Page 126 of Gunner

If I couldn’t deal with my own trauma, how would I help anyone with theirs?

“Hey.”

I looked up into Gunner’s green eyes and smiled. “Hey.”

“You want to hang out here or go home?”

“I have a patient this afternoon. So I need to get home.”

Gunner growled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I don’t like you being alone with him.”

“Gunner, we talked about this.” I stood up and instead of getting mad and crossing my arms, I tried another tactic. Sliding my hands up over his chest, I said, “I would think after last night you know I can take care of myself.”

He grabbed my hands, pulling them away from his chest as he wrapped them around his waist. “Derek is a fuck of a lot bigger than Greg. Greg was a fucking pussy.”

“Mypatientis not a threat. You can even sit outside the whole time if you would like to.” His eyebrows raised in surprise, and I amended my statement. “On your bike at the roadside. Not on my porch.”

“Come on.”

Gunner held my hand as we walked to my car. He opened my door like a perfect gentleman and kissed me before closing me inside and walking away. I wasn’t surprised when he went to his bike and swung his leg over it.

I knew he would sit outside in the cold during Derek’s session. And while I believed what I said about him not being a threat, it still warmed my insides knowing that Gunner was outside, ready to come to my rescue.

When we got to my house, something Greg said popped into my head. I walked to the end of the driveway where Gunner sat astride his bike.

“How long have you been stalking me?” I asked, this time my arms were crossed over my chest, letting him know exactly how I felt.

“What?” he asked innocently.

“Don’t bullshit me. Greg said he couldn’t get to me because you were out here watching my house every night. How long?”

“No, baby—”

“How long, Gunner?”

“Since the day you came into the shop,” he admitted.

Without a word, I turned and walked up my driveway. We would be having a conversation about that, but not right now. I had patients to see, and I needed to not be angry when I saw them.

“Haizley!” he growled, and I turned without thought. The smile I saw on his face told me he knew my response was instinctual. At least I had enough control of my faculties to stand there.

I would not walk to him.

I imagined I looked similar to a huffing bull because Gunner didn’t call me to him. Instead, he swung that big ass leg over his bike. Jesus, why was it so fucking sexy when he did that?

I stood there, glaring at him as he stalked toward me. I felt the heat pull at my center. My panties were wet. There was no stopping the arousal I felt when he walked toward me like I was his prey.

The wolf stalking the lamb.

That was it. The anger dissipated like steam leaving a pot of boiling water. This man owned me. I was ready to admit it, if only to myself. I wouldn’t admit it to him just yet. No, he needed to work a little harder for my surrender.

I might want the giant bastard, but he didn’t get to know that yet.

Gunner stopped in front of me, and I waited to see what he would say.

Would he apologize?

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