Chapter 3

Lena stepped back as Gray's gaze swept the front hall and living room. He'd grunted hello and then strode into her home like he owned the place. It should probably annoy her, but once again, she just felt safe in his presence.

"I don't think anyone's actually outside," she hedged. Why had she even mentioned to him that she'd heard something? Gray was exactly the type of man to rush over. All of the men on Jett's team were assertive, alpha males. Jett was the same. How Anna managed to deal with his overbearing tendencies was a wonder. Then again, Anna was a force in her own right. Their personalities might be different, but they balanced each other out. Jett doted on his wife, and it was sweet to see such a gruff man like him practically fall to his knees for his woman.

Not that Lena would take that type of chance in her own life.

She drunk Gray in as he stood in her foyer, taking in his tall, muscular body in jeans and a tee shirt. All of his muscles were on full display, and it made her heartbeat speed up. Gray was a good-looking man. She almost didn't know what to make of him standing here in her home.

"Maybe someone was out there, maybe not," Gray said in a low voice. "It's better to be safe than sorry given the circumstances."

She pressed her lips together and nodded. "You're right. Do you think someone might still be out there right now?"

Gray's dark eyes met hers. "If anyone was lurking outside, they probably ran the second I pulled up."

"Right. Of course." Maybe they couldn't see Gray's big frame in the dark, but knowing he was there and Lena was awake—or soon would be given his arrival—could've changed whatever plans they had. Maybe she was completely jumping to conclusions though. Just because she heard something after her nightmare didn't mean a thing.

"I'll check the yard and perimeter anyway. It should be easy enough to determine if anyone was out there before—trampled grass and the like. Footprints. I'll feel better knowing for certain that you weren't being watched for some reason."

"Me too."

Gray's long strides ate up the distance to the back of her home. He peered through her blinds into the dark night, his big hand separating the slats. Broad shoulders led to a muscled back and trim waist. And no, she wasn't staring at his toned ass. Not at all. She knew that he'd been tortured in captivity, but there was no evidence of that at the moment. He seemed nothing but virile and strong. Unstoppable. Still, her heart ached for him, knowing what he'd been through. Gray had a quiet confidence she appreciated, but Lena wondered if he'd always been this subdued. Was he a different man before his Army days? The answer was no doubt yes. Something like that would change a person.

"Is your backyard fenced in?" he asked, looking her way once again.

"Yes. There's a gate on the side, to the right of the house. It's not locked or anything, you can just undo the latch if you want to search the yard."

He nodded. "Wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes. I've got a flashlight in my SUV, and I'm carrying." Her gaze dropped to the weapon holstered at his waist. She hadn't even noticed it at first. It seemed like such a normal part of him.

"I'm sorry you had to rush over here in the middle of the night," she said, suddenly feeling foolish. This certainly wasn't the first time she'd woken up alone and scared. It was, however, the first time Gray had texted her right after one of her nightmares. That was nothing but a coincidence, but she couldn't deny she liked having him here, even if just for this one night.

Gray's gaze briefly swept over her, and Lena felt her blood heat. She'd thrown on a long cardigan over her thin tank and joggers. The night air had felt too cold as she'd opened the front door for Gray, the chill of it seeping into her bones. Ironic that he only had on a tee shirt. Winters in New York were no joke. There was no snow on the ground, however, and he'd only been outside mere moments. Certainly, he'd wear more suitable attire for extensive exposure to the elements. Even a muscular guy like him wasn't immune to the bitter cold.

"Do you need a jacket?" she found herself asking.

Gray looked surprised. "No. I'll be fine. I won't be gone long." He pinned her with a look, seeming to only now notice she was wearing what could pass as pajamas. Barefoot, she was even shorter than usual, making her feel feminine and delicate beside him. She crossed her arms, and his gaze briefly tracked to her breasts. Flushing, she was relieved when he glanced away. "Lock up behind me. I'll be right back." Gray was already moving toward the door, his gruff commands not anything she'd argue with. Lena had no intention of going outside.

She grabbed her phone and pulled up her doorbell camera footage. No one had been out front until Gray drove up. His movement in her driveway pinged a notification now, but she set her phone down. It would be weird to watch him through the doorbell camera, and the quality wasn't great anyway. She wished she had a camera out back, but even then, it's not like she'd confront an intruder. If Lena was ever truly in danger, she'd call 911.

She heard the gate opening outside but knew it was Gray. Her house felt empty and cold without him in here. Weird that she'd always felt relatively fine alone before—until her kidnapping that is. After a few minutes, Gray was back, rapping lightly at her front door. Lena opened it, then shivered as the cold air washed over her, her nipples pebbling beneath her clothes. She flushed, realizing she should've put on something more appropriate—or at least worn a bra. Too late now.

Somehow, Gray noticed her slightly panicked look. "It's okay," he murmured. "You're safe with me. Is it okay if I come in again?"

"Yes, of course," she said, stepping aside as she felt embarrassment wash over her. Something about Gray always had her feeling off-kilter. He seemed to always closely watch her, and her body reacted whenever he was near. While Lena could maintain her composure and professional decorum in the office, having him inside her home in the middle of the night threw her off. "Did you find anything outside?"

Gray cleared his throat as she locked the door behind him. "Not around your yard, but I found these in the driveway." Lena stilled as she stared at the zip ties in his big hand. Zip ties could be used for a lot of things. Binding cables or wires. Securing small items together.

They could also be used to restrain a person.

"Those were in my driveway?" she asked, realizing she sounded slightly hoarse. Lena was almost afraid to even ponder the implications of why they'd be there. He nodded. "That's…a little creepy, to be honest. I was out shopping earlier today, but I wasn't buying zip ties. And then I went into headquarters tonight, as you already know. What's wrong?" she asked, noticing the frown on his face.

