Page 79 of Rastor

And if I told her about the hospital thing now, how would I explain not telling her sooner? Originally, my plan involved an engagement ring – the same one that was still tucked away in my safe downstairs. I still wanted her to wear it, but I wasn't dumb enough to believe she'd say yesnow. Not yet, anyway.

Funny what happens when you handcuff a girl in your basement.

At the memory of what I'd done, I frowned into the darkness. It would take more than a night of fun and sex before she saw me as a guy she could trust, a guy she could count on, a guy who'd die before hurting her again, ever.

As if hearing my thoughts, she shifted in my arms, and her eyelids fluttered open. She gave me a sleepy smile and mumbled, "You're still awake?"

"Nah," I said.

She snuggled deeper into my arms. "Liar," she whispered before drifting back to sleep.

Iwasa liar. Because even now, I didn't want to tell her a damn thing that would make her doubt me. No, I decided. I'd wait until I returned from Vegas. Then, there'd be plenty of time, and I'd make it count.

Besides, I reminded myself, I wasn't the only one with a story to tell. Chloe was still acting funny about her house. Yeah, I knew it wasn't hers. She'd told me that much. But I still didn't get why it was so completely off-limits.

When I'd picked her up tonight, she'd met me on the walkway rather than letting me anywhere near her front door. Was she just eager to see me? Or hiding something inside?

Damn it. I was doing it again.

Just stop.

But for some reason, I thought of the douchebag. Property manager or not, I didn't like him hanging around. When I got back, I'd be looking into that, too.

Again, Chloe stirred in my arms. "What's wrong?" she asked in that same sleepy voice.

"Nothing."

She lifted her head and squinted through the darkness. "You sure? I thought you called someone a douchebag."

Had I? Shit. I loosened my fingers and kissed her hair. "Nah. Go back to sleep."

She laid her cheek against my chest and mumbled, "You too."

I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Not a chance. Soon, I'd have to get out of bed, and there was no way in hell I'd be wasting it with sleep. So I pulled her close and reminded myself that she was mine, and whatever else was going on, we'd work it out.

An hour later, I slipped out of bed, leaving Chloe tucked under the covers. I padded to the master bath, where I took a quick shower and got dressed. When I was done, it was still dark, and Chloe was still sleeping, now curled up on her side with a bare breast peeking out from under the covers.

One look was enough to make me want to take off my clothes and crawl back into bed. I wanted her. I always wanted her. But damn it, I was already running late, and when it came to Chloe, a quickie wasn't gonna cut it.

I knelt by the bed. "Baby?"

"Hmmmm…."

"I've gotta head out. Stay, alright?" I smiled. "Keep the bed warm for me."

Slowly, she sat up and squinted through the darkness. "But you're gonna be gone a few days."

"I know." I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Tell me you'll be here when I get back."

She looked around. "What about Chucky?"

Probably, he was in his favorite basket downstairs. We'd picked him up from Chloe's place a few hours earlier. Well, Chloe had picked him up. I'd just waited in the car, because she didn't want me going inside her house. Again, I wondered, why was that?

I tried not to think about it. "Him too," I said.

With a sleepy sigh, she pushed aside the covers. "I'd better not."

"Why not?" I asked.