all right,” he retorted a trifle tightly. “In a minute.”
“Well, don’t let me hurry you.” She swung her arm outwards. “Here, just help yourself to the rest of the house. Check out whatever you want.”
Okay, she’d said it, she just hadn’t meant it. So she really only had herself to blame when Moz strode across the new lino she’d had put down the week before and back out into the hallway.
Following only as far as the doorway, she leaned one shoulder against the frame and watched Moz proceed to go into each room - including her bedroom, so much for privacy - and come out with a bigger frown on his face each time. By the time he exited the bathroom his rough-hewn handsomeness was now a pissed-off handsomeness.
“Have a good look around?” she asked sarcastically. “See anything you like? The underwear in my bedroom, the soap in my bathroom, the-”
“Do you have any sense at all?” Moz growled.
Indignantly, Del straightened, her head tipping back so she could see his glowering features as he towered over her. “I beg your freaking pardon?”
“You’re a woman out here alone, Del.”
“So?”
“So?”
“Yeah, so? I’ve lived out here alone for awhile now.”
“And your parents are in agreement?”
Annoyance snapped through her. “My parents are fine with it.”
“Then your friends? Your seemingly over-protective male friends who go ape shit if you get on the roof?”
“Hey now, don’t you dare bloody start on Scott and Simon and -”
“They go ape shit if you go on the roof.” Bending, Moz glowered down at her. “But this they don’t make a fuss over? They don’t fix?”
Okay, if she was a little more faint-hearted she might be intimidated, but Del had more guts than sense - as Ryder was fond of putting it - so she simply shoved her face up as close to Moz’s as she could and gritted out from between clenched teeth, “I don’t know what your problem is, Baylon, but you better think twice before you start rubbishing my friends and-”
“This is my problem.” Grabbing her wrist, Moz strode down the hallway to the front door.
The man didn’t grip her wrist hard, but his hold was firm enough that Del had no option but to go with him, almost running to keep up with his long-legged stride. “Will you let go?”
He stopped and she almost cannoned right into him.
Grabbing the handle of the security screen door, Moz shoved the door open. “Not locked.”
“I never lock it when I’m home, I just told you that!”
“You will from now on.” With that kingly announcement, he pushed past her - a tight squeeze with his width and her much slimmer one combined in the hallway that apparently wasn’t as wide as she’d first believed - and towed her to the lounge.
“As lovely as this tour of my house is,” Del said as she followed him into the lounge and across to the window, “I already know the layout.”
Still keeping hold of her wrist, Moz yanked the curtains back with his free hand and pointed to the window lock. “Flimsy.”
“What?” Bewildered, she only had time to look briefly at it before he was striding back across the room.
Into her bedroom, across to the window, another curtain yanked back, her open window pointed at accusingly, not to mention her face as he growled, “Flimsy and unlocked.”
“It has to be unlocked to be wide open. Really, Moz, what the - oh geez, really?”
Yep, really. Rolling her eyes, she followed him into every room, had every window lock pointed out to her before he finally towed her into the kitchen. Pulling her to a halt beside him, he opened the security door wide before looking accusingly down at her.
Del peered past him then nodded. “Yep, that’s my backyard all right.”
“Unlocked.”
She couldn’t help it. “You can’t unlock a back yard.”
Yanking the door shut, he flicked the lock before turning to her with eyes narrowed and arms crossed over that massive chest.
Del threw her hands out to the sides. “Fine, I get it. You’re in a snit because you think I should lock myself in the house. But I am not doing it, let me give you the tip.”
“Del-”
“No. Nope. Nada.” Hands on hips, she glared up at him. “Besides, what gives you the right to come into my home and tell me what to do?”
He didn’t even have the grace to look a little sheepish. “You need to take better care of your safety.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I’ve made it my business.”
“Then unmake it.”
Eyes narrowed, Moz looked down at her.
“Let’s put it this way.” Del poked him in the chest. “It appears that you’re the only threat to me right now.”
His nostrils actually flared a little. “I’m not your threat.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“You really believe that?”
“Hey, you’re the one standing in my kitchen without an invitation.” Del arched an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
Moz’s eyes bored into her. “I’m the least of your problems.”
“No, you’re my only problem right now. I don’t see anyone else standing in here apart from you. You walked into my house uninvited, checked out my rooms-”
“Locks.”
“You insult my friends then have the gall to order me to lock my doors and windows. Well you know what, Moz?”
He didn’t blink. “You tell me.”
“Maybe you’re the threat.”
