Close To Danger (Westen #4)(19)

“They would, if you were going to be strolling around town. Which would be a very bad idea.” He took the black boot out of her hand and replaced it with the one he’d chosen.

She glanced at the prices on the boxes, smiled and picked them up. “I’ll just get both.”

“Seems like a waste of money.”

“It’s my money to spend,” she said, flashing him a smile.

He inhaled and slowly exhaled, as if bracing himself for a physical blow. “Not really.”

Chloe tipped her head sideways, the smile disappearing quickly. “What do you mean, not really?”

“I’m taking you off the grid.” His steady gaze met hers.

“What exactly do you mean by off the grid?” She sent him a piercing look.

“From this moment, until we can find your stalker, you’re not going to leave an electronic footprint he can follow.”

“And that has to do with my money not being my money…how?” She really wasn’t liking how this sounded.

“No credit cards or ATM withdrawals.”

“What?” She gave him the open-mouthed, you-can’t-possibly-be-serious stare. “Exactly how did you plan for me to pay for all these clothes you demanded I get?” she asked, waving her hand over the cart. While she hadn’t gone too crazy—well, except for the two pairs of boots—she certainly had more items in her cart than the cash in her wallet could cover.

“I don’t,” he said, pushing his cart out into the aisle headed to the check out.

Thanks to his long-legged stride, she had to practically run to catch up with him. By the time she did, he was already unloading his cart’s contents onto the checkout belt.

Angling her cart to the side, she slid right up behind him to whisper in his ear. “I’m not letting you buy my clothes.”

“Yes, you are,” he said without turning around.

“I can just get some money from the ATM near the door.” She started to move away. He grabbed her by the hand, stopping her.

“I said, no ATMs. Anyone with the skills capable of hacking into a phone can find out where you’ve used an ATM. I don’t want your stalker knowing which direction we’re headed.” The intensity of his blue gaze focusing in on her and the grip of his hand on hers let her know he was deadly serious.

Dammit. She hated being out of control and in anyone’s debt. Quickly, she tried to think of some way to convince him to let her pay for her own clothes.

Wes leaned in closer. “If he knows about your sisters and finds a trail of you heading north, where do you think he’ll look first?”

“Bobby’s.” Her heart sank. No matter how much she wanted to dig her feet in and be the independent woman who could pay her own way, she wouldn’t let her own ego put her beloved sister and future niece or nephew in jeopardy.

“We’ll call it a loan. You can pay me back later.” He loosened his grip on her hand slightly, rubbing his thumb over the back of her knuckles. “Please?”

His actions and the magic word, as Bobby always called it, took some of the sting out of her ire.

“Okay, but I’m buying the black boots and my underwear.” She glared at him. “I have enough cash for that and no way are you buying me panties.”

He didn’t even blink, but the muscles near his mouth quivered.

“And don’t you dare laugh at me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said and turned back to unloading his cart.

“Good,” she muttered, grabbing her clothes and piling them on the end of the checkout counter. She also snatched some single serving bags of chips and two extra size chocolate bars, tossing those on top of her clothes for good measure. It was going to take some serious junk food to keep from killing him tonight.

Once the clerk reached the end and he paid, Chloe laid her items on the counter. Thankfully, Wes had the grace and good sense to move the full shopping cart out and two aisles down while her total was being rung up.

“You know,” the barely-over-twenty-something girl said, leaning close as she handed her the change. “I wouldn’t complain if someone who looked like that wanted to buy me panties.”

“He’s my brother. It would be weird,” Chloe said, trying to hide her mounting irritation.

“Your brother?” Wes asked when she carried her bag to where he was waiting.

She shrugged. “First thing that came into my mind.”

“Good thinking. If your stalker comes looking for you here, he won’t be looking for a sister and brother combo.”

Chloe arched one brow at him. “So glad you approved.”

He picked up the bag containing her clothes. “Want to change in the bathroom before we go back out in the storm?”

Casting him another slant-eyed glance she reached for the bag, handing him hers to add to the cart.

He held up the shoes he bought. “Might want these first. There’s some socks in the bag, too.”

Pressing her lips together, she whirled and stalked off into the bathroom, Bobby’s voice bouncing around in her head.

“If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.”

And right now, there was nothing nice for her to say to, or about, Deputy Wes Strong.