Page 18 of Blind Attraction

Mitch opened his eyes with a start, and he leaned up on an elbow to determine what woke him. Alana lay peaceful beside him, resting on her belly, hugging her pillow.

“Sorry.” Kate’s voice drew his attention. She had her head poked inside the door, her body out of view. “I need to wake Alana so I can go home and get ready for work.”

He placed a finger to his lips and slid from the bed. When he reached her he jerked his head toward the lounge room. She frowned, turned on her toes, and walked ahead.

“I’ll look after her today,” he whispered, his voice groggy from sleep.

Kate glanced at him over her shoulder.

He held his hands up to halt her reply. “She can’t take care of herself, and I don’t have any plans. Just give her a call when you finish work and we can go from there.”

She turned to him and narrowed her gaze. “She’s not a groupie. She won’t enjoy being treated like one.”

He raised his chin, annoyed at her assumption. More so in the fact she would’ve been right if they were discussing the treatment of any other woman in his past. “I know.”

Kate opened her mouth and closed it again.

“Look, I like Alana and don’t mind spending time with her while you’re at work.” He shrugged, acting blasé when he felt far from it. “She’s safe here with me.”

She gave a flirtatious smile. “I doubt it.”

Yeah. So did he. He wouldn’t admit it though.

“Fine.” She opened her handbag, rummaged through the contents, and pulled out a business card. “Here’s my number. If there’s any problems, call me and I’ll try and get someone to cover me at work.”

He reached for the girlie pink card, but she held tight. “Promise me you’ll treat her with respect.”

He yawned, scrubbed a hand through his hair, and pulled his tired gaze up to meet hers. “No problem.”

Kate scrutinized him, her brows deepening with each passing second until she released the card and turned with a sigh. “Make sure you text me later so I have your number.”

He watched her leave, trying not to fall asleep in the middle of the entryway. After he locked the security latch behind her, he grabbed a glass of water, used the bathroom, and tiptoed into the bedroom. His angel still laid peacefully, her body now on its side, curled into the pillow. The scratches on her face had lost their bite, no longer standing out on her beautiful skin.

Making sure not to wake her, he climbed onto the bed. He stared at her, watching her eyelids flicker, her chest rise and fall. He’d promised to be respectful, and he had no intention of reneging, however, it wasn’t his fault if Kate’s definition varied from his.

With a kiss goodbye to his inner boy scout, he shuffled forward, breathing in her floral scent as he approached. He curved his body into hers, thigh to thigh, her back to his chest.

There was nothing disrespectful about spooning. They both had clothes on, there was no sexual interest. Well fine, his hardening cock disagreed, but he had the big man under control. He just wanted to be close to her. To appreciate her delicate skin and the soft curves of her body.

Once she woke, he would blame his proximity on his movements during sleep. Until then, he would nuzzle the back of her neck and hope to hell he received another opportunity to be this close to her. Respectfully, of course.

* * *

Alana gradually woke from a deep sleep, climbing layer upon layer of drowsiness until consciousness greeted her. A delicious warmth coaxed her back into slumber, but her pillow was hard as stone and made her jaw ache.

She blinked open her eyes to bright light and blurred vision. Panic stole her breath. She couldn’t see. Why couldn’t she see? She pushed from the hardness below her, blinking in quick succession to alleviate the dryness while her heartbeat thundered in her chest.

“Sweetheart, it’s OK.”

Large hands gripped her wrists.

“It’s Mitch.”

Her heart stuttered, and then slowed as the memories of yesterday began to clear.

Mitchell Davies.

Shattered glass.

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