Chapter Seven
Sean listened to the directions to her house and became more and more concerned when she started slurring her words until she finally drifted off.
He pulled into her driveway, turned off his truck, and looked around at the neat ranch. It was painted a crisp white with black shutters. She had window boxes filled to overflowing with colorful flowers. Flowers were also gathered in groups against the front and in between bushes. The house was just like her, small but beautiful.
Turning to Ava, he noticed how tiny she looked leaning against the door, sound asleep. She seemed so defenseless it felt like a wave of male aggression grew at the thought of protecting her from everything bad in the world.
The urge to turn around and drive to his home was tremendous. He wanted her where he could take care of her and be sure she was safe. He also wanted her under him so bad his teeth ached.
Sean opened her purse and pulled out her keys. He raced to unlock the front door and jogged back to her. Carefully, he opened the passenger side truck door and gently gathered her in his arms, then used his hip to shut the truck door.
He noticed the security box when he went to close the front door, and since it was similar to the one at his place, he could tell it hadn’t been engaged. Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to wake her up to get the code, but he’d have to talk to her about using the thing because he didn’t like her unprotected.
Finding her bedroom was easy because the house was small. He placed her on her queen-sized bed and gently slipped her shoes off, setting them on the floor by the nightstand. She wore another long skirt and a sleeveless top that he decided would have to stay on even though she would be more comfortable without clothes.
He would never do anything that would jeopardize a relationship with her, and he knew for a fact taking off her clothes would absolutely do that.
He pulled back the covers, tucked her under them, and then sat on the side of the bed to be close to her and just look at her as much as he wanted. She was so beautiful, and he smiled at the vision in front of him, confident he’d never get sick of looking at her.
She was out, and she hadn’t so much as stirred while he was getting her comfortable. Sean got up to check out the house to make sure it was secure and locked up. Since he didn’t have the code, he couldn’t engage the alarm, but he wouldn’t need it since he’d been there all night, and he always carried a gun.
He stood out in the hallway to make a call to the assistant he shared with a few other guys to tell her where he’d be, and that he’d be late the next day.
“Sean.”
He jerked his head up, then turned and walked back to sit down next to her. After he pushed the hair she’d left down that day out of her face, he smiled down at her. “What, baby?”
She looked confused. “Why are you in my house?”
“I brought you home from work. How’s your head?”
“Umm, better. You’re leaving?” she asked.
He smiled as her eyelids were closing again. “No. We’ve already discussed this. I’ll be here all night so you can rest, and you don’t have to worry about anything.”
Her eyes popped open, and she struggled to sit up only to have him put a hand on her stomach, keeping her down. The medicine and pain made it so she hadn’t any strength, he noticed.
She licked her dry lips. “You can’t stay, Sean. We don’t know each other. I don’t know you.”
Brushing his thumb over the softness of her cheek, he said, “I know we haven’t spent a lot of time together, but you know in here”—he put one of his hands over her heart before he continued—“you can trust me. Besides, don’t you think Nia would tell you if I was a bad man?”
It seemed like she struggled to understand what he was saying as the drug dragged her down again. “Yes, I suppose she would, but I still feel weird about you staying.”
His lips twitched and he slid his thumb over her bottom lip. “You’ll deal with it.”
He smiled when she tried to frown at him. “Ava, you don’t have a choice in this. You don’t feel well and have taken some serious meds. You also don’t want me to call Nia or take you to the hospital. I’m your only choice left. Baby, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
Her eyelids started closing again.
“I’m not your responsibility, Sean,” she murmured as she snuggled down, took a deep breath, and fell asleep in the next breath.
He made sure she had settled in to sleep again before looking for the kitchen.
Sean was starving and found enough to make himself a sandwich. After he ate, he took a quick shower.
Grimacing, he pulled his jeans back on and lay down beside her, but he knew if she woke up to find him naked, it would upset her. He tucked a pillow under his head and watched her. He wasn’t tired, and it was too early for bed. The opportunity to watch her was better than any show he would find on the TV.