When I get upstairs, I knock, then wait a minute and knock again when she doesn’t answer.

“Sorry, I was changing.” She swings the door open a second later, no longer wearing my shirt and her jeans but instead a sweater that has fallen off one shoulder and a pair of shorts that match in the same soft looking material.

“Check this and make sure nothing is missing.” I hand her bag over and she squeezes it against her chest.

“Thank you.” She turns for the living room while I close the door.

“It doesn’t look like anything is missing,” she says while digging through the black purse, then pulls out a wallet, opening it up. “My credit cards and the little bit of cash I had are all here, and my phone is dead.” She holds it up as she tips her head back toward me. “Carly wasn’t lying.”

“Good news.”

“Yes, and the best part is I won’t have to spend the day canceling all my cards and getting a new phone.” She gets up, then goes to the kitchen. “This is yours.” She hands me the shirt I put on her last night when we got back to my place. “Thanks for letting me borrow it.”

I jerk up my chin and she shifts on her feet, it’s odd seeing her unsure when earlier she was tossing her attitude around. “You gonna call your dad and tell him about last night?”

“If I do, he might lock me up.” She rubs her lips together and wraps her arms around her middle. “I don’t want him worried if there is nothing to worry about especially when him and my family are getting ready to leave town.”

“Might be smart to let him know, just in case, and you should avoid going out unless you can trust the people you’re with.”

“That I can agree with you on.” Her hands fall to her sides. “And thank you again for last night, I don’t even want to think about what could have happened to me if you hadn’t shown up.”

My gut twisting and my hands balling into fists catches me off-guard. What happens or could happen to her shouldn’t matter to me, but there is no denying that the thought of her being in harm’s way makes me see red. “I want you to take my number and use it if you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe.”

“That’s very kind but–”

“It’s not something that’s up for debate.” I cut her off, taking a step toward her. Her pupils dilate. “And I don’t have time to play cat and mouse, so I’ll make it clear here and now that I want you in my bed.”

“Wha – What?” she stutters, taking a step back away from me.

“I know you heard me.”

“I did.” She shakes her head. “I just–I just don’t know who just comes out and says something like that.”

“Someone who doesn’t like games.” I hold her gaze, then spin when I hear the door behind me start to open, and place her behind me.