Alpha Pack 4 - Hunters Heart (39 page)

look. “I’m so glad you approve.”

He ignored her sarcasm. “But when was the last time

you actually
talked
to any of them?”

“What the hell do you mean? I just told you I talk all

day!”

“When’s the last time you asked one of them anything

personal?”

“Personal?” She was at a complete loss. “Like what?”

“Jesus.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, then

dropped his hand and regarded her in part amusement, part

exasperation. “You know Brandon the waiter?”

“Brandon Gates. Of course I do.”

“Right. But did you know his pet iguana died

yesterday?”

Obviously one of them had been dropped on their head.

And it wasn’t
her
.

“So? As long as Ethan didn’t serve it in the soup, what

does that have to do with me?”

The bastard actually laughed. An honest-to-God laugh

that made his eyes crinkle and her toes curl. Made her

insides warm in the most pleasant way.

“Christ, you’re so uptight, you squeak when you walk.”

“What?” She gaped at him. “Listen, Mr. James—”

“I saved your life, as you pointed out,” he murmured,

moving closer. Reaching out, he gently touched her face

with the rough pads of his fingers. “I believe we’ve

moved on to first names, Anna.”

Her breath caught in her chest, her nerves dancing at his

touch. The hunger in his eyes, his nearness torched all of

her arguments to dust. At five-eight she wasn’t a short

woman, but the top of her head barely reached his chin.

That was a secret thrill of hers—a big, tall man

surrounding her. Pressing her down, covering her lips with

his.

He was so close, their mouths almost met. Then he

stepped back, and it took her a moment to adjust. To

realize he wasn’t going to kiss her after all. Flushing, she

attempted to cover her embarrassment by fishing in her

purse for the keys to her apartment. Finding them, she gave

him a smile she didn’t feel.

“Well, Gray, I should get home.”

She turned and started down the hallway and he kept

pace beside her, apparently not ready to relinquish his

role as her protector. Suddenly her ordered world had

been unbalanced, not just by the attack but by Gray’s

nearness, and she wondered if that’s what he intended.

At her door, she unlocked it and faced him. “Thank you

for saving me. I can’t imagine what might’ve happened if

you hadn’t been walking home right behind me.”

The idea made her feel sick again.

“I’m glad I was there.” A shadow passed over his face

and was gone. “Let me come in? You’ve had a shock and I

want to see you settled before I leave.”

Settled. That would be the very last thing she would

feel if she allowed him inside; of that, there was no doubt.

Some force that obliterated reason and good sense had her

opening the door anyway, stepping aside to welcome him

to her home.

“Nice place,” he commented.

“I imagine it’s the same as yours.”

“Just the floor plan.” Looking around, he appeared

impressed. “I definitely don’t have your sense of style.”

“I can’t claim much credit, except for the colors. I

picked those and then hired a decorator.”

“I like the browns with the deep red accents. It fits

you.”

Curious, she studied him as she set her purse on the bar.

“How so?”

“The browns are subtle, understated, and strong. Alone,

they might be boring to the eye, and then bam! The red is

exciting. Just like those flashes of your true personality

when you let them out, as you did in the hallway a few

minutes ago.”

“Seriously?” A laugh escaped before she could help it.

“You are so full of shit.”

“And like now,” he said, looking smug. “
Miss Claire

would never have said that, but
Anna
sure did. I obviously

know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or frightened by

the armchair psychoanalysis.”

“Flattered. What else?” Gesturing toward the couch, he

ordered, “Sit down. What do you want to drink? Wine?

Something stronger?”

Bemused, she did as he said—for the moment. “Isn’t

that my line? This
is
my apartment.”

“You can offer one to me some other time.” He

disappeared into the kitchen and began to rummage around

as his voice drifted to her. “You know, sometime when

you haven’t been attacked by a mugger.”

The image caused her to shiver, and she unwillingly

began to relive the encounter. “I’ll just have some water.

Get whatever you want for yourself.”

In moments he was back, the sofa dipping as he sat

beside her and twisted the tops off two bottles, handing

her one. “I don’t often drink this late at night. Gives me

insomnia.”

“Hmm.” There was something odd about that man in the

alley.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked in concern.

“He talked too much.”

“What?”

“The mugger.” Anna lifted her gaze to see Gray studying

her, brows furrowed. “He was all talk. He never did much

except push me around and scare me. Isn’t that weird?”

Gray leaned forward. “What else?”

“He smelled nice, like he had on his best cologne.

And . . .”

“And?”

She gasped. “The man wasn’t armed! He didn’t have

anything in his hands.”

“Are you sure? Could be that it happened so fast, you

missed a small knife or something in his grasp.”

“No, I’m positive. The mugger wasn’t armed, he spoke

articulately, and he smelled nice. Something is off about

the whole thing.”

“That is strange,” he said thoughtfully. “You should be

more careful from now on. In fact, I’ll be walking you

home for a while. Just in case.”

In case the man returned. Fear overrode the inner

whispering that it was smart to keep a distance from this

sexy man, no matter how much she wanted him. “All

right.”

Their eyes met and a strange flutter of butterfly wings

took off in her stomach. Gray was looking at her as though

she was the answer to every question he had, and it was

wonderful. Confusing. Arousing.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said with reverence, touching

her face with the pads of his fingers.

“I don’t remember the last time anyone told me that.”

“You deserve to hear that every single day, because it’s

true.”

