“I was at the office.” His deep voice rumbled through him. “I…heard the sirens and saw the direction the flashing lights were headed. And then I got a news alert on my phone reporting a robbery in progress at this bank. Atyourbank.” His throat worked with another hard swallow. “I ran straight here.”
“You…ranh-here?”
“I needed to make sure you were okay.”
Wow. Okay. That was…
“Thank you.” Her lips curved into a tiny smile. “That was really sweet.”
“Nothing to thank me for.” He gave a quick shake of his blond head. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
It wasn’t quite the word she’d use to describe the roller coaster of emotions she was currently riding, but sure. They’d go with that for now.
“Listen, I—” She started to talk at the exact same time Rocky asked…
“Do you need anything?”
You.
Raegan cleared her throat with a shake of her head because now wasnotthe time for those kinds of thoughts. And the longer they remained like that—with their arms loosely wrapped around each other while standing in the middle of a bloody crime scene—the stronger the urge to be anywhere else became.
“Actually, I think…” She dropped her hands and took a wide step back. “I think I’m just going to go home, crawl in bed, and wake up tomorrow as if this whole day never happened.”
If only it were that easy.
The concern in Rocky’s stare returned. “You really shouldn’t be driving if you’re?—”
“No, I’m good now.” Raegan filled her lungs to their capacity before releasing a slow exhale. “See?” She held out a semi-steady hand as proof. “Barely a tremor.”
“I really don’t mind driving you home.”
“I know you don’t.” Her smile grew a smidge. “And I truly do appreciate the offer, but I’m okay now. Promise.”
The look in Rocky’s worried gaze said he didn’t quite believe her. Thankfully, her protective neighbor didn’t press the subject.
“Let me see your phone.”
Though she probably should have, Raegan didn’t question the request. Instead, she pulled her cell from her back pocket and laid it in his outstretched palm. He was handing it back less than thirty seconds later.
“There. Now you have my number. You need someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, someone to share a beer with…anything…you call me. Got it?”
“Got it,” she rasped, sliding her phone back into her pocket.
“I mean it, Rae.” He used a shortened version of her name. “Day or night, I don’t care. Something like this…” Rocky glanced at the scene around them. “It can hit you out of nowhere.”
You’re preaching to the choir, big guy.
Leaning up onto her tiptoes, Raegan pressed her lips to his warm, masculine cheek. “I promise I’ll call if I need anything.”
She pulled back, and for a brief moment in time, their gazes became fixed. Being this close, she could make out the different shades of blues swirling behind his worried stare, but there was something else hidden there. Something she was sure he didn’t want her to see.
Heat.
Despite where they were and what was going on around them, Rocky was staring down at her with a look of both concern…and an undeniable attraction.
He wants you, too.
Raegan’s heart kicked hard at the thought, and her lower belly tightened with unmistakable need. Before she could do something stupid like kiss him for real, she sidestepped the gentle giant, and with a final, quick glance and a slight parting grin…