Page 44

He stepped past her to unlock the door, then edged into the foyer, trying to ignore the subtle musk of her skin, the laundry soap she used. His mouth watered anyway.
Control yourself, asshole. She asked if it was safe, not whether you’d fuck her silly.
“Do you think anyone else…” she began.
“No. But I’ll look around to be certain.”
Charles had sent his “best guys” to the house earlier to ensure that all was secure before Ronan’s arrival. They’d also shot up firewalls at the security company and had a team of white-hat hackers trying to figure out how the guy had gotten into the system. He should probably call Charles for an update.
“You’re really just a detective?” she said, following him up the shiny marble hall and into the sunken living room.
The home had a wide-open floor plan, which meant far fewer places to hide. No one lurked behind the end tables or beneath his waterfall dining table, and unless someone had climbed inside the oak cabinetry, the kitchen was clear. Just the marble island, plush area rugs, and modern art on the walls, pieces his brother didn’t have space for. Charles said it was good to keep things like that in the family. Art and secrets—basically the same thing, right?
He could feel her eyes on him—watching, waiting for a response. “Yup. Just a lowly detective.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You sound like my brother.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s not what I meant, I?—”
He turned left, heading for the hall. “Don’t worry, I know. And yes, I have family money. I don’t like to talk about it… or about them. I think you know what that’s like, even if our reasons are different. There’s a spare bedroom here.”
The change of topic was abrupt, but hopefully, it’d serve to cut the family conversation short. He stepped through the first door on the right, peeking into the attached bathroom, the closet, beneath the bed.
“You’re welcome to stay here if you’d like. The bathroom should be fully stocked with shampoo and toothpaste and whatnot.”
Jenny peered through the doorway into the bedroom, then met his gaze. “Can I see your room?”
He blinked—baseball, basketball, bodies. “You can see anything you want.”
Emphasis on the anything. He gestured up the hall, trying to ignore the pulse between his legs—how his pants were too tight.
The double doors to the master suite were at the end of the hallway. He could see the sitting area near the floor-to-ceiling windows from here and the sliding glass door—all bulletproof. The bed was on the left, along with the bathroom and a master closet that only held a few spare changes of clothes. Enough for when he needed a change of scenery but didn’t have time to vacation. No rest for the weary.
And cops were always weary.
He led her through the double doors. “Or… you can sleep here if you want. With or without me.” Please say “with me.”
He pushed that thought aside and headed for the open door that faced the bed. No one was hiding in the bathtub. No one lurked in the sauna. When he turned back to the bedroom, she was standing in the doorway, peering around at the white marble.
Ronan slipped past her into the bedroom once more, trying to ignore the way her jeans hugged her curves, the way her hair brushed his arm. The open, trusting way she was looking at him. How she turned to follow him with her eyes.
“All clear,” he said. “The shower’s obviously through here, if you want to?—”
“Wash the debauchery off of me?” A wan smile crossed her face.
“Not exactly what I meant, but I can’t imagine that pole is especially sanitary. Not that people going into that club are worried about sanitary.”
She stepped toward him, her hazel eyes locked on his face. “What were you worried about all the times you came in there?”
“You.” No hesitation.
“Not just me though…” She cocked her head. “Do you know where Shonda is?”
Well, shit. But he nodded. He wouldn’t give Jenny an address—wouldn’t tell anyone for Shonda’s safety—but he didn’t think Jenny would push.
She swallowed hard and averted her gaze. “Are you… I mean, are you with her? The way you were with me?”
He blinked. “What? No.” When she looked back up, he went on, “I’m a one-woman guy. I don’t mess around. I’m alone more often than not. As for Shonda, I helped her find a way out of a dangerous situation. That’s all. I’ve never touched a single person in that or any other club outside of you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Any… other club?”