It allowed her to study his features as he spoke, something she rarely got to do in conversations. She didn’t doubt for a minute he was doing it for her, and it was a heady feeling to be in the presence of someone who was so respectful and mindful of her needs. “I don’t know about that,” she shrugged. “I just do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done.”
He nodded, keeping the small circles going around her knuckles in a soothing, rhythmic pattern. “Not many can say that and follow through. Despite being hurt, banged up, and nearly drowned, you kept a level head and got yourself out of an incredibly dangerous situation. I don’t know many people who could’ve done that, and managed to tie up the guy chasing you to boot. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were an undercover law enforcement officer for some secret government agency.”
Reese laughed. “Nope, just little old me. Nothing special.”
Garrett lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckle. “You.” Another kiss to a second knuckle. “Are.” Third kiss to the third knuckle. “Special.”
Reese’s chest tightened at the sweetness of the man in front of her. She smiled and quipped, “Maybe to you.”
“No maybe about it, Reese Graham.” He lifted his head then, but just enough that his gaze locked on her lips. “And we’re definitely going to talk about that kiss, but not tonight. Right now, I’m going to give you the abbreviated version of the grand tour so you can get cleaned up and some much-needed food and rest. Sound good?”
At his words, she suddenly remembered how tired she was. The spell this man could put her under with just a simple touchand a few sweet words was beyond anything she’d ever known. “Yes.”
With the corners of his mouth barely lifting, he said, “great room.”
Reese didn’t want to take her eyes off the gorgeous man standing in front of her, but she quickly took in the large space with an open, eat-in kitchen and a massive living room area with a stone fireplace and cathedral ceilings with wood beams running across, giving the space a cozy, yet elegant feeling. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
“Let me show you the bedrooms,” he said, gently taking her by the hand. One of the reasons it had taken so long to give her statement was because Garrett had asked a paramedic friend of his to look her over and tend to some of her worst cuts, including the ones on her hands, which the paramedic treated with a special ointment and wrapped them so they’d be protected and heal faster.
Reese followed Garrett down a hallway until he stopped and turned on the light in a room with a double bed, two nightstands on either side, and a dresser. It was simple and clean, and Reese liked it a lot.
“Guest room,” Garrett said. “It has an ensuite full bathroom and a walk-in closet.” Standing in the hallway, he pointed to another door across the hall. “That’s my work out room. I have a treadmill, some free weights, and a few other things. You’re welcome to use it any time after you’re healed.”
Reese gave an absent nod, trying not to imagine Garrett in here, working out with his shirt off with all those sexy muscles on display.
“This last door is my room,” Garrett said.
Reese let out a sigh. This man hadn’t even touched her yet and she was already thinking about Garrett naked under the covers. This had been way too long of a day for her to be thisturned on by the idea of him spending time in two rooms of his house, but it had been so long since she’d thought of a man in that way, and Garrett was safe. Even if they never kissed again, the idea of being with Garrett, of him using those incredible muscles on her felt tantalizing, and not the least bit scary.
“Why don’t you get cleaned up while I go get some of your things. There’s antibiotic ointment and a box of gloves in the cabinet under the sink. Put them on to protect your hands from getting wet.”
Sexy and sweet. Had she ever met a more caring man in her life? “I can get it myself,” Reese offered, not wanting to be an added burden.
Garrett gave her a crooked smile that melted her insides a little. “I don’t mind.”
The backs of her eyes burned with unshed tears as she fought for control. She wasn’t usually someone who cried easily, but today had been a rollercoaster, and Garrett was like the perfect balm to all her fears and worries. “Thank you,” she said past the lump in her throat.
“You don’t have to thank me for taking care of you, Reese. It’s always my pleasure.”
Reese didn’t know what to say to that. Then just as Garrett turned to walk away, she added, “Garrett?”
He stopped and turned to face her, but kept his gaze low so she didn’t have to jerk away to avoid making eye contact with him. My God, this man was something else. “I know you don’t want or need my thanks, but I really can’t thank you enough for finding me and bringing me here, into your home, I mean. I’m only alive and safe because you found me.”
Garrett smiled and shook his head. “No, you’re alive and safe because you were a bad-ass,” he said, his pride for her evident in his tone. “I only happened to come along after you’d done all the hard work.”
She couldn’t help smiling at his words, suddenly feeling like a warrior princess standing with her prince, ready to conquer anything that came her way. “I’ve watched tons of self-defense videos.”
Garrett nodded. “Good. They probably saved your life on more than one occasion. Go get cleaned up while I bring in some of your things. I’ll leave them just outside your door. When you’re ready, I’ll be in the kitchen. But take your time.”
“Thanks.” Reese couldn’t thank this man enough. She hadn’t felt this protected or taken care of since she was a little girl, but she couldn’t deny how good it felt.
A half hour later, Reese came out of the guest room feeling like a brand new woman. She’d washed her hair and body, covered all her cuts and scrapes with the antibiotic cream Garrett had left for her, and donned an oversized t-shirt and a loose pair of linen shorts. The leather jacket had amazingly protected her back so well that it barely had a scrape on it. Just a few nasty bruises that would heal in time.
Exhaustion still tugged at her and that bed was calling her name, but Garrett said he’d wait for her in the kitchen, and she didn’t want to keep him waiting. She was also secretly looking forward to spending a little more time with him tonight. Something about being near him settled her, and she was still feeling jittery inside after everything that happened.
Garrett was standing in front of the open refrigerator when she came in, his hair damp, wearing a clean t-shirt and gray sweatpants. Goodness, his backside was just as delectable as his front.“How does lasagna sound?” He asked without turning around.
“Amazing,” she said, commenting more on the view of his ass than on the food. She slipped into a chair at the kitchen table, grateful to be off her feet.