Wild for You (Hot Jocks #6)(21)

She nods. “The team flies out to New York. I know. I’ll go stay with Georgia.”

Jason’s suspension means he isn’t allowed on team premises, which includes the jet and games. But then he’ll probably be here in Seattle, which also means there’s no way in fuck Ana is going to stay at Georgia’s. Kress went there once already looking for her. And if he did it again, this time I wouldn’t be around to help her if things went south. I’d be three time zones away.

I shake my head. “You’ll stay here.”

Her eyes widen, appraising me. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

I clear my throat, shifting in my seat. “Right. Sorry. I just mean . . . it’s no trouble having you here, and it’s really the smart move. You, staying here for the time being.”

If she leaves because I’m a surly asshole who doesn’t know how to communicate, I’ll feel even worse. It’s not her fault I’m out of practice at this kind of thing.

She weighs my words, trying to determine if they’re sincere. Then her gaze lifts to mine. “Are you sure you don’t mind me being here when you’re away?”

“It’s really no problem. Plus, I like the idea of the place being used while I’m gone.”

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“Positive.”

Ana nods. “Then I guess I’ll stay.”

“Glad that’s settled.”

A knock at the front door grabs our attention.

“There’s just one other thing,” I say, rising to my feet.

Ana shoots me a curious glance. “Are you expecting someone?”

Nodding, I head toward the door. “I’m having a security alarm installed today before I go.”

“Wait, what?” She jumps to her feet and follows me to the foyer with Hobbes in tow.

I open the front door to a trim man with a beard and blue tennis shoes. “Hi. Mr. Henry?”

“Yeah,” I say. “But Grant’s fine.”

“Great. Well, I’m here to install your new security system, which should take about an hour.”

“Come on in.” I open the door wider and usher him in.

Ana’s right on my heels as I follow the guy deeper inside my condo, where he begins unloading a small set of tools.

“I don’t understand,” she says, turning to face me. “Isn’t Jason traveling with the team?”

I clear my throat and lead her into the hall where we’ll have a little more privacy. “He’s not. With the suspension, he’s not even allowed on team property.”

“Oh.” Her face falls. “And you think he would . . .”

My throat tightens at the expression on her face. “No.” Most likely he wouldn’t try anything. Not now. At least, I hope not, but I clearly don’t know the guy as well as I thought I did.

I still can’t believe Ana spent two years with that fuck. I hate to think about what she went through. I may not know what love is, but I sure as hell know what love isn’t.

“Is it not safe here? Is that what this is about?”

I reach out and place one hand on her shoulder. It’s a touch meant to calm her, but instead, I can feel how tense she is. Shit. This is my fault. I never meant to make her feel on edge.

I drop my hand from her slender shoulder and shove it in my pocket. “No, it’s nothing like that. I’ve just been meaning to do this for a while.”

Her disbelieving gaze says she isn’t so sure I’m telling her the truth.

“I just figured this might make you feel safer while I’m gone.”

“It’s only one night,” she says, frowning.

“Yeah . . .”

“And I’m tougher than I look.”

“I know,” I say quickly.

She inhales, her nostrils flaring. Apparently, I answered too quickly. Now she doesn’t believe I meant what I said.

“Let me do this one thing, Ana.”

“It’s your condo, Grant. I’m not going to stop you. But you’ve done a lot of things already.”

“It hasn’t been any hardship.” That’s the complete truth.

Looking uncomfortable, she shifts her weight. “Well, I promise to be out of your hair soon.”

“I never asked you to leave.” I meet her eyes, holding her gaze.

“No, you’re too much of a gentleman to do that.”

I rub one hand over the stubble on my jaw. “Never been called that before.”

Smiling, she softens. “Well, you are. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” she says quietly, her brown gaze holding steady to mine.

A moment of silence passes between us.

“You’d have figured it out.”

She nods in agreement. “I suppose so.”

And she would have. I’m sure of it, even if she’s not.

“I have to leave in an hour, but I got you something.” I grab a shopping bag from the top of the closet and hand it to her. As she starts to open the bag, I blurt, “It’s bath salt. For when you use the bath in there.”

She smiles up at me. “Thank you.”

The guy from the security company calls out from the other room with a question, and I nod once to Ana and then head off.