This was the second time he’d mentioned the connection between them, and despite her wariness, she agreed that there was one. But if she went to his home, it had to be about necessity, not desire.

“Thank you.” She appreciated his honesty and felt he deserved hers in return. “I’ll come with you, but connection or not, we’re not sleeping together.”

An amused smirk pulled at that sexy mouth. “I was planning on giving you your own room.”

“Oh.” Now she felt stupid and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

He brushed his hand down her cheek and her body trembled with awareness. “But if you get scared in the middle of the night, feel free to come sleep with me.”

* * *

Jason gritted his teeth as they walked up the dark stairs to Faith’s apartment so she could pack up her clothing and stay with him. The building was small and narrow, with plenty of dark corners for someone to hide in, and he was glad he was getting her out of here before something worse than building damage happened. Her brother would have to go through Jason in order to get to her.

While she disappeared into the bedroom to gather her things, he dialed Gabe, a man who had a private investigator on retainer. At this point, Jason was going to owe his cousin more than just money for the favors he was accruing, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Gabe? I need a favor. Your private investigator? I have someone I need him to dig into. Colton Holland,” he said, giving Gabe Faith’s former last name. “Start in Cedar Pointe, Iowa, but I think he’s here now. Drug addict, so he isn’t hanging out with the best people in town. Whatever he can find on him, I need.”

He went on to explain what had been happening with Faith so Gabe could give the PI the rundown. At best, Jason wanted her brother behind bars. At the very least, he intended to make sure he was out of Faith’s life for good.

“I’m on it,” Gabe said. “I’ll have Jack Renault contact you personally so you can deal directly with him.”

“Thanks, cousin.”

“So much for not seeing her again,” Gabe said, chuckling as he disconnected the call.

At that moment, Faith walked out of the bedroom, rolling a suitcase behind her. Jason shoved his phone into his back pocket. “Ready?” he asked her.

She nodded, letting him take the suitcase from her hand.

“Don’t you have a club to run?” she asked.

“Yes. And two partners to help in case of emergencies. Getting you out of here and settled at my place is an emergency.”

Her lower lip jutted out in a pout, and it was all he could do not to kiss her and taste that plump flesh for the first time. He understood she was frustrated with the situation, that doing as he said bumped up against her independent streak, but she was also smart and knew that he was right about her apartment and its location.