A shiver slid through me.

“Wow,” I whispered.

“So you can stop worrying,” he finished.

I nodded.

He watched me for a beat and then his hands went from my head, to my shoulders and then around my back.

“One more thing, Roxanne.”

I nodded again, stil speechless, stil processing and, even though I nodded, I was not entirely sure I could take

“one more thing”.

“I meant what I said last night, about you and me. I know you’re scared –”

“I’m not scared,” I lied, automatical y and in self-defense.

His arms tightened. “Quiet,” he ordered.

I shut up.

“You think we’re going too fast.”

“That, I’l agree with,” I broke in again.

He shook his head and smiled. “What you need to get is that it’s done. The minute I slid inside you last night, it was done.”

That got a bel y quiver.

“You said that last night,” I reminded him.

“I have to know you get it.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause whatever it is you’re gonna tel me in a couple of hours is gonna make me involved.”

“I’m not sure it means that.”

“I am.”

“Whisky –”

“I’m already involved.”

“I don’t think so.”

He frowned. “You don’t get it.”

“You have to let me sort it out myself.”

“Been there, done that… I was a bystander the other times and it sure as f**k isn’t gonna happen with you and me.”

He was talking about Indy and Jet and al their problems.

“You’re being very nice but I have to take care of this my way.”

“I’m not being nice, I’m protecting what’s mine.” My body jerked in shock at his words, I blinked and my back straightened. “I’m not yours,” I said.

“You’re welcome to think that but it doesn’t change the fact that you are.”

This was familiar, too familiar, annoyingly familiar.

Men!

“I’m not yours!” I said and my voice was so much louder, Shamus gave a woof.

“I get it, Roxie, you’re tryin’ to be independent and strong

–”

Oh no, now he was patronizing me. I wasn’t a big fan of being patronized. “Don’t you dare patronize me, Hank Nightingale. I am independent,” I said, not claiming to be strong. I knew I wasn’t that. “And I’m sick to death of men who think they can…”

I stopped. I didn’t want to go too far, too soon.

“What?” Hank asked. When I didn’t answer he pushed.

“Men who think they can what?”

I scowled at him and burst out in a flurry of (loud) words,

“Possess me! Trap me! Make me be where I don’t want to be or go where I don’t want to go or feel what I don’t want to feel!”

After I was done talking, he twisted, my back hit the bed and before I knew it, he was on top of me, staring down at me, his eyes intense.

“Belonging to me doesn’t mean I’l make you do anything, it just means I consider you mine for as long as this lasts. It means I protect you, it means I take care of you.

For another man, it might mean something different.” His eyes changed, they went funny, the intensity strengthening to something that was mesmerizing.

Then he said, “Don’t confuse me with another man.” His words dealt my defenses a destructive blow.

Doggedly, I carried on, trying to be philosophical, trying to hold up the ragged remains of what was left of the shield I had around me, protecting me from Hank.

“They say, if you care about something, you have to set it free and if it comes back to you, it was meant to be.”

“They’re ful of shit.”

Obviously, I failed spectacularly at being philosophical.

I gave up on that and went for annoyed. “Hank!” I snapped.

He smiled, effectively breaking the moment, and gave me a light kiss.

“We’l talk about it over breakfast. I’l promise to listen to you and you have to promise to listen to me. We’l figure it out.”

If I could have put my hands on my hips, I would have.

“You’re as stubborn as Uncle Tex.”

The smile deepened.

“That means you’re in trouble,” he said.

“I already know that,” I grumbled.

He rol ed completely on top of me, his body pressing into mine, taking my breath away.

“The minute I saw you walk into Fortnum’s, I knew I’d do whatever it took to get you right where you are now. And I’m gonna do whatever it takes to keep you here for as long as both of us get something good out of it.”

I bit my lip. What could I say? He was getting to me.

No, if I was honest, he’d already gotten to me.

I couldn’t let him know it.

“And you think I’m crazy?” I asked.

“Yeah, I do, if you keep pretendin’ you don’t want to be here, you’re definitely crazy and you’re lyin’ to yourself,” He kissed my nose and grinned at me. “Don’t worry, I’m patient.”

Shit.

He got up, twisted me around until I was right in the bed and bent low to kiss my temple.

Then, without waiting for me to come up with an answer (which I was finding difficult) he was gone.

* * * * *

I heard him leave and didn’t sleep. How could I? My mind was a flurry, I was dizzy and Hank wasn’t even in the house. I mental y tugged at my protective shield but I knew it was useless.

Oh wel , whatever. So, I had to factor Hank into my plan.

It wouldn’t be hard, considering I had the feeling that Hank was probably just going to take over the plan and do it his way.

There were worse things, right?

Anyhoo.

I heard a knock on the door while I was burrowing into Hank’s pil ow and I smiled.

He’d come home, way early.

Poor Shamus. Maybe I’d take him out to play Frisbee later. I didn’t know if Shamus actual y played Frisbee but he seemed to be a super-smart dog, he’d learn.

I thought that Hank probably didn’t take his keys because he knew I’d be here.

I got up, found my panties and tugged them on and grabbed his turtleneck off the floor and pul ed that on too.