Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

T his was what he was good at.

This was his zone of genius.

But when Declan walked into Piper's kitchen after patrolling her property and ensuring it was safe, he felt like he was in quicksand.

She was sitting on her couch with his dog, her feet tucked under her and her arm around Angel. She'd ditched her dress in exchange for jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt, and she was holding a can opener in her lap.

A fucking can opener.

Because no one was going to get to her if she had a damned can opener.

Piper.

He hadn't been able to stop looking at her, touching her, kissing her since he'd walked into the Diamond Plaza Hotel ballroom and seen her sitting at the bar with Tori.

The drive to the Diamond Plaza Hotel had felt like the longest fucking drive of his life. The images going through his mind had been graphic, shit he hadn't seen in his head for years.

When he'd seen her, all he'd been able to think about was getting to her. Touching her. Kissing her. Reassuring himself that she was safe.

He was completely fucked.

He'd already known he was falling for her, but when he'd gotten that text, the fear that had gripped him was like a punch in his gut. And his heart.

Piper looked over at him. "Everything okay outside?"

"Yep." He shut the slider and locked it, then pulled the curtain closed and set the alarm. "You sure you want to stay here?"

Lucas had taken Maddie, Keira, and Tori to a hotel, and he was staying with them until they figured out if Dick was going to target them, but Piper had wanted to come home, and Declan had gone with her. Obviously. "We could at least stay at my house. I have a better security system there. And a shower that isn't ripped up."

She shook her head. "This is my home. I can't let him drive me out."

"I know. I get that." Declan walked over and sat on her coffee table, facing her. His gun was in a holster on his hip. It had been years since he'd worn his gun. It felt weird as hell, and, at the same time, it felt like home. "I made a couple calls to former associates to see what they can dig up about Dick. Dylan is doing the same."

Dick had disappeared when Declan had shown up, which had probably been good.

Declan hadn't been in a frame of mind where seeing Dick would have ended well.

Piper took a breath. "See, so we're good."

His jaw flexed, and she could feel tension radiating off him. "I don't like this."

She leaned forward and put her hands on his thighs. His pulse jumped at her touch, and he had to fight to stay still.

"Thank you for helping me," she said. "I know you don't want to be here."

"I want to be here. I just wanted it to be under different circumstances." He looked behind her, checking the slider, his gaze then sliding to the windows. On maximum alert. Every muscle in his body was taut, every nerve firing. "Men like Dick are bullies. He doesn't want to deal with me. I don't think he'll try anything with me here. That's why I parked my truck in front."

"And why you kissed me like you owned me at the hotel."

He paused, surprised by her comment. She thought that kiss had been for show? It had been his undeniable truth breaking free of his control. "It probably helped back him off," he said, evading a direct answer.

He'd promised her no emotional involvement, but he was long past that. The question was how long he could hide it from her.

Aiden had been right. Declan wasn't built for casual. He was built to go all-in, and he'd thought he had only one chance in this life.

But by some incredible gift, he had another. He wasn't going to blow it this time, at least not yet. He had to give Piper space. He knew it. But, hell. Tonight had nearly undone him.

Piper put her hand on his thigh. "You're bouncing."

He stilled his leg. "I'm restless."

"I can see that." She studied him. "I was scared in the hotel, but the minute you got there, I felt calmer. I feel good now."

She was resilient as hell. He loved that about her. "Good. I'm glad I can give you a break from being scared."

She scooted closer to him. "How can I help you? Is it your past that is getting to you?"

Fuck. She was so close, and she smelled so good. He didn't lean in toward her. "No."

She raised her brows. "No?"

"It's not my past. It's you , Piper. You're the one in danger, and you're in danger because I asked you to help. I'm on full alert to keep you safe. It's about no one, but you." His voice was raw and rough, deeper than he'd intended.

She put her hand on his face, and he sucked in his breath. "Declan," she said softly. "In case I forget to thank you later, thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for rushing out of work, for kissing me like a madman, and for staying here with me. This is obviously more than a fake engagement situation, and I want you to know that I realize that, and I appreciate it."

He put his hand over hers, holding her palm to his cheek. He didn't give himself permission to respond, because what he wanted to say would break the rules he'd agreed to, and it would scare the crap out of her. "I'm glad to do it," he finally said.

Glad to do it. What kind of platitude was that?

"Do we stay up all night, then?" she asked. "Like the movies?"

He managed a smile. "No. I'm too old to stay up all night now. I'll probably fall asleep and shoot myself in the foot. Dick isn't going to come with me here. We'll lock the door to your bedroom. It'll be fine."

"And tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "I'll be your shadow until we figure out what is up with Dick. Dylan is working on it, so my job is just to keep you safe." He grinned. "Apparently, I'm a very devoted fiancé with no life except to follow his gorgeous woman around."

She raised her brows. "As it should be. Women rule the world."

"Agreed." He realized his leg was bouncing again. "To bed, then?" The moment he said it, heat poured through him. He might not be able to tell her what he was feeling, but the bedroom was a place where he didn't have to hold back with her. Passion? Heat? Love?

He could channel all of it into his lovemaking.

Mischievousness flashed in her eyes. "On one condition."

He leaned in, need pulsing through him. Need to get close to her. To hold her. To lose himself in her. "What's that?"

"You have to kiss me like you did at the bar."

Heat flashed through him, and he grinned, a slow, pleased grin. "You liked that, did you?"

She slid her arms around his neck. "I really did."

Hot damn. "That's just the start, sweetheart. I can level up from there. You want hot? I'll give you hot. "

She grinned. "I want hot. Really, really hot."

"Then you shall have it, my dear."

He leaned in to kiss her, a no-holds-barred kiss that ripped through the last shields around his heart.

The moment Piper kissed him back, he knew it was over for him.

He was lost to her. In every possible way.

She could destroy him.

She could save him.

Either way, he was in it until the end.