"I'm just wondering how they got there. Several of them, at that." He paused a beat, seemingly trying to determine how to frame his next statement. "The investigation involving Ivan Rogers is still ongoing. He's seemingly disappeared without a trace. You've got a doorbell camera, right?"

"Yes. I can look through the footage. You really think he'd come looking for me? I'm not even sure if he knew my name. I was with Kaylee, so they took me, too." Her voice faltered, and she swore Gray's gaze softened.

"I don't want to rule anything out. Is there anyone else who'd have reason to seek you out or harm you?"

A flash of anxiety washed over her, goosebumps covering her skin. "Just an ex-boyfriend," she said, her voice weak. She straightened her spine at the concern on Gray's face. "He's in jail for other reasons. I'd rather not talk about it, but Jett can fill you in. I don't think he's someone I need to worry about anymore."

Gray slowly nodded, and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head. No one else from work knew about her ex, save for Jett. "We can make sure he's still locked up," Gray assured her. "I'll touch base with Jett in the morning."

"I doubt it's him," Lena said. "That was a long time ago."

Gray licked his lips, not looking convinced. "Check your camera footage to see if anyone suspicious has been outside your home. If someone was out there tonight, however, their movement could've been concealed by the darkness and not picked up."

Lena shuddered, and Gray's entire countenance changed. For such a gruff, macho man, he seemed surprisingly attuned to her. "Did you see any other signs that someone was outside my house?" she forced herself to ask. "Aside from the zip ties?"

"No. I searched your yard. I can check again in the daylight to be certain." She nodded, not trusting her voice as a fresh wave of fear washed over her. "I'm going to text Jett," Gray continued. "I don't think this has anything to do with the ass from IT, but it could mean someone else was watching you or your home. I'll get your ex's info from him, too, if that's all right. I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but we should cover all our bases."

She swallowed. "Okay," she agreed. The last thing she wanted was to drag Gray into that whole episode of her life, but she'd also told him the truth. Her ex was locked up, and it felt like their relationship and troubles had happened a million years ago. If anyone had been out there, she doubted it was him.

"Of course, it could be nothing," Gray said in a low voice, seemingly trying to reassure her. "The zip ties could've been from a neighbor working on a home project. Maybe they blew across the yard. Whatever you heard outside tonight could've just been an animal."

"Right, but it's better to be safe than sorry," she said, echoing his earlier comment.

"Exactly. I want to make sure you're not in any danger."

Her gaze briefly dropped to his full lips as his deep voice wound through her. Damn it. She didn't know who or what had been outside her home, and here she was staring at his mouth once more. Lena was far more attracted to Gray than she should be. His clean, masculine scent washed over her as they stood there, mixed in with a bit of spicy pine and smoke from being outdoors. Since moving here, she'd never once had a man in her home. Not even Jett. Now Gray was standing in her foyer, gruffly handsome and far more attractive than any man had a right to be. His hardened jaw and short-cropped beard were sexy as hell. As was the way his clothing hugged his broad shoulders and athletic build. Just thinking about those strong arms wrapping around her…. She wanted to shiver, but not in fear this time. Even when she'd awoken from her hellish ordeal of being kidnapped and drugged, she'd felt safe with Gray holding her.

"Well, thank you for coming over," she finally said. "I'm sure you're anxious to get home given the late hour—or early, depending on how you look at it. I should try to get back to sleep, too."

His gaze dropped to her hands, now clutched together in front of her. It's like he could see she was worried about being alone. "Why don't I crash on your sofa tonight?" Gray asked.

"You wouldn't mind staying here?" she asked in surprise.

"Of course not. It'll give me a chance to look around in the daylight, plus, I'll be here in case you hear anything else outside. You might feel more comfortable not being alone in your home."

She let out a shaky breath. "Okay. Thank you. I would feel better if you stayed."

"It's no trouble, Lena."

His deep voice made her insides twist around, knotting up with tension as she felt a familiar tug low in her belly. She liked the sound of her name on his lips far too much. She was also shocked by her body's reaction to him. While Lena had known Gray for over a year, he'd been in the background. She hadn't let herself get close to anyone at work, including him. Now, without even trying, he was edging past some of her defenses. All the tension and fear she'd felt earlier was slowly draining away with Gray right in front of her. Unable to stop herself, she yawned, her entire body suddenly exhausted from the weight of the day. Knowing he would be here overnight made her feel like she could actually relax and sleep for a bit, her entire body soothed by his presence.

"Get some rest," Gray gently ordered. "I'll be out here if there's any trouble. With my SUV in the driveway, I doubt anyone will be prowling around. They'll know someone else is here with you tonight."

"I've got a guest room and can put fresh sheets on the bed. That'll be more comfortable than the sofa."

He shook his head. "The sofa is fine. I don't sleep well anyway."

She stared at him for a beat, something unspoken passing between them. It felt almost intimate knowing he'd be staying in her home. She'd be tucked in her bed just down the hall, vulnerable as she slept. Lena wasn't scared though. Knowing Gray would be here had the exact opposite effect, and she was somewhat shocked as she admitted that to herself. Lena felt like she should say something else but finally nodded in agreement. "I'll grab you a blanket and pillow," she told him.

"That'd be great. Thanks."

As she turned to go fetch the things from her closet, she felt his watchful gaze on her the entire time. Lena felt her body heat, no longer used to a man paying such close attention to her. He wasn't leering, just…observant. She breezed in and out of the office at Shadow Security, getting her job done, without feeling flustered in the least. That wasn't the case tonight. Gray barely knew her, but somehow, he still saw too much, leaving her feeling somewhat exposed. Falling for a man like him could be dangerous. Sure, he might protect her physically, keep her safe and shield her from harm, but at what cost to her heart?