“Better, thank you.”
He cupped her cheek and tilted her head up. The blue tinge around her lips was gone, and now there was a healthy rose color. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you when I ran into you?”
“I don’t think so. Nothing hurts. I was just startled.”
He chuckled. “I can imagine being hit by a tank would startle anyone.”
She laughed.
He cleared his throat. He reached over her and grabbed the seatbelt, drew it over her lap, and secured it. “Let’s get you home.”
****
Aleena gave him the address and settled back against the seat. Her body hummed with the feeling of warmth, both from the heat coming out of the car vents and Kaleb. And something else she couldn’t identify at the moment. What made it worse was that every breath she took in, she smelled his intoxicating cologne that remained on his jacket, and it made her body soften even more.
She kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes. He was a handsome man, with rugged looks and a strong profile. He really did resemble a young John Wayne. The fact that he was one of her favorite actors made Kaleb seem even more attractive.
She looked at his hands and bit her lips. He gripped the steering wheel loosely, but she could tell he knew what he was doing, so she didn’t get nervous. His hands were large and tan, and his fingers were long and broad. The veins and tendons on the back stood out, making them look even more powerful.
She pulled her gaze from him and looked out her window. She was wet and cold and just wanted to be at home where she felt safe.
Within thirty minutes, Kaleb pulled up outside an expensive-looking condo building. “You own a place here?”
“No, I just rent.” Aleena looked at the building. It was fifteen levels of shiny metal and glass, and she didn’t like it at all. Her boss had found it for her because it had tight security, and to make him and his wife feel better, she stayed for the moment.
Eventually, she’d have enough saved to buy her own condo. One that was older and had some character in it. Old woodwork and floors. Maybe little
nooks and crannies. No more steel and glass for her.
She couldn’t hide the edge of sadness in her tone but was glad when he left it alone for the moment. She could tell he wanted to ask a question but thankfully didn’t. She’d felt his stare more than once during the drive and knew he was curious about her. Maybe as curious as she was about him.
He pulled up close to the building, turned off the car, and got out. It was still sprinkling, but nothing like it had earlier. He came around, grabbed her box out of the back seat, helped her out of his vehicle, and walked with her into her building.
The doorman had opened the door by the time Kaleb got them close.
“I’ll take her up to her place.”
The doorman looked worried and looked back and forth between them. “I can get her there, sir.”
“It’s okay, Stan, he’s a friend of Gregory and Lana’s.”
The doorman relaxed and smiled. “All right. Have a nice evening, Miss Aleena.”
“You, too.”
She gritted her teeth as Kaleb followed her onto the elevator. He stood beside her on the way up and noticed her shivering again.
“We should have kept the coat on you,” he said and wrapped an arm around her waist.
She glanced up at him. “It will be fine. I’ll change when we get to my place.”
Neither talked until the door to the condo closed behind them.
Aleena reached for her box in his arms. “Thank you for seeing me home.”
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to wait until I know you’re okay.”
“But I’m fine,” she said.