Piper shoved the lace back into the bag. “And you definitely didn’t need to pay for my things. I have my own money. I certainly don’t need you—”

“It would be great if you did.” The words just rolled out of him. Dammit, wrong thing to say.

She frowned. The cute, from the corner of her eye frown that she always gave him. “I don’t understand.”

He slammed the trunk, took her hand, and walked her around to the passenger side of the car. But he didn’t open the door. For a moment, he just stood there, staring into her beautiful eyes. Gold was his favorite color. “I’d like for you to need me.”

He heard the swift inhalation of her breath. “Eric…”

This time, he smiled. “I like the way you say my name. When you’re nervous, your voice rises with it. When you’re mad, you barely breathe it, and when you’re happy…” He caught a lock of hair and tucked it behind her ear. “You almost moan it.”

Her golden eyes widened. “I do not.”

He shrugged. “Consider the clothes a gift. And there is no repaying a gift.”

She searched his gaze. “Why are you here?”

“Because you need a guard with you until we find out what’s happening.” And as far as what his team was doing…Simon had already started all of the standard background checks on the people she’d listed during her interview. “If anything pops during the background run, if we see any red flags, I’ll be told immediately.”

Piper nibbled on her lower lip. That sexy, full lip.

Did she want him to beg?

She let her lip go. “I’m sure there’s a junior agent who can be my guard. You have other things to do. I don’t expect you to—to give me like the deluxe, white glove treatment or anything.”

He leaned closer to her, putting his hand on the top of the car and caging her there with his body. “I don’t usually work bodyguard cases, but you aren’t a routine case.” He needed to stay close to her. When he’d seen the fire at her place…

Dammit.

He should back away. Get in the car. Stop inhaling her sweet scent and remembering how good she’d tasted.

He’d been craving ice cream all day long.

“Eric?”

“You said you wanted to go to your gallery.” A brisk nod. “I want to check out the place, too. See what additions I can make to the security there.” And while I’m at the gallery, I can walk down the street, maybe check out the tattoo artist. “We’ll stop there next.”

“That’s awfully nice of you.”

A soft rumble of laughter escaped him. “I think we’ve covered that I’m not the nice one. That’s Ben, remember?”