"I told you someone threatened you before."
Her lips were dry. She swallowed the entire glass of iced tea, but it didn't help. "Nothing had happened since I moved in. You never gave me any updates. I assumed it was a misunderstanding."
He reached for his tea as she placed her glass down, and their hands touched. Instead of pulling back, he laced his fingers through hers. "As soon as I find out who it is that is threatening you, then we can go as slow as you like."
The hum in her veins begged for him. "John, if I'm going to stay here, then we're going to have to be honest."
His voice lowered. "What do you want to know?"
She tugged her fingers back. If they touched, she'd be all over him within minutes. "What is it about me now that was missing before?"
"Nothing. I was just young and foolish which made me blind."
The boom in her soul woke her up, though she listened to the ache in her chest. "So this isn't about sticking it to your father, even though he is dead?"
"No."
That one word held so much depth that she didn't know if he was sincere or if she over-read the strong negative reaction. She lowered her gaze. "He didn't like me."
"I am not him."
She straightened out a wrinkle in her jeans. "Have you let go of his shadow? Seems to me you made your life choices because of him."
On a hunch, she gazed at him. The light was gone, and in its place was a riot of emotions. "That's really deep, Alice. Let me sort that out."
Had she pushed too far? Overthinking never helped anything grow. Taking her own advice, she decided it was time for levity. Safe at the house meant no outside forces would get her. The only issue was how she was falling for John Morgan. She stood up and smiled. "Deal. Now what are we having for dinner? I'm getting hungry."
John rose after her and they walked into the kitchen together. She fell behind to memorize his strong broad shoulders and his squeezable butt. Last night, her hands had raked all over him. Tonight, she'd hold back. Last night she realized how much she loved him. Now she was tied to him, but he couldn't know how deeply.
Chapter Twenty Five
With a flutter in her belly, Alice sautéed the vegetables as John finished with the chicken in the frying pan. The flutter had everything to do with the man next to her. He added a few spices to his dish. She decided to test John's fortitude and reached for the pepper, adding it to the vegetables. Her brother and father said that real men handled spices. Pepper wasn't much, but she was curious.
After their conversation on the couch, she'd decided that everything would be all right if they did end up dating. John walked away from the meat and set the table. She found a bowl and added her vegetables. Then she opened the refrigerator and grabbed the bag with the rolls. Together.
The accent wall that separated the kitchen and dining room was yellow. If she lived here full-time, she'd suggest something brighter. In Miami, bland was not part of the decor. Alice smiled as they passed each other—their partnership had the table set in no time. Her father never helped her mother in the kitchen, but then he was in the fields until Ellie called him.
John's brow shot up. With a wink, she continued to smile. He grabbed the rest of their dinner and called behind her, "What has made you so happy?"
First she put the food on the table, and then placed her hand on her hip. "You."
He took a step backwards. "Me?"
Light-hearted, she felt as if she were floating as she rearranged the dishes and then sat down. "Yeah."
"I thought you wanted to be free of me."
As he sat, she scooted her chair closer so their knees brushed. "No. I said I wanted to go slow. There is a huge difference."
The color of his eyes darkened. "Explain how you see us then."
Fireworks exploded inside her. "You want an us?"
As his hand fell onto her thigh, her body melted. "Yes," he answered.
Every cell in her body woke up. She needed a kiss. "I wanted to hear that, I guess."
As her eyes closed, her heartbeat grew loud in her ears. She opened her lips, and then his met hers. The embers of last night burned hot inside her, and she ached for more.
Her hands wrapped around his back, feeling the muscles underneath his clothes.
An alarm rang loudly in the air. John jumped out of his seat and her body felt shaken from his sudden departure. "Go to your room and lock the door."
Her eyes scanned the area as her heart thrashed in her ears. Her voice was fast and shaky. "You said this house was safe."
John walked out of the dining room and assessed the front door. She ran behind him. "The police will be here and Morgan security is on the way," he said. "I need my gun."
Of course he had one. The FBI didn't let agents not carry. Then, as if he was walking toward a battlefield, he turned and headed toward the living area. Nothing seemed out of place, except for the blare of the alarm.
Her limbs trembled as she followed him down the hall. John pointed to her room. "Go inside. Lock the door."
She looked behind her, but no one was there. Her hands were clammy and she tried to stop shaking to tell him, "No. I'm staying right beside you."
He kept his pace toward his room. "You're impossible to protect."
Her chin trembled, and every step they took echoed in her head. "Likewise. John, if this guy wants to hurt me to get to you, then he'll target you. I can't let that happen."
Glass shattered behind them. John pushed Alice in front of him and then turned around in the hall. "Get to my bedroom so we can get my gun."
A whimper escaped her mouth, but she turned around and went for his room. He needed his weapon. Alice swung open the door, and John rushed them both inside and then headed right for the dresser drawer. The second he stepped away from her a coldness entered her. He grabbed a key from his pocket and unlocked a drawer.
More glass shattered. Alice said in a low voice, "They have to be inside now. Hurry."
