Page 19 of Make You Mine

Ava holds a hand up, her cheeks still that delicious rosy color. “Jaime ran downstairs to help Adam with my luggage, Detective. I wasn’t alone.”

“Call me Eli,” I interrupt, my eyes back on hers. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that I’m also asking her to use a nickname I hate. “Please.”

“Okay, Eli.” Christ, the way my name sounds coming from those pouty lips is indecent. Provocative. Another mistake on my behalf.Keep it impersonal.“I wasn’t alone, though. You were here, too.”

Jaime coughs something under his breath, and his friend nods, breaking our moment. Both men are looking at Ava, but it’s the former who speaks. “Why don’t you come help me bring your things up? We’d like to have a word about?—”

“Sure.”

“No,” we answer in unison. A mistake on my behalf because their subtle grins become full smirks at my flat-out refusal to let her leave. Jaime is enjoying it much more than his friend, but they’re amused, nonetheless, while I’m becoming more tense by the second. “I’ll go.”

Because beneath the relaxed behavior meant to assure Ava things are going as planned, I’ve caught Jaime’s jaw ticking every few seconds. Then, there’s the way his partner’s body is positioned to keep track of anyone coming onto this floor.

There shouldn’t be any foot traffic as I own this section of the penthouse level, something they should be aware of. Two of my three neighbors are on vacation, while the last spends most of his workweek running a software company out of Silicon Valley. This is one of his many properties, not the home base, and is used to entertain or unwind with his flavor of the month.

Something is wrong.

“I don’t want to stay up here by myself, Detective.” Ava looks perplexed by my reaction. A little annoyed, and it’s a welcomed sight. There’s still some sass in her despite the nightmare she’s navigating through. “Besides, I need my stuff. Promise it’s not much, and?—”

“I’ll get them for you.”

“But—”

“Go inside, sweetheart.”Son of a bitch. The term of endearment slips past my lips before I can stop it. Jaime opens his mouth, and Adam tilts his head to the side while she just looks at me—I carry on as if I’m not tripping over myself. “I need to have a word with them. We’ll just be a few minutes.”

“Actually, that might be best,” Adam adds.

After giving them a quick nod, I smile down at her. “We’ll be right back.”

“Are you sure?” Gone is the blush and embarrassment. Now, there’s a hint of panic in her voice, and my heart clenches. Assuaging Ava’s fear will be my new priority.

Extending a hand toward her, I wait until warm fingers slip between mine and walk us inside my condo, ignoring the Marines. We don’t stop until we’re outside on the balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Standing side by side, our eyes survey the beauty all around us:

The busy city. The water. The clear blue sky.

And it’s in this moment of silence, fingers intertwining, that her body loses its rigidness. That she let out a shuddering breath, and her lips quirked up into a soft smile full of relief. “This is beautiful.”

“It is.” Nothing more is said for a while. Could be minutes or hours; I wouldn’t know as my focus stays on her. How she breathes in deep and then exhales slowly, calming herself. She’s fighting against the small bout of panic that’s trying to take her under.

Her fingers in mine are a bit sweaty, but no longer clinging tight. Instead, the stiffness slowly becomes languid, and her mild shaking stops the longer we just stand here.

At that moment, the phone inside my pocket vibrates, and behind us, the front door closes softly. Yet, instead of turning around to look, I take out my phone and read the text from a number that is familiar from the case file atop my coffee table.

I’ll bring her things up. ~ Jaime S.

Thank you. ~ Ford

“You probably think I’m being ridiculous,” Ava says from beside me as I pocket the cell phone. Her voice is low, a gentle hum.

“Not at all.” Studying her profile, I take in just how beautiful she is. How delicate her features are, from the small button nose to her pouty lips—she’s what I imagine a living doll would be. “After everything you’ve seen and endured, I expect you to panic. Not trusting your surroundings and the people in itisnormal.”

“I feel safe here, though,” she mumbles, and it’s almost too low for me to hear, but I do. The confession causes a weird sensation to overtake my chest, and I rub the spot. There’s pride mixed with confusion and…want.

I want her to need me.

I want her here.

Christ, Ford. Get a hold of yourself.“I won’t let anything happen to you, Miss Perry. You’re safe inside my home and with me. All I ask is that while Jason’s being hunted, you don’t go out alone. Please don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger.”

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