She heard the growl of an engine—a sound that seemed to be coming from right outside her house. Jemma lived at the end of the road, a long, twisting road, and she sure hadn’t expected another visitor at that time of night. So when she heard the growl, she jumped out of her bed and peered through the blinds in her bedroom.
Outside, she saw an SUV. Grayson’s SUV. And that was Grayson jumping out of the vehicle and marching toward her door. As fast as she could, Jemma grabbed a robe and yanked it around her. Then she ran for the front door. He was knocking on that door even as she fumbled with the locks.
Why is he back? What happened?
She opened the door—but not fully. Jemma kept her chain in place as she stared at him. After all, it was the middle of the night and maybe thoughts of her past had been haunting her. Telling me not to take risks.
After all…once burned…
“Jemma.” He sighed out her name. Made it sound sexy. Made it sound as if he needed her.
“Wh-what are you doing back here?” She tried to look past him, to see if he’d brought Brad with him. But since the door was only open about two inches, she couldn’t make out very much.
“Jemma, let me in. I want to talk with you.”
“It’s late. After midnight.” And she was getting more nervous by the moment. She’d bought her house because it was secluded, because she liked being away from everyone else and their prying eyes. But right then, she sure wouldn’t have minded a nosy neighbor or two.
“Are you afraid of me?” He seemed horrified by the very idea. “Jemma, I had you in my arms tonight. I was kissing you.”
As if she’d forgotten. “We don’t know each other that well.”
“The sheriff vouches for me.”
She still hesitated.
“I swear, Jemma, I would never hurt you. That isn’t who I am.”
The problem was that she wasn’t sure who he really was. Or maybe I don’t even know who I actually am.
“You need to know this—Brad said that wasn’t Matthew up here tonight.”
She shook her head. “It was his truck.” Jemma was definite on this one. She knew that vehicle. All the locals did.
“Yeah, well, seems Matthew is puking his guts out at home, and while he was busy hugging the toilet, someone stole his ride. Stole it and came up here, looking to scare you.”
Her hand tightened on the door. “Why would someone do that?”
His head cocked. Her porch light fell onto him. “I don’t know, sweetheart.” His voice was very gentle. “You want to tell me? You got any enemies I need to know about? Enemies I need to take care of for you?”
Take care of—Her eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I don’t like the idea of anyone hurting you. Not ever.”
She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat.
“I want to stay here tonight.”
Okay, now she’d misheard.
“On the couch,” Grayson said quickly. “Just on the couch. I don’t like that the driver of that truck was just out there—and you’re isolated on this road. Let me keep you company, just in case, all right?”
“I’m perfectly safe.” She had a gun in her nightstand. She had Brad on speed dial. She had an alarm system in place.
“Yeah, you probably are,” he agreed. “But I don’t think I’d be able to sleep if I left. I’d just worry about you all night long.”
Her lips pressed together.
“The couch,” he said again. “Just the couch. And once Brad gets that creep, I swear, I’ll be gone.”
Her chest ached. “You have some kind of white knight complex, don’t you?”
“Hardly.”
“Liar.” She hesitated. “Give me a minute, okay?”
“Jemma—”
She shut the door. Then, yeah, she used speed dial and got Brad on the phone.
“Jemma!” Alarm flared in Brad’s voice. “What’s wrong? You need me? I am on the way—”
“Can I trust Grayson Cole?”
Silence.
Oh, damn, that wasn’t good. “Brad?”
“He’s not a criminal. And I’ve never known him to so much as lift a finger toward an innocent.”
Her breath rushed out. “That’s hardly a ringing endorsement.” Why couldn’t he just say…Yeah, you can totally trust Gray. He’s one of the good guys. Friends were supposed to say that about their friends, weren’t they? “He’s on my doorstep, saying that he wants to sleep on my couch.” And she was rambling. “Something about Matthew’s truck being stolen and—”
“You can count on Gray to keep you safe.” Now Brad sounded gruff. “If he’s there, trying to offer you protection, let him.”
She was missing something. “Is…everything okay?”
“I’m trying to figure that shit out now.” His words were muttered. “Look, Gray has the highest clearance, okay? If there is any threat, trust me, Gray can handle it. Just…don’t go giving him your heart, okay, Jemma? Let him keep you safe tonight, that actually sounds like one damn good idea to me, but…don’t let it go any further. You don’t want that.”