Alone

by Kali Argent

  “How else do you plan to make it up five flights of stairs?”

  “Shut up.” With a disgruntled, though adorable, growl, she settled into his arms and stopped squirming. “Are you always like this?”

  “Like what?”

  “Logical.”

  “Oh, absolutely not.” Rafe shook his head as he ascended the third flight of steps. “Probably ninety percent of the shit I say makes no sense whatsoever.”

  “You’re not like most guys.”

  It sounded like a compliment. She looked thoughtful instead of disgusted when she said it. I’m going to take it as a compliment.

  “Do you need help getting settled?” he asked when they reached the landing on the top floor.

  He expected her stubborn pride to make a comeback, so he was pleasantly surprised when she nodded and pointed toward her apartment door.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it.” Cecily paused and tilted her head to the side. “You’re not a serial killer, right?”

  “Not recently.”

  “Or a prude?”

  “Uh…” The air suddenly felt thick and suffocating, and heat crawled up Rafe’s neck to his cheeks. “Why do you ask?”

  Pushing the lapels of his jacket aside, she licked her full lips while her green eyes danced with what he could only assume was mischief. “My apartment key…” Cecily skimmed her fingers along the swell of her left breast and reached into the plunging neckline of her dress to produce a sing, gold key. “Ta-da.”

  “Alakazam,” Rafe mumbled as he lowered her gently to the welcome mat in front of her door. “You are trouble, woman.”

  Cecily didn’t comment, but a smirk quirked one side of her mouth while she unlocked the deadbolt and pushed the door open. Not wanting to appear presumptuous or saddle her with undue pressure, Rafe prepared to say his goodbyes. He could casually offer to check on her before his shift, just in case she needed anything. That wouldn’t be too weird or stalkerish.

  Yeah, that’s perfectly reasonable. The worse that could happen is she tells me to get lost. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

  Deep in conversation with himself, Rafe didn’t notice the nuclear meltdown in progress until a high-pitched screech jerked him out of his internal argument. Hell, he hadn’t thought humans capable of making such a frightening, prehistoric sound, but then again, he’d never met anyone like Cecily Baker.

  “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Even with her gimp ankle and torn dress, Cecily commanded the attention of everyone in the room—especially the naked couple twined together on the suede sofa. “Get. Out.”

  Cecily bit out each word, venom dripping from her icy tone. Making a mental note to never find himself on the wrong end of her temper, Rafe crossed the threshold into the apartment and folded his arms over his chest.

  As the youngest of four and the only boy in his family, he knew better than to step between Cecily and her baby sister. He also had no doubt she could handle the guy cradling this twigs and berries in one hand while he pulled on his jeans with the other. Still, a little moral support never hurt anyone.

  “Aiden, you don’t have to leave.” Cecily’s sister squared her shoulders, clearly trying to appear dignified, even though she had nothing but a small cashmere throw to cover her. “This is my apartment, too.”

  “Aiden?” Tilting her head to the side, Cecily eyed the guy and snorted in a way that said they’d met before and she hadn’t been impressed. “No, Melissa, this isn’t your apartment. It’s mine, and you are a guest.”

  “So, what? You can bring a guy home, but I can’t?” Melissa glared at Rafe as she spoke.

  “Yes,” Cecily answered. The muscles in her jaw ticked, and she reached over to hold Rafe’s arm for support as she shifted her weight. “I’m going to bed.” She cast a fleeting glance toward Aiden. “Don’t forget to take out the garbage.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  No one on the planet could piss her off quite like her sister. Simmering just beneath that rage, however, a nauseating humiliation burned in her gut. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  Rafe held her around the waist, supporting the majority of her weight as she led the way down the hall to her bedroom. “Believe it or not, I’ve seen naked people before.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know.” Rafe pushed open the door she indicated and practically carried her to the bed. “You’re not responsible for your sister, though.”

