My skin was icy-cold and goose bumps were now covering its entire surface. Harrison laid a hand on my back and steered me inside the building. “You’re freezing. Let’s get you inside.”
I nodded, at a loss for words at his bossiness, but deep down I really liked it. I liked when a man took charge. I liked when he cared enough to want to protect me. Whoa, steady, Eva. This one is off-limits. He’s all kinds of fucked up . . . He’s Jade’s brother . . . And I never believed in hooking up on the rebound, anyway.
We rode up the elevator in silence. Even Miu-miu buried her head under my arm, feeling the loaded atmosphere. The way he was staring at me, his eyes piercing mine, his jaw clenching so I could see the muscles move . . . Was there something so raw and carnal about Harrison Summers that I actually started feeling hot? A shiver ran up my spine, eliciting a chuckle and a raised eyebrow from Harrison. How could I be hot and cold at the same time? The man made me feverish, confusing my body and my mind.
Darting out of the elevator, I pushed the door open. He followed me in and closed the door. “What? You don’t lock your front door? Are you aware that there is a whole city of crazies out there?” he growled as he locked it.
I lifted my chin. “This building is very secure. Nolan checked it out before we moved in. Nobody is going to get in here.”
“Sweetheart, you have no idea, do you? But I blame the Senator. He should know better.”
“How did you know who Nolan is? And how come you were outside my building? It's too strange to be coincidence. Start talking.”
Chapter Twenty-Two — Harrison
I blinked hard. I was in a tight spot, all right. She was justified asking me these questions, but even I wasn’t sure how in hell I’d ended up here. Had I mentioned her address to the taxi driver subconsciously while I had that chick on my dick?
I shrugged. “Your ex is a high-profile politician—of course I know who he is. And I told you it was a taxi mix-up that got me here. How would I know where you live?”
Moving with feline grace, she took the first-aid kit from the kitchen cabinet. I couldn’t tear my eyes from her body, tall and slim, with athletic arms and legs I would love to feel wrapped around me. But it was her mouth, full and sensual, that made my cock jerk at the thought of her lips wrapped around me.
She laughed. “Of all the places in Los Angeles, your taxi drops you near where I live. Right.”
She lifted my jeans and flinched when she saw the blood that ran into my shoe. I'd never worn socks in my life, but now I could see the sense in wearing them. “By the way, I’m assuming your dog has had all her shots?” Fuck, the last thing I needed was some disease.
“You bet.” She winked. “But have you had all your shots? I don’t want my puppy picking up a strange disease.” She wiped the area down with a solution that stung like hell. Her hands were quick and efficient, yet also soft and gentle. She applied just enough pressure to stop the bleeding, but there was something in her touch that affected me like never before. My stomach rolled, unsettled by the unfamiliar feeling that had lodged itself somewhere between my dick and my heart.
I watched her without a word as she applied antiseptic cream and then stuck a big Band-Aid over the wound. The skin had only been punctured; it wasn’t really a big deal at all. But every time I saw blood, it transported me ten years, back to the day I was covered in Amy’s blood. Blood anywhere on me freaked me the fuck out; it turned me into a goddamn mess.
“You’re so pale. Can I get you anything to drink? A nice cup of tea? My grandmother swore by it after an upset.” Her voice was soft and coaxing, as if she were speaking to a frightened child.
“Fuck, that bad, huh?” I croaked, my chest tight as hell. Was it the sight of blood or was it her nearness that was affecting me like this? It's the blood. Definitely.
“I’ve never seen a grown man react like this to a bit of blood. Luckily the bite looked worse than what it really was. You’ll live.” She smiled and turned to boil the kettle.
Truth be told, I would’ve preferred something a lot stronger to drink. But I sensed I wasn’t getting anything other than tea.
Chapter Twenty-Three — Jade
Six weeks after the trip to New York.
The time had come to tell Ryder. We’d been back from New York for a week and although we’d both been busy catching up with business, I had to sit him down and talk to him, face to face.
Good Lord, I was shaking from head to toe, uncertain what his reaction would be. What if he didn’t want this? What if he turned his back on me and walked out of my life forever?