She nodded. “Sounds good.”

He led her to the bedroom across the hall from the master and pulled her bag inside. “Want me to put the heavy one on the bed so you can unpack?”

“Sure.”

He lifted the heavy suitcase and placed it on the blanket at the end of the comforter. “If you need anything, let me know.”

She watched him head for the door, but before he stepped out, she called his name.

He turned, eyebrows raised.

“I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of me. Given our past, you helping me means a lot.”

He treated her to a nod and walked out, leaving her to unpack and get comfortable in his house, across from his bedroom.

Chapter Five

Xander slept well knowing Sasha was safe and across the hall, but he woke up with morning wood. He pressed his hand against the sheet, groaning at how fucking hard he was. Closing his eyes, he slipped his hand beneath and gave a few healthy tugs of his dick before kicking off the comforter and rising to a sitting position. He wasn’t going to make himself come with Sasha’s name on his lips when the real woman was a few steps away.

His time would be better spent getting his head on straight and deciding what he wanted from her while they were under the same roof. A good, long run would help him decide. Many of his life choices were made while pounding the pavement.

He walked out of his room, Bella trotting beside him. The door across from his was still closed. He let the dog out back and returned to the bedroom to get ready. He had his family coming later this afternoon, which meant he needed to check in with the store owner who would be delivering everything he’d ordered during the week. Something he could do while he was in town.

After he dressed, he turned on his phone and chose the playlist he wanted for today. He walked outside and nodded at Jared, who was still on duty. If Sasha hadn’t had someone watching over her, Xander would never have left her alone.

He took off at a jog, Bella by his side. His playlist had an eclectic list of songs from Bruce Springsteen and Eminem to Tom Petty, Kanye West, and the Rolling Stones. For a while, he got lost in the rhythm and the sound and feel of his feet smacking the street.

As he and Bella neared town, Xander slowed his pace, wiping his forehead with the bottom of his shirt. He stopped at a store that kept a water bowl outside for pets and let Bella take a drink.

“Good girl,” he said, giving her fur a rub.