  Melissa was charming, beautiful, and intelligent. She could captivate an entire room by doing nothing more than breathing, then turn around and sell them beachfront property in Nebraska. Unfortunately, she also had a bad habit of measuring her self-worth based on her relationship status. Once she had a man in her sights, she became reckless, irresponsible, and savagely protective of her would-be hero.

  “You should elevate your ankle and get some ice on it.” Rafe’s ebony spikes stood out in disarray, and dark shadows painted his lower lids. “Do you have antibacterial ointment for that knee?”

  He looked exhausted, and he’d already done more for her than she’d had any right to ask of him. “Melissa can help.” Once she’s dressed. “Thank you for everything, but go home, Rafe. You look half-dead.”

  “Knock it off. Melissa appears to be indisposed at the present, and I’m just going to leave you here like this. Change into your night clothes. I’ll get the ice and find some aspirin.”

  Cecily didn’t want to appear ungracious, and under different circumstances, she might not have been so eager to see the back of him. As it stood, however, her entire leg hurt like the ten shades of hell, she was mortified over her sister’s behavior, and more than anything, she just wanted to be alone.

  “No offense, buddy, I appreciate your help, but I don’t know you.”

  “I don’t know you, either, lady.” Rafe rolled his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder when she tried to stand. “You’re not going to be happy until you break that ankle, are you? Look, just consider this part of the superhero package. There’s free wi-fi and a continental breakfast, too.”

  “Rafe…”

  But he slipped out of the room and disappeared down the hallway before she could devise a convincing argument. Then again, the stubborn idiot probably wouldn’t have listened to her anyway.

  The lounge clothes she’d worn for most of the day still sat in a pile at the foot of the bed. The tattered, faded T-shirt she’d had since high school, and the pink checkered pajama bottoms were at least one size too big. She liked her ratty old clothes, and since she worked from home, she saw no reason to be uncomfortable.

  Except for Melissa or the UPS guy, no one ever saw her in those clothes, though. Normally, she didn’t care what people thought of her, but she couldn’t deny there was something different about Rafe. She didn’t know him, not yet, but she wanted to stick around long enough to find out more. She never let anyone tell her what to do in her own home, not even her sister, but there she sat, waiting for a guy she’d just met to bring her an icepack and tuck her into bed.

  “This is ridiculous.” Groaning, she swiveled on her butt and leaned across the mattress to grab her pajamas. “He can deal with it.” He’d already seen her in a torn dress with a swollen ankle and a bloody knee. It didn’t get much worse than that.

  After a lot of unladylike grunting and contorting, Cecily finally managed to get her dress unzipped and pushed down to her waist. She debated for several seconds on whether to keep the bra or not, but in the end, exhaustion and pain won out over propriety. After she pulled her T-shirt on, she had to stop and rest for a minute while she worked out the logistics of getting the bottoms on.

  “Okay, if I just…” Falling back on the mattress, she pushed the form-fitting dress down her torso, rolling and shimming as she worked the material over her hips.

  “Icepack and aspirin,” Rafe announced as he strolled through the doorway. “I’m guessing your first aid stuff is in the—” Comi
ng to a stop in the middle of the room, he pressed his lips together and snorted. “What on earth are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to get this damn dress off!” Cecily snapped. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  Rafe placed the pain reliever on the nightstand and tossed the ice onto the mattress. “How much do you like this dress?”

  Cecily closed her eyes and flopped back on the bed as blood rushed to her cheeks. “It’s ruined anyway.”

  “Hey.”

  Blinking up at Rafe, Cecily pushed her hair away from her cheek and sighed. “What?”

  “Shit happens, right?”

  Yes, but most people didn’t have an audience for their embarrassment. “This is why I never leave my house.” Rafe’s rough, masculine chuckle echoed around the room, a deeply sexy sound that sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m glad I amuse you.”

  “Laughter is the best medicine, right?” Straddling her thighs, he braced his knees on the side of the mattress and leaned forward. Then he slid one muscular arm beneath her, right at the small of her back, and stopped. “Ready?”