Man, those brown eyes held an unnerving power. Like solar radar or something, because she could swear she felt the lick of anger that glowed deep within the dark depths.
But she didn’t give ground, just stood there, hands on hips, glaring right back up at him. The man had a nerve. Now and again he just really got her goat, said or did something that got right under her skin and -
“Okay, what if I was your threat, Del?”
She blinked. “What?”
> Moz moved forward suddenly, arms unfolding to swing loose by his sides, gaze boring into her as he advanced with no intention of stopping, a move that had her automatically back pedalling before she knew it. The kitchen wall smacked her in the back, bringing her to an abrupt halt.
In no hurry, Moz’s bigger stride nevertheless meant that no sooner had she registered the wall at her back than his hands smacked the wall each side of her head as he bent down, muscles bulging as his arms took his weight.
Looking up into the grim visage hovering above her, Del’s heartbeat stuttered as his head moved nearer. Cripes, the heat from his big body seemed to languidly wrap around her, the sensation of being surrounded by leashed power a heady sensation, but yeah, she had to admit, her nerves were starting to jitter bug around at the unfamiliar position.
For several long seconds they stared at each other. Okay, she stared, his gaze just continued to bore into her.
Jesus, what was he doing? She’d met him several times over the past year when he’d come to visit Elissa, she’d met him quite a few times more over the last month since he’d come to live in Gully’s Fall. She’d nodded, said hello, acknowledged him as her friend’s brother. But this? What the hell was this? And even more - why?
Sucking in a deep, steadying breath, Del inhaled the heady scent of clean male and faint aftershave. It would have been titillating if not for the fact that the menace in the room was just freaking her out a little.
Cripes, the man was big. Huge. If he tried anything…
“Got you thinking now, haven’t I?” Moz’s hard gaze didn’t waver.
That broke the spell a little, clearing her head enough to let her think. “Back off.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Stop being a jerk.”
“What are you going to do about it?” He shifted a fraction closer, making the hairs on her arm spring to attention.
Hoo boy, was he warm or what? Her eyes widened just a little as she registered just how close he was, and getting closer.
Those brown eyes just continued to bore into her. “Come on, Del. I’m a threat. What are you going to do about it? About me?”
Slapping her palms on his chest - holy crap, feel those pecs! - she snapped, “Stop it!”
“Yeah, ‘cause that’s going to work.”
He was so close now that mere inches separated them. Del went dry-mouthed as she gazed up at him, the glimmer of anger riding just beneath his darkening expression making her heart skip a beat.
Good grief, the man could be intimidating when he just scowled, but right now, this instance, when he was leaning down towards her so close she could pick out the little flecks of yellow in his eyes? It had her knees knocking a little.
Even more disturbing, it wasn’t totally from fear. She didn’t fear Moz, had had no cause to, but now, in the quiet of the kitchen with nothing but the ticking of the clock disturbing the air, she felt - well hell, she didn’t quite know.
His breath was warm on her face, he was that close. The flecks in his eyes she’d never noticed before because he was now so close, the heat of his body that was screamingly evident because he was so freakin’ close.
She licked her lips. “Uh…”
His gaze slid down to her mouth, thick lashes she’d never been aware of dropping to cover that intense gaze. He was so still, surrounding her, his very aura invading her space, meshing with hers, making her aware of him as a bloody big man and a damned yummy one to boot. So aware that he was all man.
And freaking close. All she had to do was lean forward a little, just a smidgen, and-
Holy heck, Moz shifted. His palms slid up the wall even as he leaned forward more, so much closer…and closer…
Her knees didn’t just knock a wee bit, they also went a little wobbly when his mouth brushed her cheek, slid further along, and then his breath was against her ear, every warm puff making the tendrils of hair shift.
Good grief, she was going to drown in all that wonderful heat and clean male scent. Just drizzle into a puddle and-
“Hurry up, Del.” His voice rumbled in her ear. “I’m about to do something to you.”
“Oh sweet mother mercy, yes please.”
In the next instant, they both froze.
Shit, she knew why she froze. Had she really moaned that? Her eyes snapped open. Uh oh.
Moz froze, possibly in horror?
Del almost writhed in mortification. Oh shit. Yes, she’d moaned it. She’d moaned because he’d spoken in that gravely voice and it had slid through her to curl languidly in the lowest pit of her loins and she’d moaned. Moaned!
Now she was intensely aware that the tall, muscular man leaning over her was so still it was as though he was made of stone. Except for his breath, which just kept puffing gently on her ear, making her knees all wobbly and shit.
