Page 49 of Regards, Mia

Even if it will change everything between us, I have to ask. “What happened?”

He focuses on the sloping line of the dark mountains in thedistance. “Assault with a deadly weapon.” His voice is cold and emotionless, as if he’s talking about someone else.

I should be afraid of this man. He’s been convicted of a violent crime and I’m alone with him in my house. But I’m not scared. This is Jay. He’s sworn to protect me. He wouldn’t hurt me.

“Knife?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No.”

“Gun? Bat?”

Again, he shakes his head, then holds up his hands. He has big, powerful hands with broad palms and long fingers. I know from experience his touch is rough but gentle.

He curls his fingers toward his palms, making two fists. “Just these,” he says.

A ghostly finger brushes down my spine, causing a chill to break out on my skin.

“Your fists?”

His head bobs once in confirmation.

“But how?”

“I’m a trained fighter. They argued my hands were weapons.”

My brows raise. I’m impressed. “That’s brilliant.”

Jay laughs tightly. “Not so much for me. But yeah, the opposing attorney was smart as hell.” One dark brow wings upward, and his gaze slides over my face. “Kind of reminds me of someone else I know.”

The compliment swells in my chest. I can’t help leaning a little closer. Electricity crackles between us. Just before the doorbell rang with the unwelcome delivery, I could have sworn he was about to kiss me.

“Any more questions?” he asks.

“Not at the moment.”

I need to come to terms with the fact that Jay nearly killed someone with his bare hands. Those same hands that I’ve been fantasizing about touching me everywhere.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight,” he says.

“You don’t have to do that.”

He steps away, toward the door. “No arguments.”

I pull his jacket tighter around me. Without Jay’s warmth, I feel the chill in the early spring air. “What if I have plans?”

His brow creases. “Do you have a date?”

“Maybe.”

He narrows his eyes. “Get rid of him.”

“I don’t have a date.” I hadn’t had a date in weeks. Not since my date with Harrison which had ended at Jay’s apartment. “All I want is a hot bath and my bed.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” he says, exiting the balcony. A smile lifts one corner of his mouth as he turns around to look at me. “If you need me, just scream.”

CHAPTER 20

Is That All She Handles

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