“Thank you.” Drawn to him, she reached up and traced

his lips with one finger. “You’re a very handsome man

yourself.”

“I wasn’t fishing.”

“I didn’t think you were.” She paused. “Why me?”

His face registered surprise. “Why am I interested in

you?”

“Yes.”

“Besides your beauty, you’re smart, successful. Kind. I

think you need to unwind a lot, and I want to help you do

that.”

God, he smelled good. Woodsy and manly, and it made

her body ache to be touched. Completed. “Then help me,

Gray.”

For a few moments he didn’t speak. His hand covered

hers and he waited, giving her time to voice an objection.

When it didn’t come, he leaned over and closed the

distance between them. Brought their lips together, parted

hers with his tongue.

His kiss was liquid fire. Slowly, he licked her mouth,

his sensual exploration sparking an electrical storm

throughout her body. All thoughts of why it was a bad idea

to see an employee blew to dust. Pushing into him, she

sought more. Needed more from this man. It had been far

too long since she’d come alive this way.

All too soon, the kiss was over and Gray moved back.

Confused, she tried to pull herself together.

“Will you be okay tonight?”

Only if you stay.
But of course she wouldn’t say the

words.

“Yes, I’ll be fine.” She forced a smile. “Go on, get

some rest. You’re on the late shift again tomorrow.”

Rising, he looked down at her. He didn’t seem eager to

go—more like resigned that it was for the best. And it

was.

“Give me your cell phone.”

“Why?”

“So I can program my number in for you.”

“Oh. Okay.” Fishing around in her purse, she found the

device and handed it over.

He punched a long series of buttons; then he handed it

back. “Here you go. Call me if you need anything at all,

Anna.”

Her name on his lips, the intensity of his gaze made her

feel like a wounded antelope in the sights of a lion. The

thing was, she didn’t want to escape.

“I will.”

With that promise extracted, he gave her a wicked half

smile and walked out the door, shutting it softly behind

him. Following him, she looked up and then stood gazing

at the colors in her living room, trying to see them—and

herself—through his eyes.

Brown for steadiness and strength, red for excitement.

Being alive.

Somehow, it seemed he’d taken all of the red with him

when he left.

• • •

Grayson closed the door behind him and stood in the

middle of his sparsely furnished apartment, frustration and

guilt riding him hard.

As he’d started getting to know Anna Claire over the

past few weeks, he’d slowly come to realize she was

nothing like he’d first assumed. He’d thought she was too

straitlaced and wondered why she hadn’t snapped like a

brittle twig. Maybe a little stuck-up, too. But she wasn’t.

She was driven, determined, smart, and sexy. Kind to

her employees and patrons, yet aloof to the former,

perhaps because she was their boss. The woman was

complicated, and yet he felt he was coming to understand

what made her tick. She needed to have some fun, enjoy

life a little.

He intended to help her along in that area.

A knock at the door interrupted his musings. “You took

a hell of a risk,” he growled as he opened the door. “Don’t

you ever use your brain?”

Simon King strolled inside and faced him, wearing a

grin. “I changed clothes, and nobody saw me come here.

It’s not like she got a good look at me anyhow.”

Gray rolled his eyes. “She knows something is off, you

idiot. Once she calmed down and had time to pull herself

together, she said you were too articulate and you smelled

good. And it didn’t escape her notice that you weren’t

armed.”

The cocky grin slid off his face. Good.

“Shit. I didn’t expect her to be so aware of those kinds

of details. Most women wouldn’t be when they’re so

scared.”

“Anna’s not most women, Simon.” Gray sighed.

“Yeah? Well, at least we accomplished our goal,” his

partner pointed out. “You got invited into the lioness’s

den. The question is, did you get a free pass to go back?”

“Most likely. She’s a tough one, but I think this was the

edge I needed.”

Simon considered that. Thankfully, he didn’t mention

just how far Gray might still have to go to capture their

prey. “Did you get the trace put on her cell phone?” he

asked instead.

“Yeah. I’ll get the rest in place next time I go over

there.”

“Which will be when?”

“Hopefully tomorrow.”

“It would be quicker if you just broke in and did the

job.”

“And more risky, too, in a building like this with all the

apartment doors facing the hallway and no access from the

outside. No, being invited in is a much better scenario.”

“All right. It’s your call.” Simon paused. “Who do you

like for this, partner? Honestly?”

Gray rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s the million-

dollar question.”

And that’s why he and his partner were on this case,

and why Gray had infiltrated the staff of Floor Fifty-Five.

Several of Anna’s employees were running drugs, using

the restaurant as a cover and base of operations. His job

was to learn the names of everyone involved, how and

where they were hiding the drugs—and whether Anna was

in on the scheme.

Lowering himself into an easy chair, he answered, “I’m

the low man there, so working my way into confidences is

proving harder than I expected.”

“Whoever’s behind this is mob-connected, my friend.

They’re going to be suspicious of anyone new and it will

take too long to earn their trust, so forget making buddies.

Just find the evidence and get out.”

“I have to tell you, my gut says Anna’s not involved.”

“You sure that’s not your dick doing the talking?”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Gray laughed.

“Not at all.”

“That’s what I figured.” His partner shook his head.

“Be careful, okay?”

“I wouldn’t be anything less.”

But after Simon left, he couldn’t help but think
careful

wasn’t going to be a word that applied at all where Anna

was concerned.