She was in serious trouble.
Then Moz shifted, muscles bulging as he pushed back, palms still braced on the wall, arms straight, just looking down at her.
Peeking up at him, Del swallowed.
“What?” Moz demanded softly.
“Huh?”
“What did you say?”
“I said something?”
“Did you ask me to do something to you?”
Mortified, she cleared her throat. “Yes. That’s my plan, you see.”
“Your plan?”
“Lull you into a false sense of security and then knee you in the nuts.”
Moz studied her for the longest time. Okay, it might have just been a few seconds, but it seemed like a long time. A really long time.
Rallying her senses, Del managed to smile coolly.
His gaze dropped to her lips again, scorched a path up her nose to her eyes. “You’ve made no effort to knee me anywhere.”
“Well, I wouldn’t, would I? You’re my friend’s brother.” She raised her eyebrows. “Besides, this is just an exercise in demonstration, right?”
He looked at her without expression before straightening abruptly. Or tried to. He stopped and look down at his chest.
Del looked down, too, which, now that he’d straightened, was kind of on eye level. Her fingers were twisted into his uniform shirt. She had such a good grip that it wouldn’t have taken much to wrench the shirt to each side and bare that yummy chest.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Releasing his shirt, she efficiently straightened it, manfully ignoring the heat of his body and the heavy swells of the muscles beneath the blue material. Giving the shirt a last brisk pat, she nodded. “Let that be a lesson to you not to underestimate me again.”
Moz looked from his shirt to her face, one eyebrow climbing. She wished he had some expression on his face, anything to reveal his thoughts, but he simply looked at her before turning away and walking across the kitchen, stopping at the bench to lean his hips back against it while considering her thoughtfully, crossing his arms and angling his head.
Oh boy, his thoughtful pose. She’d seen that before but never aimed at her. Usually he wore it while trying to fathom out what the hell was going on.
She hoped to God he never found out with her. She wasn’t sure she knew. Or maybe she did and was just a little too afraid to contemplate it.
“You will get those locks changed.” He spoke suddenly.
That sparked her temper a little. Welcome change. “What? If you think-”
“How well do you know Harding, Dawson and Cutter?”
The switch of subject caught her off-guard. “Well, Brand and Pierce I’ve known all my life, and Cutter on and off for most of it.”
“Don’t let them into your home.”
“I wouldn’t anyway, but-”
“Keep your doors locked when you’re home.”
“Listen, I’m perfectly safe here.”
“They saw you.”
Exasperated, Del rubbed her brow. “Moz, you’re not making any sense. What’s this all about?”
Dark eyebrows, a sharp cont
rast to his fair hair, lowered a fraction, firm lips pursed slightly. Obviously he was debating what to say.
“Here, let me make it easier for you,” she offered. “You come over here, you check my locks, you warn me off that mob of yobbos. You think they’d hurt me or something?” She accompanied this with a snort. “Brand and Pierce wouldn’t dare.”
Now his features were a little brooding. Oohh, tall, muscular, brooding, intent on her. Stuff dreams were made of, except this was real life and Moz was starting to piss her off a little.
Shoving away from the wall, she went to the ‘fridge and took out a can of Diet Coke. Popping the tab, she moved to the bench right behind him, forcing him to rotate to watch her.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it,” she said bluntly.
“I’m just telling you to be extra careful.”
“Why? Give me one good reason why.” She pointed a fore finger at him. “And don’t give me crap about being a woman alone.”
“That’d be a good start.”
“That’d be a very bad start, let me give you the tip.”
Moz sighed, frowned, pinched the bridge of his nose as he studied his boots.
Taking a sip of the cold drink, Del regarded him. Man was in deep thought. That could bode well or not, depending on what he decided. Besides, now she just knew something was going on and she wanted to hear it all.
Moz lifted his gaze from his boots to her face.
Del smiled brightly. “Drink?”
“No. Thanks.”
“Explanation?”
Bracing one palm on the bench, Moz regarded her seriously. “All I can do is tell you to keep the doors locked when you’re home, especially at night.”
“Well, that’s a given even for a country bum.”
“Cute. Look, you’ve been spotted up on the roof, those blokes know you can see things. Just take it from me, don’t go on the roof for awhile and keep your head down.”
“Why? They thinking of using me for target practice on the roof? You gotta do better than that, Moz.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “That’s all I can tell you right now.”
“Oh, okay. That makes it all better.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “Little me will listen to big you and lock myself away from the bad boys.”
“I wish,” he muttered.
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