All I Need Is You (16 page)

Kay didn’t turn around until she heard the front door close quietly. Eli still stood at the counter, his shirtsleeves pushed up to reveal his thick forearms. His eyes rose to hers. “Sorry about that.”

“When did you guys break up?”

A small smile tugged at the edges of his lips. “Was it that obvious? I should have known you’d catch on. Smart girl.”

Kay ignored the sharp thrill of pleasure his words brought. She shouldn’t care so much that Eli thought she was smart. “I have some experience with being rejected.”

Eli stood up straight, his jaw tight. “I hope you’re not comparing me to the asshole you were dating last summer?”

“No. You’re nothing like Craig. I’m just saying that even when the guy is trying to let you down easy, it still hurts to want something you can’t have.”

Eli came over and planted a hand on the counter next to her, blocking her in. Kay took a deep breath and then immediately regretted it. He was so close and he smelled so
good
. Now she would have his scent on her brain for the rest of the night.
 

“Kay, about the other night—”
 

She held up a hand to stop him. “I think we’ve already said all we need to say. You’re not interested in settling down. I get it.”

He opened his mouth to protest, then seemed to think better of it. “Like I said, it’s just not possible.”

“I think we have different ideas about what that word means. You say not possible, but I say not interested. And that’s okay.”

Eli regarded her with a tense look before he finally gave a sharp nod. “I set up the playpen in the third bedroom already. My mom sent along some sheets and baby blankets in case you need those.”

“Thank you. I’ve just been putting her in warm pajamas. Then I don’t stay up all night terrified that she’ll get tangled up in a lot of bedding.”

Eli followed behind her as she carried Hope down the hall.
 

“I’m going to rock her for a while. It’ll probably take her a little longer to fall asleep since we’re in a new place.”

“Okay. Don’t forget, the motion detectors will be on tonight, so you’ll need to disable it to walk around during the night.”

“I doubt I’ll be walking around. I didn’t realize until just now how tired I am.”

“Goodnight, Kay.”
 

He stood in the hallway watching her until she closed the door.

ELI TURNED OVER for the hundredth time and punched the pillow on the empty side of the bed. This was the only one of his residences where clients weren’t allowed. What the hell had he been thinking to bring her here?

Oh right.
He hadn’t been thinking. That was it. He’d been running on pure, unbridled instinct.

It had been late by the time they’d arrived, so he hadn’t expected Kay to ask to see his room. Now he had to field her questions about everything. She’d want to know why there were no decorations anywhere. Why he didn’t have any personal items in the house.
 

Why he kept his bedroom door locked?

“Damn. I might as well get up at this rate.” He shoved the heavy comforter back and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Shadows fell across the bedspread. He’d opened the curtains before going to bed to allow the silvery light of the moon to illuminate the room.
 

A black robe hung over the end of the bed, so he stuck his arms through the sleeves and belted it at the waist. She’d said she wouldn’t be roaming the house, but he’d wear it just in case. He’d held himself in check when she’d caught him half-naked at her apartment. It wouldn’t be so easy for him to do that in his own space with an inviting king-size bed only a few feet away.

The hallway was quiet and dark, the only sound the pad of his feet as he walked. He punched in the security code and waited until the lights flashed green before he entered the living room. It was colder out here, the wood floor under his feet like a block of ice. He crossed the room quickly and entered the kitchen. Carly had brought a wide range of items, so he could always make himself a sandwich or at the very least have a glass of milk. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out several items.

When he looked up, Kay stood at the entrance to the kitchen. He took a step forward and then stopped. She wore a long T-shirt and nothing else. As his body tightened at the sight of her legs, he was suddenly immensely happy he’d worn the thick robe.

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

She shook her head and walked into the kitchen. “No. I couldn’t sleep. Then I heard you moving around. You can’t sleep either, huh?”

“No. But then again, we did narrowly miss being blown up, so it’s not that surprising that we’re both still a little wound up.”

Her sigh could be heard from across the room. “Yeah, there is that.” She pulled at the edges of her T-shirt, frowning down at it as if suddenly aware that she was talking to him while only half-dressed.

It hit him then, why she was standing there in his kitchen wearing nothing but a T-shirt. She wasn’t trying to drive his libido crazy or mess with his head. Kay wasn’t the type to play those games. She was sweet. She was honest.
 

She was also probably scared out of her mind.
 

He dropped the milk carton on the counter with a thump. “Kay, I’m going to figure out who is behind this. I’m going to figure it out, and then I’m going to nail the bastard. He won’t touch you or Hope.”

She nodded, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I know.”

“You’re safe here. You don’t have to be afraid,” Eli continued. It was one thing to know intellectually that you were going to be okay, but knowing it and feeling it wasn’t the same thing. He knew that from experience. Sometimes you just needed to hear someone say it.
 

Suddenly she sprang forward and curled against his chest. He forgot all his prior warnings and rules and resolutions to stay away from her. In that moment she needed comfort, and he’d give her everything he had if it would make things right.

“I know things are happening really fast. This is scary and everything seems out of control. But I want you to know that I won’t let anybody hurt you.”

She looked up at him, her brown eyes wide. “Can we just sit out here on the couch for a little while?”

