Page 34 of Stella
“I’ll walk you to the door.” He’s out of the vehicle before I can even blink. Opening my car door, he holds out a hand, and without a thought or care in the world, I take it. Cale’s hand is warm, strong, a little calloused, but something about his firm grip has my insides turning to mush.
Was he always this tall?
“You’re really tall,” I say, shivering.
“You just think that because you’re five two.” He glances down at me, frowns, then starts to remove his jacket.
“How did you know I’m five two?”
He grins. “Been doing this a while, Princess.”
Princess.
He proceeds to lay his jacket around my shoulders, and I almost combust when I see he really is wearing a gun holster under there. And it’s sexy as hell. My mouth drops open. “Holy fuck,” I whisper.
His eyes search my face. “You were cold.”
“No, I meant the guns. Hot.”
He takes a deep breath. “Let’s get you inside.”
There he goes again, being all gooey and turning my insides to mush. He does that without even trying. I subtly inhale the faded cologne on his jacket, and my insides contract. Now I know the expression about ovaries exploding. If I could bottle this scent, I’d keep it all to myself so nobody else would know what it’s like except me. It’s dark and masculine, woodsy with a hint of vanilla, or something. He is fucking intoxicating.
“Well, thanks, it’s been a blast.”
He doesn’t let go of my hand, and I feel a strange sensation wash over me. It tingles, and I feel it from my head to the tips of my toes. I really, really like him, and I think I’m blowing it because I tried — and failed — to make him jealous. I got drunk, and now he just thinks I’m childish because I can’t hold my liquor or successfully act like a grown-up. “Will you be okay getting upstairs?”
I give him a scorned look. “How do you know I live upstairs?”
He chuckles. “Not that hard to figure out. The bakery is on the bottom floor.”
“Right.” I hold up a finger. “Forgot about that.”
I reach for my key, fumble, then Cale takes over. “Be sure to lock the door behind you. I’ll stay until I hear it click.”
My heart constricts. He really is a nice guy. I place a hand on his face and pat it once. “You’re a good man,Detective Callaghan.Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
I meant it as a compliment about what he said earlier — about having no one. But it comes out sounding a little desperate.
My door is partway open, but he’s stopped in his tracks…and I’m fucking touching him!
Holy Christ, what is the matter with me? I snap my hand back. “Sorry! I get handsy when I’m tipsy.”
There’s that eyebrow raised again. He leans close to my ear, and I close my eyes, taking in his intoxicating scent. Memorizing it for when I crawl into bed tonight. I start to shrug his jacket off, but he stops me.
“I can get it back another time. You’re cold.”
“You’re sweet,” I say. “And for the record, you’re not alone, you’ve got Calli, right?”
“She’s at home sleeping. I suspect she won’t even know I’ve been gone.”
I tut. “That isn’t true.”
He smirks. “Get on inside.”
God, his sexy, large frame does things to me towering over me like a hulk. “Thank you,” my voice is almost a whisper. “I appreciate the ride, and the jacket, and you going all alpha on me, it was really hot.”
“Get inside,Firecracker.” His tone is playful, but the way it drops an octave makes my pussy throb. He hands me my food bag, and the cup that is melting down the sides.
