They were only blocks away from his place, but Alex pulled over abruptly anyway. “What?”

Valerie turned back to him. Alarm and intensity clearly filled his eyes.

Determined to not let him intimidate her, she lifted her chin a bit. “I’m getting a gun.”

“Do you even know how to use one?”

Valerie shrugged. “What’s there to know? Point and shoot, right?”

She didn’t think the intensity in his eyes could get anymore piercing, but it did.

“Are you crazy? A gun in the hands of someone completely inexperienced is more dangerous than a gun in the hands of some psycho.”

Valerie wasn’t sure what irritated her more. The tone he was taking, or his complete lack of faith in her. “I can learn, Alex. Isabel said Romero is taking her to a shooting range soon. I’ll ask to tag along.”

Alex shook his head. “You don’t know the first thing about guns, babe. Do you even have a permit to carry one?”

Valerie bit her lip. He had her there. “No, but I can get one.”

He pulled back onto the road and continued to shake his head. To her surprise, she heard him chuckle. “Point and shoot, geez.”

Valerie resented him thinking she was so helpless. “Well, it’s not like I’m looking to become some gun slinging badass. All I need to know is the basics.”

“Yeah and how to make sure it doesn’t go off in your purse, or that you don’t accidentally shoot someone or yourself when you’re just pointing.” He glanced at her then back to the road. “But you will need some kind of protection. I’ll take care of it.”

Valerie glared at him as they pulled into his driveway. For the first time since she’d been staying with Alex she actually wished she could be back in her own apartment. At least for the night, she was in no mood for anymore of his alpha male tirades.

She got out of the truck and closed the door a little harder than she had intended. “I’m going back to my place tonight.”

Alex came around the truck. “What? Why?”

“Because I want to. I just need to get my briefcase.”

He caught up to her just as she made it to his porch and tugged at her hand.

“Hey, what do you mean you want to?”

She tried to look away then to her surprise felt the hot tears overwhelm her eyes. Alex searched her eyes. The stern expression now softened. “What’s wrong?”

Valerie stared at him for a moment then leaned against his chest. He hugged her, rubbing her back, and kissed her head. He lifted her chin and wiped her tears with his fingers. “Talk to me, baby. What is it?”

“I didn’t want you involved in this, Alex. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me. I already feel terrible about your tire.”

She’d felt the anxiety building from the moment Bruce had brought up Alex on the phone earlier. She hated Alex being involved in this at all. When she realized his tire had been slashed, her stomach had nearly bottomed out. Then listening to him talk about wanting to be there when she showed property and knowing this was already going to begin affecting his time at the restaurant really did it.

His comments about her not being able to handle a gun had only sharpened her already ragged emotions.

Alex hugged her tight. “Silly girl. Nothing’s going to happen to me. And don’t worry about the tire. I planned on getting new ones anyway.”

Valerie looked up again. Alex started to open the door. “But you said it yourself,” she sniffed. “He’s dangerous. Now he’s included you in this madness.”

“But that’s good, Val.” They walked into the house. Alex took her by the hand to the sofa. “He’s stupid. The more he does the deeper he digs himself. Once we get the restraining order, he’ll be hanging himself the second he decides to do anything else.”

He sat down pulled Valerie onto his lap. Valerie couldn’t help feeling safe in his arms. But she didn’t want him feeling obligated to look after her every minute of the day, especially if it meant putting himself in harms way. She had no doubt he wouldn’t think twice about doing that, and that scared her the most.

Alex could more than hold his own in a fair fight. She wasn’t worried about that. But Bruce didn’t fight fair. She wouldn’t allow it. Couldn’t. “Alex, I was serious when I said you’re not going to be babysitting me. I don’t want you tying up all your time trying to watch me. I’ll be fine.”

She watched his expression grow hard again. It took some effort, but she could see he took a moment before responding. “We’ll talk more about that tomorrow. Right now what I want to know is, what’s this nonsense about going back to your…Isabel’s apartment.”

Valerie lifted a shoulder then leaned her forehead against his. “I knew I was getting upset, and I didn’t want you to see me break.”

Alex smiled, deepening his dimples further. She still couldn’t completely wrap her brain around the idea that this amazing man was actually in love with her.

“Do me a favor,” he said.

She pulled her face back to look at him.

“Don’t do that again.”

Valerie tilted her head, not fully understanding.

He pulled a strand of her hair behind her ear, his expression suddenly going serious again. “Don’t think just because you’re upset, no matter what the reason is, that the answer is to bail. That’s not how I want things to be with us.”