He grinned. “Yeah. I’m not tired anyway.”

They sat on the couch and Kay curled against his side and tucked her legs underneath her. He turned on the television and they laughed along with the old
I Love Lucy
reruns playing on one of the cable channels. She fell asleep against his chest, her hand curled in a fist right over his heart.
 

When he carried her to the guest room bed, she never woke up.
 

THE NEXT DAY, to Kay’s surprise, Eli didn’t mention their late-night cuddle fest. She’d emerged from her room in the morning, sure that things would be awkward, but he’d simply said good morning and offered her some toast. It was strange that he was acting like it hadn’t happened, but she couldn’t deny that she was grateful because she still wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. One minute she’d been in her room staring at the ceiling, and then she’d suddenly needed to see him. Needed to know she wasn’t alone.
 

She certainly hadn’t meant to fall asleep on him.
 

After breakfast, Eli had shown her where everything was and took her and Hope for a walk around the neighborhood. Kay was surprised that he was allowing them out of the house, but he said it was important for her to know her surroundings. Later, Kay made a quick pot of spaghetti for lunch and then started prepping the ground beef to make meatloaf for dinner.
 

Eli had disappeared after their walk to make some calls. She’d tried to find some music to put on to give her something to listen to instead of the oppressive quiet of an unfamiliar house but couldn’t find a stereo system. There wasn’t much in the house in the way of personal items at all. No books on the coffee table, magazines in the bathroom, or shoes under the table.
 

Eventually she’d stopped her shameless snooping and just turned on the television in the family room to give her some background noise. They hadn’t brought a high chair for Hope, so she’d held the squirming baby on her lap and fed her.
 

A door opened in the hallway and Kay looked up eagerly when Eli appeared at the edge of the kitchen.
 

“Something smells good.” He sounded so bewildered by the fact that Kay smiled.
 

“Yeah, it’s meatloaf. It should be ready in a few minutes. Actually, you can take it out of the oven now.”

Eli picked up the oven mitt she’d left on the counter and pulled the pan from the oven. He set it on the stovetop carefully.
 

“I haven’t had meatloaf since I was a kid.”

Kay settled Hope back in her play area and then walked over to the stove. She stuck a knife in the top, relieved when it slid out easily.
 

“Your assistant brought several pounds of ground beef, so I figured we’d better use them.”

He helped her set the table and she filled their plates. Sitting across from each other at the table, they ate in silence until Eli finally spoke.
 

“I didn’t know meatloaf could be this good. Don’t tell my mom I said that though.”

Kay grinned, ridiculously pleased when he stood to get a second helping. “Thanks. It’s one of my favorite things to make when it’s cold outside. It’s filling and hearty. My dad always said you need to eat food that sticks to your ribs in the wintertime. Not that I need anything else on my ribs.”

Eli frowned at her. “Your ribs are perfect.”

Her smile stuttered and melted under the force of his gaze. Good grief, the man had the ability to freeze her in her seat with those eyes.
 

“I’m going to have to plan some gym time this week. I’ll definitely need it. I didn’t know you were such a good cook.” Eli sat down next to her again and shoveled in another mouthful.
 

 
Uncomfortable with the praise, Kay shrugged. “Yeah, I’m good with food.” She looked down at her stomach. “Obviously. I probably need some gym time, too.”
 

Eli put down his fork and grabbed her chair, dragging her closer. Kay squeaked at the sudden movement, then again when he put a gentle but firm finger under her chin. “Don’t do that. I don’t like it.”

“Do what? I was just joking.” She met his eyes, surprised at the barely concealed anger on his face.

“No, that’s not joking. That’s putting yourself down. My cousin Laura used to get teased a lot when we were kids. They called her awful names. One of them taped a picture of Miss Piggy over the mirror in her locker so it was the first thing she saw that morning. If she was having dinner with us, would you make that joke about her?”

Kay sank down in her chair, his gruff tone making her feel about two feet tall. She gulped and pushed the remaining scraps of food on her plate around with her fork. “Of course not.”

He leaned closer. “Then don’t say it about yourself.”

Kay looked up at him then and nodded. “It’s funny how it’s so much easier to be nice to others than it is to be nice to yourself.”

“I’ll help you remember,” he stated.

She had no doubt he meant every word. Thinking of herself negatively was second nature, but she’d have to make an effort to watch what she said around Eli.
 

He seemed to sense her discomfort because he forced a lighter tone when he said, “If I can make Walter Herman apologize to Laura, then I think I can handle you.”

“How did you do that?”

“My fist in his face a few times took care of that problem.” He held up his closed fist and shook it comically.

She giggled. “I definitely don’t want that.”

He started when she wrapped her fingers around his wrist. She rubbed the vein that stood out on the back of his hand, stroking over it a few times and trying to force it down. Now that she was so close, she could see that he had prominent veins on his arms, too.
 

Kay gulped. She wasn’t used to seeing men with this much muscle up close. He looked like those guys on the fitness magazines. She pulled the edge of her sweater down to cover her belly and thighs. Eli’s eyes narrowed at the action, then zeroed in on her neckline. She glanced down and saw that her tugging was exposing a shocking amount of cleavage.