The clip of the gun made a snapping noise as he put everything together. John rushed back into the hall. With tight shoulders, she followed behind him. She grabbed his hip so she'd at least touch him. "If you won't lock the door and stay here, then stay behind my shoulder."
With her elbows pressed to her sides, she ducked back. "What are you going to do?"
"If someone is in my house, here to hurt you, then he's a dead man."
The image of how John held her to protect her from the bullet, and how safe she felt in his arms, replayed in her mind. She swallowed.
Nothing stirred from the living room.
Sirens echoed in the air as the police arrived. Her stomach had rocks in it still, but she managed to breathe. A moment later, the house was flooded with lights. She rubbed her arms as John walked them toward the front door. The tingling in her chest stirred, but then he let in security to check every dark corner.
Her thoughts were scrambled. She crossed her hands until she saw Officer Rafe Soliz and John together, near the front door. Rafe said, "You two didn't let me finish my dinner."
A nervous laugh escaped her lips, but then she swallowed. "We're sorry, Rafe."
Her vision blurred, and the truth was she wasn't focused on anything other than her heartbeat.
Officer Soliz said, "At least you're safe, Alice, and we'll keep you that way."
Without another word, she scooted closer to John. Closeness helped rally her spirits, and she could see sharply again.
A security guard came out of the garage and announced, "The window was broken, but it's not large enough for a man to get through."
She shook her head. No, the goosebumps over her body weren't for nothing. There had been danger. Alice called out, "What about a woman?"
Without thinking, she reached out and took John's hand. Heat traveled up her body as he asked, "What?"
Alice turned back to the officer—her suggestion wasn't out of left field. "Women can be assassins or trained killers."
Officer Rafe nodded his he
ad. "We'll search the house to be sure."
Like the royal son, John lifted his head and the security guard reported, "I've called in a team to fix the window. They should be arriving soon."
Her breathing returned to normal, and her body temperature regulated. "The House of Morgan has everyone on speed dial?"
He pressed his palm toward hers, and the skin to skin contract sent her an electric pulse. "Yeah. Alice, I need you to be safe."
Another round of adrenaline hit her, but for an entirely new reason. Her body trembled. "Why?"
Her knees knocked together as he said, "You talk about homes and families like everyone should have one. I like it and hope to hear more about these things."
Talk about the perfect answer. She sighed. If they were alone, she'd throw herself at him.
Officer Soliz interrupted her thoughts as he said to her, "That's a big admission coming from this guy, Alice. Between the Morgans and the Gonzales family, everyone else at school seemed to have normal lives."
A bark of a laugh escaped her lips. Jennifer's home life never crossed Alice's mind. She had never tried to spend time with her or think about her. "We all have difficulties in our families. My mom and I disagree, but despite her parting words, I know she cares about me."
John shook his head. "At least you have a relationship where you can fight with her. She knows you're there, right in front of her."
Rafe turned red, clearly thinking about his own affairs, and then stepped away from the two of them. "I'm investigating a break-in."
He walked toward the garage.
Now they were alone. Her heart raced. Alice reached up and placed her hand on John's chin. He gazed into her eyes. With everyone around, she'd not beg for a kiss though she'd like one. She sighed instead. "I don't know how you're so together despite everything."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. Every cell in her woke up and begged for his attention. "I can't let anything happen to you."
"That's all you have to say?"
His eyes narrowed. "What else did you expect?"
Perhaps that he cared about her and might love her. Not that she'd say that. Small pieces of ice went back into her veins. She stepped out of his arms. "Nothing, I guess."
John, stiff, stood next to her as the house swarmed with people.
A few seconds later, Rafe came from the garage as security came out of the house. She stayed next to the cheese plate from earlier that made it somehow seem they were there for a dinner party. Alice's heart rate spiked at the thought she might have just been an idiot. Someone might be in her house. She swallowed, but then security spoke first, "No one is here, sir."
She released a huge breath. But then a car arrived outside and a team of security went out to greet the new arrival. She hugged her waist as she waited.
John nodded at the security officer without speaking. Who would be outside, now?
Rafe returned to join them. "I didn't find anything in the garage or attic. I'm going outside to check the grounds."
John smiled. "Thanks."
The police were supposed to collect fingerprints and clothing molecules to be brought back to a lab. That's what she saw on every cop show as procedure, but Rafe had no evidence bags. She stroked her throat. Then she held her breath as the door opened and two men carrying new panes of glass came in. Afraid, she stepped behind John, who reached behind her and rubbed the base of her spine. "It's okay. They will replace everything."
Over his shoulder, she peered at the two new men. "This is crazy."
His massage helped calm her. He asked, "Why?"
"Nothing on the farm gets fixed this fast when it breaks. Normally we have to patch things up and then when we have the time we head to the store to buy whatever we need to put everything back together as best we can."
His eyes closed while he took in her every word. At least her heart didn't race quite so much. He said, "I've never done that."
Sometimes his life seemed so strange. "What about when your bike chain went off the track?"
John shrugged. "I never thought about how it was fixed."
"John, your world is very weird to me sometimes. Next you'll tell me you've never ordered off the dollar menu."
