Page 18 of Not Mine to Keep

“That’d be ideal.” Damn the sexy, just-woke-up, morning rasp that had my cock twitching beneath my jeans.

“Panties, which are basically like bikini bottoms, right?” I shrugged, then walked my focus down from her face to her tank top that accentuated the fullness of her breasts. “Maybe a hint of a bit more, too.”Way more than a hint.I saw her tits. Those perky nipples.And damn ...

“Well, you, uh ... you certainly look different today.” The stumbling of her words was unexpected, and I forced myself to meet her eyes again and push away thoughts of her nearly naked body from last night. “More military-like than billionaire vigilante in the jeans, black tee, sneakers, and backward hat.”

I laughed. Actually fucking laughed.What the hell?“You ready to talk?” I had to cut to it before this woman cut through me. Shed a few layers of whatever armor I’d worn so damn well that I’d thought I was invincible for decades. Because somehow her slight tease coupled with that smile was more dangerous than the predator I’d hunted last week in Central Park. I’d scared the bastard enough that he’d turned himself in to the police, preferring to deal with them than the likes of me.

“Tongue-tied or lost in thought?” When I didn’t respond, she let her arms drop and tossed out, “I’m going for a walk. We can talk when I get back. I need to clear my head.”

“You seem shockinglynottense to me. Seems to me you’re clear enough.” I shoved the envelope her way, remembering it was in my hand, but she only examined it with mild disinterest.

“My aunt is always reciting the saying, ‘Confidence in one hand and coffee in the other.’ Well, I’m faking confidence right now because I already had my coffee. But in truth, I’m far from clear minded.”

I nudged the envelope at her again, doing my best to stay focused on the mission. “This is information on the man your father plans to have you marry. I want you to look it over.”

She took it, shifted to the side, and tossed it somewhere, then faced me.

“I’ll walk with you,” I said, making up my mind she shouldn’t be alone since her guard was auditioning for the role of Sleeping Beauty outside.

“I don’t walk with people I do like, let alone someone I don’t.” She shrugged. “Walking is my ‘me’ time. I’m not sharing that with you.”

“You don’t know me well enough not to like me. You just don’t like what I told you last night, and with good reason,” I countered, not ready to give up. I wasn’t one to wave a white flag and surrender. Hell, rejection would only push me forward even more.

She stepped out onto the small porch, forcing me to back up so we didn’t collide. After locking the door, she pocketed a single key on the side of her yoga pants before maneuvering around me to go down the three steps. “Fine, walk with me.”

“Let me guess ... but don’t talk?”

“That’d be ideal.” She motioned me along. “Come on, follow me. I know a way to give us a head start before my father’s men catch up and wonder who you are.”

“Your shadow is asleep right now. We’re safe, but I’ll let you lead the way.” As long as she didn’t put up a fight about my keeping her company, I was good.

A few minutes later, she was the one to break the silence she’d supposedly wanted. “Bicentennial Park is just ahead. There’s a greenway there I like to walk. Has a nice view of Harpeth River. And I know a path no one ever takes. Always empty.”

“You shouldn’t be alone on pathways that are usually empty. It’s not safe.” I hated the idea of her traipsing through some wooded area alone. What was she thinking?

She abruptly stopped, and I nearly slammed into her since I’d been right on her ass, keeping up with her fast pace. “The place is safe, I promise. Been going there for years.”

Facing me, Little Miss Tennessee Whiskey boldly flicked the brim of my hat to better see my eyes, since on ourspeedwalk I’d swiveled the cap around to shield myself from the morning sun.

But whatever words she’d planned to hiss at me (and based on those narrowed eyes, they wouldn’t be delivered with honey) didn’t come.

“Tongue-tied, sweetheart?” The side of my lip hitched so I could flash her a hint of my signature cocky smile. Usually worked wonders. Not on her.

The woman sent me daggers and an adorable scowl back. But then her shoulders fell, defenses coming down a touch, and she let the slight breeze carry her soft tone my way as she shared, “Struggling to believe this is my life right now. Still feels like I’m dreaming.”

I almost palmed her cheek when I lost sight of her eyes to the pavement. “Does this mean we’re talking while walking now?”

“No,” she said without peering at me, and she abruptly turned.

I mindlessly snatched her arm and brought my mouth down over her ear. “You’re not dreaming. Dreams are nice.” I let my breath hit the shell of her lobe as I added, “What you’re experiencing is a nightmare.” Maybe she needed a little fear to convince her to get on board?

She tugged her arm free from my grasp, shook her body as if a chill had rocked through her, then began walking.

It took her another fifteen minutes to speak, but she was the one to break first. “Do you do what you do because of what happened?”She stopped walking, hanging back beneath a thick tree with sprawling branches. A few looked like they might snap and take her out, and I couldn’t have that happening.

I grumbled under my breath, “What do you mean, ‘because of what happened’?” I reached for her hand, laced our fingers together, and guided her away from the overhanging branches.

She looked down at our clasped hands, and I quickly pulled away. “Your sister. I may have done more research on you last night when I couldn’t sleep. She was murdered about fourteen years ago, and you and your brothers were arrested for her killer’s murder, but then you were all let go.”

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