The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(36)

She was staying with him so he could help protect her from a stalker, after all. The last thing she needed was casual sex and a broken heart.

He groaned, slipped off his sweats and headed back to the shower. How many more cold showers would it take before he washed away his need?





CHAPTER ELEVEN




KATE WANDERED INTO THE KITCHEN around nine the next morning. She saw Michael perched on a barstool with his cell phone pressed to his ear.

“See you in a bit.” Michael placed his phone on the kitchen counter. “Hi.”

Why do you have to be so sexy? She moved her tongue over her front teeth, wetting them. She studied his messy bedhead hair and the dark stubble that gave him a rugged, dangerous look. She hoped they could put their close encounter with sex behind them and move on and act normal. But was that possible? She still couldn’t believe she’d broken her rules last night.

“I, um, planned on taking a run this morning, but I figured I wouldn’t be able to get back in the building afterward. Is there a key or code I could have?”

Michael guffawed. “You have got to be kidding.” He rose to his feet.

She took a nervous step back as he approached her. “What?”

“You can’t go out alone.”

“I didn’t come here to be a prisoner.” She folded her arms. She was still feeling the bitter taste of rejection. Part of her was angry at him for turning her down, but she was mostly relieved.

“My friend in the FBI will be here tomorrow morning, and I have someone who will be your bodyguard starting tomorrow, as well.”

“That’s fast.” Her shoulders sank a bit, and she decided not to argue with him about going for a solo run. He was stubborn and headstrong, and also trying to protect her. He was right not to let her go. She sighed. Why was he helping her, anyway?

“We’ll get this straightened out and soon.”

Kate walked over to his espresso machine. “Is this for coffee?” Puzzled, she turned toward Michael, her eyes pleading.

“What would you like?”

“Just coffee.”

He opened the cupboard and pulled out a white mug. He pressed a few buttons on the machine, and warm black liquid began pouring into her cup.

“Thanks.”

He nodded and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “You shouldn’t dress like that when you’re around me,” he said in a throaty voice.

She dropped her unopened sugar packet on the counter and whipped around to look at him. “Like what?” She looked down at her clothes, confused. She was wearing pink stretch pants and a white tank top. What was the big deal? “I’m in workout clothes.”

“Well, you look hot.”

More mind games? What the hell?

He cleared his throat. “If you want to run, you can use my gym.” He broke his gaze and motioned for her to follow. “I rarely use it. I belong to a gym near the office, but it should have what you need.”

She grabbed her coffee and followed Michael out of the kitchen and down a different hall, the one that led to his bedroom.

“I converted a guest bedroom into a workout room a few months ago, in case I ever felt like working out at home. Although I haven’t used it much.” He pushed the door open, and she was pleased by the amount of equipment the room had to offer. There was a treadmill, elliptical, bike, rower, large punching bag, and a speed bag, as well as a full set of free weights. Two large and long windows allowed in plenty of natural light, which brightened up the room.

“This should work.” She took a sip of her coffee and realized she’d forgotten to sweeten it.

“Make sure you eat before you exercise.”

She nodded.

“I have some work to do in my office. I’ll be in the room next door if you need anything,” he remarked as he walked back out into the hall.

“Um, Michael. Thanks. Thanks for helping me with my problem.” She gulped. “I don’t think I said that, did I?”

“Well, now you have,” he said. “It’s no problem, but, uh seriously, if you have some less sexy workout clothes . . . and more modest pajamas, for that matter . . .”

A smile snuck up on her. “I’ll see what I can find.”

Michael left, and she went back to the kitchen to grab a piece of toast and sugar for her coffee. While dumping the sugar into her mug, she remembered that her father was expecting her home tomorrow. She had texted him before the ball that she would be returning home and had no plans on coming back to Charlotte. What would she tell him now? She couldn’t tell him about her stalker. He would demand that she return home, and if she said no, he would fly down and drag her back to New York.

Then again, wouldn’t she be safer in New York? Or was Michael right?

“Kate?”

Michael came up behind her in the kitchen and she turned to face him. “I have to leave. I have to take an emergency call with the DoD.”

“Department of Defense?”

He nodded. “I can’t do it here, or else I would. I may be gone all day. I need you to promise me that you will not leave the house, under any circumstances.”

“Yes. I’ll stay here,” she mumbled and brought her coffee to her lips.

“I have security cameras inside the place. I don’t want to have to turn them on.”