A smile broke out on his face like he'd dared something exciting. "I was on stakeouts, though I usually had delivery from restaurants I approved of, but I went for fast food once, last year. I'm still not a fan."
Once, last year, were words that spoke volumes about his life. She shook her head.
The glass repairmen were noisy but fast and slammed their car doors before driving away. Alice jumped but tried to stay calm. Not every noise had to scare her. Whoever broke the window was gone now. There was no evidence of a break-in. Could've been a ball from a kid next door, but she didn't believe that. There had to be a rational explanation.
John locked the front door, showed her a number combination to set a new security code and then let his shoulders slump. Alice gazed around the empty house. Everyone was gone and they were alone, again.
Her blood boiled. What if the intruder came back? Her mind swirled as she massaged her chest. She walked closer to John and hoped a conversation would stop the fear building. "What happened today?"
His eyebrows arched. "Someone tried to break in."
The wrong answer. Perhaps she hadn't formed her question right. Her body trembled. There had to be another reason, but John spoke to her fear. She swayed on her feet. "And we're staying here?"
Without asking, he took her hands. "You saw how security worked. I didn't call anyone and we had the cops and Morgan security within minutes. Do you have a better place in mind?"
Unsure, her mind raced. "No."
His presence was like a rock. "Then here is good."
If she stayed next to him, she might feel safe. Maybe. She tilted her head "People don't usually want to murder me, unless you count Jennifer the one time in high school I went out with Rafe."
The spark between them fizzled. "You went out with Rafe? I don't remember any of this in school."
He sounded jealous so she quickly reassured him with a squeeze of his fingers. "It was one date. We decided we would be friends, so it wasn't a big deal. Jennifer and Rafe were once inseparable, though his younger sister, Caro, was always complaining about her. She works for your brother as his maid."
The spark of heat grew again as he smiled. "You make light of situations, a lot, but I don't remember much of anyone, except you."
Now was the time to ask. Her heart skipped a beat as she hoped for an immediate yes. "It's part of my charm. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
His lips pressed together. Not good. A shiver went up her spine. Worry that she'd ruined everything swept through her.
"What about taking it slow?"
She blinked. "Just sleep." She steadied her nerves. "I won't sleep at all if I'm alone."
"Why?"
They'd slept together the night before, which had been amazing. Tonight, his arms needed to be around her. "I'm scared."
The glimmer in his eyes told her he understood. A huge sigh of relief burst free as he squeezed her shoulders and said, "Then, yes, you can sleep in my bed next to me."
She smiled. "You're perfect."
"’Thank you’ is good enough."
She shrugged. Tomorrow, she'd deal with the rest of the world. Now if only she didn't turn into the sex slave she feared she'd become. At some point, she'd have to prove to herself that she had the gumption to stand on her own two feet, alone in the world. It just wouldn't be tonight.
Chapter Twenty Six
Her suitcase was in her SUV, which left Alice with no clothes. To ensure that she didn't turn into her worst nightmare, she found a clean pair of John's sweats and his FBI t-shirt. She'd smell like him, but at least she'd have layers. The last thing she'd do was sleep next to him, naked, again.
John got out of the shower connected to his bedroom. She feigned interest in the hem of her shirt, but as he came closer
it became harder to miss how solid his muscles were above the towel at his hips. At the moment she couldn't think or speak. This wasn't good at all. Next, she'd be his slave and do everything in her power to stay. To avoid his gaze she jumped into bed and hid under the covers.
The weight on the bed shifted. He must have sat. Then his hands rubbed her shoulders. "Are you tired?"
The night sky wasn't black yet, but that wasn't a polite answer. She stared at the blanket that covered her face. "Not really."
"Can we talk?"
If she'd stop being a child? She prayed he had a shirt on—those biceps of his made him hard to resist. "Okay."
"Come out from the covers then."
Seduction never started with someone acting like she was at the moment. She sat up and then froze. No shirt, and his boxers left his powerful legs exposed. One flex of his muscles, and she'd quiver with excitement. "John, I'm scared."
A sigh escaped her lips. It was too late to take her foolish behavior back and ask for a repeat of this entire evening.
He rubbed her shoulders and her muscles trembled at his touch. He took away knots that she hadn't known existed in her body.
"I'll protect you from whoever is out there. We'll get the bad guy soon."
"Not just that …." Words escaped her. She licked her lips and gazed at a drop of water that trickled down his abdomen. Alice reached for his discarded towel and dried him off so she could avoid eye contact. "That being with you, I lose me."
He wrapped his hands around hers. She dropped the towel. They sat in silence until she met his concerned gaze. "That hurts," he said. "I know I've never had a normal family to know what I'm supposed to do in situations, but I promise I do listen."
Sympathy shouldn't sway her. "John, I've never been on my own, not really."
He fixed her hair behind her ear. Her cheek moved to keep the physical contact. "And that's important to you?"
With a lift of her chin, she came closer to his lips. Breathless, she turned her face away. "Yeah. It's been my plan for the last year on how I'd survive. Independence was my prayer and now this roller coaster of a situation with you leaves me lost."
Secret Crush (The House of Morgan Book 1) Page 16
