“You like picking me up, don’t you?”
His smile reached out and touched something within me, making me flash one right back at him.
“Yes, I do,” he said before turning to allow me to lead the way. I liked his directness because it matched up well with my being a person who didn’t like to beat around the bush. He fell in step beside me, and I kept my mouth shut although I was itching to respond to his admission. The last thing I needed was to end up saying something I had no business or worse, jumping on the man like the horny bitch inside of me was urging me to do.
The socks on my feet snagged on the concrete walkway when I stopped short. Tywin stood in place beside me, obviously waiting for an explanation to my abrupt halt.
“My purse… it’s at the spa. So, I have no way to get into my apartment,” I told him. What now? And why had it taken me this long to come to the realization?
Tywin flashed a teasing smile before he reached into his back pocket and removed a small black case that resembled a manicure set. “I wouldn’t have brought you home if I didn’t have at least a few ways to get you in.”
“Wait. Is that a lock pick set?”
This man was full of surprises. I was able to get myself into my place without a key, but I didn’t want him to know how resourceful I was.
“Yes,” he answered with a chuckle. Like the idea of picking the lock to get my door open was something normal.
I was literally wearing the craziness of this long day and night like a cloak, allowing it to settle in with all the other crazy that was crowding my brain.
In less than a minute, Tywin turned my doorknob. He stepped to the side so that I could enter the apartment first. I disarmed the alarm and flipped the lights on, but he didn’t follow me in.
“You can come in,” I offered.
He’s a member of the syndicate, my good sense reminded me. However, my mind was in a battle, one part telling the other part to fuck off. I was in a town filled with members of the deadly organization, some I had encountered through work. It wasn’t like they wore signs around their necks, so there was no guarantee that I hadn’t already dated or slept with a member.
I hoped like hell I didn’t appear as desperate as my words must have sounded. Tywin leaned his tall, fit body against the doorframe. He was leaner compared to his cousins, but he held his own in the tall, hot, and sexy category.
His intense stare was one of the most devastating I had encountered. It was so penetrating that it spoke even when he didn’t. I was just as lost in those eyes as I was in my thoughts. Eyes set so regally they were the truest form of beauty on this man. A small crease, hinting at a smile, tilted his lips up and broke me from the trance.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll hang out in the vehicle and make sure we didn’t lead our troubles to your doorstep.”
“Okay. Will you let Khane know to tell Desiree I’m home and okay?”
He nodded and turned to walk away but stopped and turned back, lifting his cell. “It’ll be better if she hears your voice. This is my burner. You keep it until we return your purse, clothes, and car back to you tomorrow.”
He dialed Khane’s number and handed me the phone. I placed it to my ear and stepped aside, inviting him in again with a hand wave. This time, he took the invite as I fought not to smile like I’d won the man-of-the-century contest. Khane answered as soon as I closed and locked my door.
“Hello?”
“Hello. This is Patrena. May I please speak to Desiree?”
“Yes,” he said before movement sounded on his end.
“Hello.”
“Desiree,” I called out. I was worried about her being alone with Khane and it wasn’t because I believed he would hurt her.
The way those two had eyes for each other gave me a clear indication that it was only a matter of time before the flames they shared would grow into a bonfire. The Vallin men didn’t appear the types to share, and the last thing I wanted was to see my girl caught in the middle of the deadliest of love triangles.
“Patrena, are you okay?” The concern in her voice poured over the phone lines and touched me like a caring hand.
“I’m fine. Tywin is letting me use his phone to let you know I was home and okay.”
“You have the gift I gave you for your birthday a year ago?” she questioned.
“Yes, it’s already in arm’s reach. Stay safe. Love you,” I replied.
She was talking about the can of specialty mace she had given me, which was under the seat cushion of my couch I had just taken a seat on. The shit was extremely potent. It boasted of the ability to put an assailant on his ass from only a few sprays. It didn’t matter though. I had no plans to use it.