Page 8 of Gray

Somehow, Gray noticed her slightly panicked look. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “You’re safe with me. Is it okay if I come in again?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, stepping aside as she felt embarrassment wash over her. Something about Gray always had her feeling off-kilter. He seemed to always closely watch her, and her body reacted whenever he was near. While Lena could maintain her composure and professional decorum in the office, having him inside her home in the middle of the night threw her off. “Did you find anything outside?”

Gray cleared his throat as she locked the door behind him. “Not around your yard, but I found these in the driveway.” Lena stilled as she stared at the zip ties in his big hand. Zip ties could be used for a lot of things. Binding cables or wires. Securing small items together.

They could also be used to restrain a person.

“Those were in my driveway?” she asked, realizing she sounded slightly hoarse. Lena was almost afraid to even ponder the implications of why they’d be there. He nodded. “That’s…a little creepy, to be honest. I was out shopping earlier today, but I wasn’t buying zip ties. And then I went into headquarterstonight, as you already know. What’s wrong?” she asked, noticing the frown on his face.

“I’m just wondering how they got there. Several of them, at that.” He paused a beat, seemingly trying to determine how to frame his next statement. “The investigation involving Ivan Rogers is still ongoing. He’s seemingly disappeared without a trace. You’ve got a doorbell camera, right?”

“Yes. I can look through the footage. You really think he’d come looking for me? I’m not even sure if he knew my name. I was with Kaylee, so they took me, too.” Her voice faltered, and she swore Gray’s gaze softened.

“I don’t want to rule anything out. Is there anyone else who’d have reason to seek you out or harm you?”

A flash of anxiety washed over her, goosebumps covering her skin. “Just an ex-boyfriend,” she said, her voice weak. She straightened her spine at the concern on Gray’s face. “He’s in jail for other reasons. I’d rather not talk about it, but Jett can fill you in. I don’t think he’s someone I need to worry about anymore.”

Gray slowly nodded, and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head. No one else from work knew about her ex, save for Jett. “We can make sure he’s still locked up,” Gray assured her. “I’ll touch base with Jett in the morning.”

“I doubt it’s him,” Lena said. “That was a long time ago.”

Gray licked his lips, not looking convinced. “Check your camera footage to see if anyone suspicious has been outside your home. If someone was out there tonight, however, their movement could’ve been concealed by the darkness and not picked up.”

Lena shuddered, and Gray’s entire countenance changed. For such a gruff, macho man, he seemed surprisingly attuned toher. “Did you see any other signs that someone was outside my house?” she forced herself to ask. “Aside from the zip ties?”

“No. I searched your yard. I can check again in the daylight to be certain.” She nodded, not trusting her voice as a fresh wave of fear washed over her. “I’m going to text Jett,” Gray continued. “I don’t think this has anything to do with the ass from IT, but it could mean someone else was watching you or your home. I’ll get your ex’s info from him, too, if that’s all right. I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, but we should cover all our bases.”

She swallowed. “Okay,” she agreed. The last thing she wanted was to drag Gray into that whole episode of her life, but she’d also told him the truth. Her ex was locked up, and it felt like their relationship and troubles had happened a million years ago. If anyone had been out there, she doubted it was him.

“Of course, it could be nothing,” Gray said in a low voice, seemingly trying to reassure her. “The zip ties could’ve been from a neighbor working on a home project. Maybe they blew across the yard. Whatever you heard outside tonight could’ve just been an animal.”

“Right, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” she said, echoing his earlier comment.

“Exactly. I want to make sure you’re not in any danger.”

Her gaze briefly dropped to his full lips as his deep voice wound through her. Damn it. She didn’t know who or what had been outside her home, and here she was staring at his mouth once more. Lena was far more attracted to Gray than she should be. His clean, masculine scent washed over her as they stood there, mixed in with a bit of spicy pine and smoke from being outdoors. Since moving here, she’d never once had a man in her home. Not even Jett. Now Gray was standing in her foyer, gruffly handsomeand far more attractive than any man had a right to be. His hardened jaw and short-cropped beard were sexy as hell. As was the way his clothing hugged his broad shoulders and athletic build. Just thinking about those strong arms wrapping around her…. She wanted to shiver, but not in fear this time. Even when she’d awoken from her hellish ordeal of being kidnapped and drugged, she’d felt safe with Gray holding her.

“Well, thank you for coming over,” she finally said. “I’m sure you’re anxious to get home given the late hour—or early, depending on how you look at it. I should try to get back to sleep, too.”

His gaze dropped to her hands, now clutched together in front of her. It’s like he could see she was worried about being alone. “Why don’t I crash on your sofa tonight?” Gray asked.

“You wouldn’t mind staying here?” she asked in surprise.

“Of course not. It’ll give me a chance to look around in the daylight, plus, I’ll be here in case you hear anything else outside. You might feel more comfortable not being alone in your home.”

She let out a shaky breath. “Okay. Thank you. I would feel better if you stayed.”

“It’s no trouble, Lena.”

His deep voice made her insides twist around, knotting up with tension as she felt a familiar tug low in her belly. She liked the sound of her name on his lips far too much. She was also shocked by her body’s reaction to him. While Lena had known Gray for over a year, he’d been in the background. She hadn’t let herself get close to anyone at work, including him. Now, without even trying, he was edging past some of her defenses. All the tension and fear she’d felt earlier was slowly draining away with Gray right in front of her. Unable to stop herself, she yawned, her entire body suddenly exhausted from the weight of the day.Knowing he would be here overnight made her feel like she could actually relax and sleep for a bit, her entire body soothed by his presence.

“Get some rest,” Gray gently ordered. “I’ll be out here if there’s any trouble. With my SUV in the driveway, I doubt anyone will be prowling around. They’ll know someone else is here with you tonight.”

“I’ve got a guest room and can put fresh sheets on the bed. That’ll be more comfortable than the sofa.”

He shook his head. “The sofa is fine. I don’t sleep well anyway.”

She stared at him for a beat, something unspoken passing between them. It felt almost intimate knowing he’d be staying in her home. She’d be tucked in her bed just down the hall, vulnerable as she slept. Lena wasn’t scared though. Knowing Gray would be here had the exact opposite effect, and she was somewhat shocked as she admitted that to herself. Lena felt like she should say something else but finally nodded in agreement. “I’ll grab you a blanket and pillow,” she told him.

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