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I turned back to Olivia. “I don’t mind you asking, and nothing gives. I wanted a Porsche since I was a kid. Bought it the minute I’d earned enough from my job. I inherited the truck from my grandfather when he passed away a couple of years ago. I’ve been restoring it ever since.”
This seemed to take her aback. “Oh. I’m so... I’m sorry, Justin.”
“No need to be.” In their own way, both vehicles had helped keep me sane. The Porsche because I’d earned it all on my own, a dream I got to sink into after so much had been broken. The truck because it represented something good from my past. I didn’t have the time I’d like to devote to it, which was why it wasn’t done yet, but it helped me decompress between jobs. Its worn red paint had seen better days, but that was last on my to-do list. The fully restored and upgraded 454 big block V-8 currently rumbling under the hood? Now that was in her prime, and I knew Pops would be proud.
She cleared her throat and stood, indicating my empty plate. “Would you like more?”
“I’m good. Thanks. It was amazing.”
She nodded and reached for my dish, but I waved her off. “You don’t have to wait on me.” I rose and grabbed both our plates to take them to the sink.
She followed with our glasses, shooting me strange looks. What, had no man ever helped her clean up before?
I rinsed and loaded the dishwasher while she put away what was left of the condiments. “So...” I loaded the soap and started the washer before leaning against the counter to face her.
She glanced up from wiping Elizabeth’s face and hands. Her gaze dropped from my mouth to my arms folded across my chest before moving back up to my eyes. “So?”
Unexpected heat unfurled in my chest at the thought of her checking me out, but I quickly tamped it down. “I’m almost done getting your security cameras set up in the house. I’ll mount the ones outside first thing in the morning.”
She nodded and Elizabeth began to slap her hands on the tray with glee, obviously used to me now.
We both glanced her way.
“It’s bath time,” Olivia said.
Immediately, my mind filled with images of her in a bathtub, her hair slicked back, her eyes feral as they locked on me. I bit back a growl at my inability to contain my own wayward thoughts. “Right.” My voice came out low and rough. “We can talk later.”
“Talk?”
“Yes. About my security plans for you outside of this house.”
Her eyes got big as if I’d just proposed a trip to Mars.
“Your brother is paying me a lot of money to keep you safe,” I reminded her. “I intend to do just that, and you’re not exactly a hermit.”
“No. You’re right.”
I nodded. Of course I was right.
She turned to get Elizabeth from the high chair, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Ready for a bath, sweetie?”
Two little legs began to swing wildly. “Bath!” the little girl began to chant with a grin.
Olivia moved past me, her scent mixing with the remnants of our dinner. She was almost to the doorway, and I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to see how she would react. If she would react.
“I also need you to look over my suspect list. See if anyone jumps out so I can question them before having Kade run background checks.”
I gotta hand it to her. She only faltered for a split second. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I might’ve missed it. But it was there, a nervous little misstep, as if she wanted to either drop to her knees or bolt for the door. She did neither. She kept her spine steel straight, her shoulders back, and with a nearly imperceptible nod, kept walking toward the bathroom and out of sight.
Eleven
Olivia
I mulled over Justin’s words the entire time I bathed Lizzy and washed her thick curls. Then as I helped her brush her teeth and slide into her nightie and put her to bed with Goodnight Moon for the millionth time.
All the while, I could feel his presence in the house. He was silent, but his masculine energy filled the air like a pulsing, virile beast. By the time I kissed Elizabeth good night and shut her door, I was vibrating with nerves.
Yes, he was hotter than sin with glacier-cool eyes that threatened to melt me... but it was more than that. The ease we’d found over dinner with friendly talk and slow smiles died the moment he’d reminded me why he was there, which I’d been naïve to forget.