3. Raine

CHAPTER 3

Raine

" H ello, Raine." My back stiffens and I grip the stems of the poppy blooms that I'm weaving into a gorgeous wedding bouquet that I will be delivering tomorrow for a wedding at the Baptist church in town.

I close my eyes and gird myself to do what I know I need to do. What I have to do.

With a deep breath I turn and then blow out a breath and open my eyes.

Damn, he looks good. Why the hell can't he look like a grumpy old man?

"Hello, Knight."

"You know that you can call me Grayson." The smirk on his face makes my whole body light up like a four-alarm fire. I can feel it heating my face to a bright tomato red.

"Knight is fine."

He nods his head and strolls in the door, his casual stance not fooling me in the slightest. He's always on guard. Always watching, always waiting. There is no casual with this man. He reminds me of a stalking panther, all dark and dangerous, ready to pounce and tear you to shreds.

He paces around my shop and I warily shift at every one of his turns, keeping my eyes on him at all times. When faced with something wild, always keep your eyes on it.

He finally comes to a stop in front of me. My whole body stiffens, my eyes locked on his but I keep a smile on my face with effort. I will not let this man see how he affects me.

"Where's Colt?"

"He left it to me to talk to you. I told him that I'd handle it."

My lip curls up. "Trying to make sure he doesn't find out about what went on with the two of us?"

He sighs and runs his big hand through his dark hair. "Nothing happened with us, Raine. There's nothing for him to know."

I nod my head and purse my lips. "Well, that's one way to look at it. But I don't necessarily agree."

"Agree to disagree, babe."

My nose crinkles at him like I smell something bad. "Please don't call me babe. I'm not a babe."

His dark eyes rove up and down my body and he grunts. "You're not a baby or a sweetheart ether but I wouldn't mind calling you either of those."

I grit my teeth but keep the damn smile on my face. "I would appreciate it if you didn't." The bell rings over the door and one of the visitors that's in town comes in and starts to look around at my flowers, delicately touching the silky petals. I shift closer to the pain in my ass and hiss through my teeth as I smile at the older lady. "You need to get the heck out of here. I'm busy."

His dark eyes are hard as he looks around. "I'm not going anywhere, Raine. Get used to having me around."

I keep smiling and and delicately push my finger into his chest. "I don't need you here, Knight. Go home."

He grins at me and picks my finger up off his chest. "Didn't I mention? I bought the house that's for sale next to yours. Get used to having me around, neighbor." My eyes widen and I growl under my breath. "Oh, little sunshine. You sound a little annoyed. People might think I get under your skin if you keep growling like that!"

And he lets go of my finger and paces to the back of the store, startling me since he's heading the wrong direction to be leaving.

But it sounds like he's not going anywhere fast now. He bought the house next door to me?

I smile at the woman who comes up to me to ask about whether I have a vase for mums. She wants mums for their hotel room where they're staying for awhile.

I help her find a beautiful crystal vase that she loves and then we pick out about ten mums to fill it with a scattering of baby's breath and greenery. I even added a little bling with a stem of crystals to brighten it up and she loved it! I rang her up, chatting happily even while my mind kept wondering where the hell Knight was and why I haven't heard from him for awhile.

As soon as she left the store, I flip my closed sign and power walk to the back, peeking in every door I pass. I finally find him in back by the back door with it open and poking around with a screwdriver at the lock on it.

"What are you doing?" I demand, tapping my foot and putting my hands on my hips.

He glances up at me and his dark brow lifts. "Still feeling spicy, sweetheart?"

I paste a smile on my face and growl under my breath again. "I am feeling fine, Knight. I just want to know what the hell you're doing with my door."

He continues to fiddle with it. "In all your checking around, did you notice that this lock has been picked?"

My mouth falls open and I fall back against the wall behind me. "No," I whisper.

"Yeah. And somebody's been in here. I found two cameras hiding back here. Full video and audio hiding in here."

I shake my head, feeling the whooshing feeling that's been swamping me taking me down again. I whimper and Knight is immediately on his feet. His big arms wrap around me and he holds me close. I close my eyes and drag in a deep breath, the warm pine and citrus scent of him wrapping around me like a heating pad or an electric blanket, calming all the wildness rolling around in my head.

"Hey." He kisses the top of my head and I sink into him, letting him hold me up. Just for a minute. Just to feel like something around me is stable. Under control. Not spinning out crazily.

I look up at him finally and pull myself out of his arms, hating that I don't want to let him go. Hating the weakness that washes over me whenever I'm around him.

Why the hell can't I manage to keep from making a fool of myself over this one particular man?