  Warmth radiated from Rafe’s huge frame and seeped into her skin, chasing away the chill of the room. “Okay.”

  With little effort, he lifted her a few inches and dragged the dress down her thighs in one easy motion. Then he took the sleep pants and knelt on the floor to help her into them. Surprisingly, not once during the entire process did Cecily feel uncomfortable.

  Rafe didn’t stare inappropriately. He didn’t comment on the color of her panties or the length of her legs. If anything, he conducted himself a little too clinically.

  “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Taking Cecily’s hand, he pulled her into a sitting position and pursed his lips. “Can you stand?”

  With a little support and some awkward maneuvering, Rafe managed to get her on her feet and pull the blankets back while holding her steady. Once he had her settled into bed with her busted ankle propped up on pillows and the icepack in place, he handed her a couple of aspirin and a bottle of water.

  Cecily couldn’t remember anyone ever taking such good care of her. “Thank you. I know I keep saying it, but really…just thank you, Rafe.”

  Cecily had always been the one to take care of the people in her life—her sister, her friends, her parents before her dad passed and her mom went nuts. Asking for support didn’t come easily for her, and accepting unsolicited help wasn’t any different. With Rafe, though, she didn’t feel helpless or indebted. She wanted to repay his kindness, but not because he made her feel like she owed him.

  It was all very confusing.

  “You’re welcome, but it’s not a big deal. I’m sure you’d do the same.”

  No, I wouldn’t.

  If she’d passed a stranger on the sidewalk in the middle of the night, she’d have kept right on walking. She wouldn’t have stopped to inquire about their wellbeing or offer assistance.

  “I think you give me too much credit.”

  “And I don’t think you give yourself enough.” Rafe rubbed his hands together. “Are you going to tell me where the bandages are, or should I just start digging through your cabinets until I find them?”

  “I’m not sure, actually,” Cecily answered through her laughter. “Ask Melissa.”

  “That’s going to be difficult considering she left about ten minutes ago.”

  “What?” Jerking upright, Cecily dislodged her foot from its perch and cursed when stabbing pains shot though her ankle and up her calf. “I’m going to murder her.”

  “Easy, killer. She is a grown woman, you know?”

  “Yes, and when she starts acting like it, I’ll treat her like an adult.” She didn’t even know why she tried anymore. “Where’s my phone?”

  “I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?”

  “I need my phone.” Pushing into a more comfortable position, Cecily fumbled around on the nightstand. “Did she say where she was going?”

  “No, and I didn’t ask.”

  “She’s probably with that idiot, Aiden. She doesn’t think. Why doesn’t she ever think?” Cecily finally found her phone on the corner of the nightstand, but before she could dial, Rafe plucked it from her fingers. “Give that back.”

  “So you can do what?”

  “Call my sister, of course.” He hadn’t seemed that thick, but perhaps she’d misjudged him.

  “No.” Rafe inspected the phone as though he’d never seen one. “So you can fight with her.”

  “That’s up to her.” If Melissa wanted to be irrational and illogical, Cecily couldn’t stop that. “Besides, I really don’t think it’s any of your business.”

  “You’re probably right. Still, I don’t see what that has to do with your need to control your sister.”

  “I’m not controlling her.” No one could control Melissa, not even her parade of husbands. “You wouldn’t get it.”

  “You’re probably right about that, too.” After a pregnant pause, Rafe tapped the phone against his palm and then passed it to her. “Try to get some rest and stay off that foot for a few days.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  Instead of answering, Rafe bent and brushed a chaste kiss across her forehead. “It was a pleasure rescuing you, Cecily Baker. You’re certainly unlike any woman I’ve ever met.” Straightening, he stared down at her as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he shook his head again and crossed the room to the door.

  “Rafe.”

