Page 14 of Abducted

She gathered up more of the sweatpants material and shuffled to the chair he held out. She took it, folded her knees up, and turned her face to look at him. Indecision warred through him. It had taken all of his control not to pull her into his arms moments before. She was a smart woman, and she had to have sensed his attraction. She had nothing to worry about though. Their worlds were very different, and he had no desire to bring her into his. Even if it was for just sex. He needed to settle her mind. If he wanted her to let him help her, she couldn’t be scared of him.

“What about?” She squinted at him, not taking her eyes off his face.

He cleared his throat. “About what just happened in the bathroom.”

Her lips rolled in and then moved into a small pout. Need surged through him. God, she had the most kissable mouth.

“I just want to clear the air. You don’t have to worry about me coming on to you.”

Her eyebrows rose and pinched together. A cute line creased her brow. “Uh…okay.”

“I mean it. You can trust me. I wouldn’t get involved with someone like you anyway.”

That brought a deep scowl to her sapphire eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jesus. He rubbed the back of his hand over his beard, stifling a groan. This wasn’t the direction he’d wanted the conversation to go. Just a quick “don’t worry” was all he’d wanted to say.

“You don’t belong in my world, that’s all. No insult intended. Just do me a favor and avoid prancing around in towels from now on, okay?”

Heat rushed up her neck to coat her cheeks in crimson. Her mouth opened, then snapped shut. He’d made her speechless? Interesting.

He let loose the smile he’d been holding back. He had smiled more in the last few hours than he had all week. “Let’s set aside your attraction to me—”

She reached out and gave his bicep a pinch. “You’re so full of yourself. I’m not attracted to you.” Her voice raised an octave. “Besides, you kidnapped me, you ass.” Her pincerlike fingers fluttered for his bicep again.

He laughed and pulled out of her reach. “Hey, I saved your ass.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, and the corners of his mouth twitched. She was funny when she was mad and adorable when she was trying to take a chunk out of his skin.

“Let’s get to the important stuff. First of all, do you have any enemies?”

“Anyone who would want to kill me? No, I can’t say that I do.” She combed her still-damp hair back and secured it in a bun at the top of her head, exposing the soft lines of her profile.

He sat back in his chair. “It’s very easy to dismiss people when you think in terms of them wanting to kill you. But we need to look at every single person in your life who doesn’t like you. Does that make sense?”

She sighed. “Yes, but I really can’t imagine anyone I know doing something like that. It’s hard to picture.”

“Someone did, though.”

Her eyes somber, she nodded.

“What about any ex-boyfriends? Did you have a relationship end sourly?”

“I haven’t had a boyfriend since college.” Her arms crossed over her chest.

He frowned. “You haven’t been involved with anyone since then?”

“No.” Her knees shifted in the chair.

“I remember seeing a picture of you recently with a guy at a charity ball. He was leading you to the podium.”

“That was Tanner, my stepbrother.” Her eyes met his. “Not my boyfriend.”

Huh. “He seemed pretty possessive of you for a stepbrother.” Tanner’s hand had rested on her back as he’d ushered her to the podium, and his gaze had been pointed off toward someone in the crowd, with a sharp look in his eyes that Cal had read as:Back the fuck off.

Lana wet her lips, and her eyes darted around the room before landing back on him. Interesting.

“I wouldn’t say he’s possessive.” She lifted her shoulder, but her blue eyes had darkened. She was hiding something.

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