  Cecily didn’t know why she’d called him back, didn’t know what to say to him. She just knew she wasn’t ready for him to leave yet. The smile she received when he turned toward her melted some of the tension in her shoulders and did interesting things to her stomach.

  “Don’t be too hard on her, okay?” His chocolate-brown eyes tightened at the corners. “She’s just trying to live her life, same as you.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Don’t be a stalker. Don’t be a stalker. She probably already forgot you exist.

  Standing outside the door of the apartment, Rafe lifted his hand for the third time but stopped once again before knocking. She probably didn’t want to see him, especially after he’d forced his way into her personal matters. He couldn’t blame her, either, but for three days, he’d done nothing but eat, sleep, work, and think about Cecily.

  Get a grip, dumbass.

  He sucked in a deep breath, held it for a heartbeat, and exhaled through his nose. “Here goes nothing.”

  The door opened almost immediately after he knocked. “Well, well, well, fancy seeing you. I didn’t think there’d be anything left once Cecily finished with you.”

  Ignoring the attitude, Rafe tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and smiled. “Speaking of your sister, is she around?”

  “Of course. She never goes anywhere or does anything. Ever.” Melissa took a step back and opened the door a little wider. “Come on in.” Shifting sideways, she motioned toward the back of the apartment. “She’s in her room. I’m sure you remember the way.”

  Clearly, the pair hadn’t made amends since the last time he’d seen them, and he could hear the animosity in Melissa’s every breath. “Yeah, I remember. Thank you.”

  “I’m meeting a friend for lunch. Maybe you can keep the ice princess occupied so she doesn’t have a coronary that I left.”

  “Have a nice lunch.” No way was he getting in the middle of that family feud.

  “I’m a grown woman.” Melissa waved her hands around in animated gestures as she spoke. “I have to be me, you know? I have to live my own life. She’s such a control freak, and she thinks I can’t blow my nose without her supervision. Who acts like that?”

  Pulling double duty at the club as a bouncer and a bartender, Rafe had broken up a number of disputes and listened to countless drunken rants. Melissa felt suffocated and misunderstood. Cecily felt walked on and taken for granted. Unless one of them was willing to bend, they were both going to end up broken.

 
; “She just loves you and wants to protect you. That’s not such a bad thing.”

  Clearly, that wasn’t the answer Melissa wanted to hear. With a disgusted snort, she snatched her purse off the counter and stalked past him, slamming the door on her way out with enough force to rattle the wall.

  “Nice to see you again,” Rafe muttered to the empty room.

  “Melissa?” Footsteps shuffled down the hallway, and a moment later, Cecily limped into view. “Rafe? What are you doing here?”

  “I thought I’d drop by and see how you’re feeling.” Lame. “I mean, I was already in the neighborhood.” Lamer. Rafe carded his fingers through his hair and chuckled. “I was thinking about you, and I wanted to see you.” When in doubt, tell the truth.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about you, too.”

  “Is that right? It’s the superhero thing, isn’t it?”

  “Well, it doesn’t hurt.” When Cecily smiled, it transformed her entire face, giving him a glimpse behind her coolly constructed façade. “I wanted to apologize for the way I acted the other night, about Melissa and everything else. I shouldn’t have dragged you into my drama.”

  Even without makeup or her hair twisted into artful curls, she still looked beautiful, maybe even more so. Rafe had always appreciated a woman’s natural beauty, and Cecily had it in spades.

  “I like a good scandal as much as the next guy, but I’d also really like to get to know you without all the distractions.” He’d been working up to this part for three days, but his preparation didn’t make it any easier. “Would you like to have lunch with me? Or maybe coffee? Nothing too serious and no pressure.”

  Cecily stared at him for a long time before her lips finally curved at the corners. Then she ducked her head and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The innocence of the action, the vulnerability in the single movement, shattered all of his preconceptions.

  In that moment, she wasn’t the strong, independent, stubborn woman he’d met on the sidewalk. She was shy, insecure, and just as nervous as he was, because a boy had asked her out to lunch.